Why Should I Be the One?

NPPBC's Media Ministry

Tisha Welshan – Rome Experience

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Reflections on a Trip and Spiritual Growth

• The trip was enjoyable, but the primary purpose was not just fun.
  • Victor, despite being 74, was very active and kept a fast pace.
  • The physical demands of the trip were challenging, involving walking 42-44 miles and climbing many stairs.
    • Example: “I was not prepared to walk 42 to 44 miles and climb 25 stairs in one day.”
  • This unpreparedness was likened to spiritual unpreparedness for the race of life.

Victor’s Example of Service and Witnessing

• Victor consistently showed respect and kindness to others.
  • He gave coins to homeless people and spoke with them.
  • He witnessed to a Muslim cab driver about Jesus, even though the driver was unreceptive.
  • Victor emphasized the importance of being “in season, now season” for sharing one’s faith.

Personal Reflections and Lessons Learned

• Devotions were shared every morning and night, focusing on obstacles.
• Fear of rejection is a personal struggle, hindering boldness in sharing faith, especially with certain people.
• Luke 12:48 (“if much is given, much is required”) resonated deeply, emphasizing the need to act on what has been learned.
• A desire to maintain a consistent fire for God, not just a temporary enthusiasm.
• Victor showed a prison during the trip, knowing of the speaker’s interest in jail ministry.
  • This was significant because the speaker ministers in jails and appreciated Victor’s thoughtfulness.
  • There was prayer over the prison.
  • There is a need to pray for Victor to be allowed into the prison.

Prayer and Divine Intervention

• Much prayer occurred throughout the city.
• A close call with a moped prompted a prayer to “not take me out with a moped.”

Digging Wells: Honoring Those Who Paved the Way

• Genesis 26 about Isaac digging wells, relates to honoring those who influenced one’s faith.
  • Isaac was thinking of his father.
• Personal influences include:
  • An aunt who ensured attendance at church.
    • “She said no matter what’s going on in your house you’re going to find yourself in the house of the Lord.”
  • A challenging home environment with a mother who was a Christian but faced opposition.
  • Grandparents, preachers, and others who invested time and guidance.
  • A special person who was a father figure and prayed for the speaker daily in school.
  • He would say “greater is he that’s in you than he that’s in the world.”
• Saved at age 12 in a Quaker church during a prayer meeting.
  • Six people stayed to pray.
  • Experienced a direct call from God, leading to immediate surrender.
    • “God came to me. He had already come to me and said, Tisha, this is enough. You know better. This is your end. If you die, you’re going to go to hell.”

Investing in Future Generations

• A desire to pass on faith to family, especially a daughter who is saved but not fully living for the Lord.
• Grandchildren are saved and serving the Lord.
• The grandchildren prayed over the speaker before the trip, showing their desire to be part of something special.
• The goal is for them to say “Mommy, we love Jesus.”

Lessons from Others and the Importance of Perseverance

• An Asian woman met on the trip, married to a devout Catholic, demonstrated powerful prayer and boldness.
  • She showed patience and perseverance in her faith, despite challenges.
  • She would pray at the school.
• Need to be patient and persevere.
• Need to spend time and invest in people.
• Need to find out what people need and make sacrifices.
• Need to ask God to clear the mind and heart to be more effective.
• Quality over quantity is emphasized; impacting even one or two people can create a ripple effect.

Communication and Cultural Awareness

• The importance of knowing your audience and speaking clearly, especially when there is interpretation.
• Slowing down and focusing on what’s important.

The Value of Scripture and Sharing the Gospel

• Many people have numerous Bibles but don’t read them.
  • Example: “how many in here probably have more than 10 bibles yeah 40 bibles in their home. I have 15 to 20.”
• Refugees, despite language barriers, are eager to share their faith.
• A young man was surprised to hear that Tommy initially didn’t want to be a pastor, highlighting the refugees’ eagerness for spiritual leadership.
• Refugees face severe consequences, including death threats, for their beliefs.
  • Example: “These people are sharing literally to this day, if their fathers found out, they would be killed.”
• One refugee was nine years old holding onto the bottom of a truck to get from country to country.
• Another was 12 when he did.

