So, I'm beginning to plan how I'm going to redeem time (Ephesians 5:16) to be missional for the gospel in Frederick City. I want to pray and plan carefully so it's not a burden on my family (discipling my family in the gospel is the priority), but I also want to advance the gospel outside the home.
I really want to disciple guys in Frederick City to know Jesus and love Jesus. It's my vision to have a church that preaches the gospel in Frederick City -- from the research I've done, there are no biblically faithful churches in Frederick City that preach the gospel. Unless we begin to build disciples who are faithful to Jesus, there might never be a faithful church in the city. It was on my heart the other day to pray for fifty guys to disciple. I'm probably going to keep praying for that, but I'm going to wait on God to bring them to me (1 Corinthians 3:7). I don't know God's time frame (Proverbs 16:9), if that is God's will. The important thing for now is to seek to get to know them. Trust and understanding must be built before they will receive God's truth (Proverbs 18:13; Proverbs 18:2).
I have two ideas of how to do this:
- First, I could hang out in bars and cafes. Do you think hanging out in bars would be a good place to meet guys and build relationships with them? Do people regularly attend bars? Do you think it'd be constructive? I don't really know.
- Second, I could volunteer at the Frederick Rescue Mission and tutor or teach (math, literature, etc). Tutoring at the rescue mission is probably a great way to build relationships with people, but I don't know if it will be a context where I can actively disciple them.
Which would you do? Hang out at bars or tutor at the rescue mission? Why?
Right now, I'm planning to do this one evening a week (maybe Monday evenings) for 3-4 hours. (Probably 5-9.) I'm hoping to find some other guys to join me in doing this. I'm not strong enough to stand against temptation on my own (1 Peter 5:8), and the enemy will actively oppose this by sending temptations (Matthew 4:1-11) and opposition (1 Thessalonians 2:1-2) in many forms.
Please do comment with your thoughts. Your feedback, critical or encouraging, is most welcome. Also, if you'd like to join me in this, let me know.
