Batch 9 Students: First Reaching Out Experiences

         It’s all done! The orientation, door to door survey and tips, even the classes in Personal Evangelism which proved to be very needful to be taught prior to Batch 9 students’ first outreach afternoon had already been discussed. The Outreach kits which had long been prepared before they came were finally handed to every team. At last, the time had come where they were to leave the classroom and put into action what they had been taught of. 

That first outreach afternoon, while the instructions were given, we could see the excitement in their faces, as if anticipating wonderfully exceptional experiences in the field. Or perhaps, a mixture of emotions for some countenances somewhat look worried and afraid at the same time.

Needless to say, off they went with maps in their hands—just making sure not to get lost! Their Outreach area is in Barangay Galas, where the training seminar (Prophecies of Hope) will be held, and its neighboring places. We have 7 teams doing the groundwork—preparing the soil, bringing people to the knowledge of the truth.

Here are testimonies from the students’ first outreach afternoon:

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee….” Jeremiah 33:3

When you are so excited for outreach yet you have a runny nose, it pays to bring a handkerchief. But what if you forget to bring one? Would you just rather stay and rest? Jaiza, who was suffering from runny nose that afternoon, failed to bring her hanky. Not wanting to stay, she uttered a simple prayer. “Lord, kindly stop my runny nose and just make me feel okay.” 

Grateful enough to know that the God she serves heard her request, Jaiza recounted how He answered her prayer, “While in the field, I didn’t have a hard time wiping or cleaning my nose. The outreach went on smoothly and I was able to approach and survey many people without being bothered by it. Surely, God loves me that He fulfilled His promise.”

 “My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according 

to Thy word.” Psalm 119:25

What would you do if after knocking number of doors, telling people your wonderful purpose, still they don’t show any interest in what you are offering? Would you quit and go home? Anjo, who felt so disheartened because of the rejections he received, did something copy worthy. “I decided to stop doing the survey and look for a place where I could read my Bible and claim His promises. I then feel refreshed and comforted. With renewed strength, my partner and I continued on approaching people with confidence that He will perform what He had promised.”

Experiencing the same thing, Shiela and Jeremy also did something worthy of copying, “After three consecutive rejections, we stopped and prayed for a while. Then we went forward with blessed hope that the people living in the next houses would accept us. And true enough, they did!” God really hears. In 1 Kings 9:3 He assures, “I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me….”

“For God so loved the world….” John 3:16

The love of God is made manifest everywhere. You have seen it. I have seen it. And, of course,our PAFCOE students have their share as well! 

“In every inch of our journey, I’d seen His love. We didn’t know what kind of people we met in the field, yet because of His love; protection came all along the way. And not only to us, but also to those people whom we had met and talked to. Out of their responses, it showed that God’s love was in them. And even for those who refused, still the love of God was with them.”—Jahziel James

“Despite of my sinfulness, selfishness and weaknesses, He gave me a chance to reach out other people that needed Him in their lives. In my outreach experience, I saw His great love to them which are lost.”—Solomon 

“When we started to do the survey, I felt discouraged because some people told us that they were busy enough to entertain us. Some got angry at us. But God reminded me through the Holy Spirit to be strong enough to meet those challenges rather than to grow weary. I praise the Lord that He encouraged me to go forward.”—Reymart

“Learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.” Titus 3:14

Whenever the sun sets in the west, there are those who would take time to sit and glean lessons throughout the day’s work.I count myself in. How about you? or how about our PAFCOE students who spent their afternoon in the field seeking the lost? Sure enough they had learned vital lessons out of their outreach experiences. 

  

“I realized that I should never look on the outside appearance and not to choose the people that I am going to approach.”—Rowena  

“I had learned that I needed to be a smiling and happy interviewer. Also, I learned that I needed to interview all the houses earnestly in order to have lots of Bible students.”—Christian

         “I learned that patience is needed in reaching out others for Jesus. I also learned that I needed to encourage the people I surveyed to accept the free Bible lessons and always hope for positive response.”—Kenelyn

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our LORD and 

Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18

One of the precious things that Outreach has to offer to the students is giving them room for improvement. Below are the areas they have seen that needs to be improved for better outreach experiences:

“I need to have more confidence in God’s work. I should always pray before leaving the area or before leaving the person I approached. I had to study the word of God so that I will know what to say to the people. I must submit myself to the LORD for He will direct my path.”—May Dafodile

“I have fear in approaching people. I think I should remove first this prejudice in my mind to draw more people to Christ.”—Royco

“Push forward and trust God’s providence more. Giving up easily with rejection and closed door experiences will not totally help me to improve. I needed to be more patient in knocking door because inside it might be those who are hungry for the spiritual food. Develop more the attitude of trusting in God more than in self-effort.”—Shiela

“Be confident enough to smile, to talk, to knock, and in making conversation with the people in order to meet their hearts and to gain their trusts. Study ahead every lesson in order to be prepared whenever there are willing people that will accept the Bible study. In that way, I would be able to answer the questions they may have as well. Lay all the worries upon God and always seek for divine guidance.”—Gaspar

As you have read this article, I hope that you will keep these students in your prayers as they continue to dig for gold nuggets in their outreach territory. Also, may their experiences not only inspire you, but cause you to partake of the work divinely appointed to every one of us.