Contrasting Faiths and Encouraging Inquiry

• Learned about Catholicism and the requirements for possibly skipping purgatory during the time of Jubilee.
  • Doing good works is required.
• Catholic practices, such as idol worship and veneration of dead bodies, were observed in Vatican City.
• Leonardo shared two questions to ask to spark spiritual conversations:
  • “Are you a Christian?” and if yes, “Why?”
  • “Do you read the Bible?” and if no, “Have you ever read the Bible?”
• Catholics are told to trust Mother Church and not read the Bible.
• Muslims are often discouraged from asking questions, so it’s important to create a safe space for them to inquire.
• Encourage people to ask questions and allow them to share.

Personal Commitment and Call to Action

• Pray for Oktar, who is lost.
• The prayer time during the trip was powerful and bonding.
• Victor encouraged boldness by calling on people to share what they learned.
• Accountability before God for what has been learned and known.
• Challenge to put faith into action, remembering that “when much is given, much is required.”
• Need to pray for the speaker.
• Encouragement to dig wells for others, as that is what matters most in life.
• Grandparents prayed for everyone by name.
  • “They unhooked the phone so that they could not be distracted.”
• Papa preached from memory.
• Mamaw sang.

Elder Dustin

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Exodus 3 Commentary

• The Lord directed Dustin’s heart during a trip, though the exact purpose is still unclear.
• Dustin trusts that sharing personal experiences and scripture will fulfill God’s will.
• Reference to Exodus 3:1-10, where Moses encounters God in the burning bush.
  • Moses questions his worthiness to go to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
  • God assures Moses of His presence and guidance.
• Reference to Exodus 4:10, where Moses claims he is “slow of speech and slow of tongue.”
  • God responds by asking who made man’s mouth and promises to teach Moses what to say.
  • Moses asks God to send someone else, angering the Lord, who then appoints Aaron to help Moses speak.
• Dustin realized their complete dependence on God during the trip.
  • Initially, Dustin thought they would be helping others, but God humbled them.
  • “Without Him, I can’t do nothing.”

Personal Experience of Affliction

• Dustin recounts losing their passport while walking around the city.
  • Dustin was carrying their ID, wallet, and phone, but the passport was missing.
  • Dustin’s immediate reaction was not wanting to return.
  • Dustin felt the Lord saying, “you’re going to depend on me now, ain’t you?”
• Dustin describes the stressful experience of trying to get a replacement passport.
  • Dustin had to fill out paperwork multiple times and felt overwhelmed.
  • Dustin questioned why God brought them to Rome to face this situation.
  • Dustin realized that God was showing them their need for Him.
  • Dustin and Victor stood in line until 3 p.m. to get the passport.
• Dustin realized the trip was not about helping others but about God showing Dustin something.
  • God needed to “break you down” and teach dependence on Him.
  • God has a work for Dustin to do upon returning home.

Importance of Pouring into Others

• Dustin observed Victor’s impact on refugees, noting the love and appreciation they showed him.
  • People were calling Victor “Grandpa” and expressing their happiness at his return.
  • Victor invested time and effort into these individuals, leading to genuine connections.
  • Dustin realized the importance of getting personal with people and helping them on their level.
• Victor continues to work with refugees, even after returning.
  • Victor contacted Dustin about a family he was concerned about.
  • Dustin quoted John 15:13: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
  • Dustin interprets this as Victor laying down his life in the U.S. to serve in Rome.
• Dustin contrasts Victor’s actions with their own feelings of inadequacy.
  • Dustin feels like Moses, questioning their ability to fulfill God’s calling.
  • Dustin acknowledges God’s ability to provide the necessary words and abilities.

Testimony from “Pouring into People” Book

• Dustin reads a passage from a book about people’s experiences and stories.
• The story of Bashan from Afghanistan, a Shia Muslim who moved to Iran after his father’s death.
  • Bashan worked in a rug factory from a young age and attended a mosque where Christians were negatively portrayed.
  • Bashan decided to go to Europe after observing many people doing the same.
  • Bashan experienced kindness from European police and people in Greece, contrasting with what he heard in Iran.
  • Bashan arrived in Austria and visited a local church, where he received a gospel track and met an Iranian man who shared his testimony.
  • Bashan received a Bible and read it for four months.
• Bashan’s asylum request was rejected, and he became an illegal alien.
  • Bashan prayed to Jesus for help to leave Austria and promised to be baptized in His name if he arrived in Italy.
  • Bashan felt a clear voice telling him to buy a ticket.
  • Police checked documents on the train but passed by Bashan.
  • Bashan gave his life to Jesus at Geneva train station and felt his life change.
• Bashan arrived in Rome and found a Persian house church where he felt like family.
  • Bashan attended Bible study and made friends, including Bill Lawrence, Tori, and Victor Stefanini.
  • Bashan was baptized at Rome Baptist Church on July 22, 2019.
  • Bashan dreams of having a big church and preaching to thousands of people.
• Dustin emphasizes that Bashan’s story highlights the impact of people taking the time to pour into his life.
  • Bashan and others have come to faith in Jesus Christ because someone took the time to teach them, read the Bible with them, and love them.

Self-Reflection and Call to Action

• Dustin questions their own Christian life, which includes church attendance and prayer meetings, but lacks pouring into others.
• Dustin acknowledges that the Lord has shown them the need to do more and that it may require sacrifice and discomfort.
• Dustin has read testimonies of people who received Christ because others poured into their lives.
• Dustin emphasizes the need to be patient with others, as God has been patient with them.
• Dustin contrasts their easy path to Christianity with the struggles faced by those in other countries.
  • Dustin acknowledges that some people face death or family rejection for their faith.
• Dustin shares a story of a 12-year-old boy who crossed borders and sought help at a church, where he was welcomed and fed, leading to his salvation.
• Dustin shares scriptures about the importance of friendship and pouring into others.
  • Ecclesiastes 4:10-12: The importance of having someone to help you up when you fall.
  • Proverbs 17:17: A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
  • Proverbs 27:17: Iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
  • 2 Peter 1:5-7: Adding virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity to faith.
  • 1 Peter 4:8: “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”
  • 1 Thessalonians 3:12: Increasing and abounding in love toward one another.
  • 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: Qualities of charity (love): suffers long, is kind, envies not, vaunts not itself, is not puffed up, does not behave unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil, rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
  • Romans 12:9-10: Love without dissimulation, abhorring evil, cleaving to good, being kindly affectionate, and preferring one another.
• Dustin shares a story of a Muslim man who converted to Christianity and whose wife initially rejected him but later also converted.
• Dustin repented for their arrogance and stubbornness and now desires to pour into others.
• Dustin notes that Victor never bragged about leading people to Christ but that his impact was evident.
• Dustin shares an example of a couple they met in Rome, where the husband asked Victor to teach his Muslim wife English and share about Jesus.
• Dustin emphasizes the importance of pouring into neighbors, church members, family, and those at school.
• Dustin references Steve and Tish’s work in jails as an example of pouring into others.
• Dustin wishes everyone could spend time with Victor in Rome to experience his love for Christ and the mission.
• Dustin quotes James 4:17: “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
  • Dustin believes it is a sin to refuse to pour into others.
• Dustin hopes that the message has pricked hearts and that people realize there is a mission field in their own community.
• Dustin acknowledges their own failures and commits to doing more.
• Dustin concludes that sharing Christ is everyone’s mission and purpose.