Greater Europe Mission(GEM) worker Theo,* his wife Melanie and their GEM teammates offered informal conversation classes in a coffee shop in a large Italian city, which led to natural friendships and opportunities for spiritual conversations.
The English gatherings flourished in the beginning, but after a while, attendance dwindled. Rosina, a customer in the coffee shop, heard the disappointment over the demise of the English get-togethers.
“We can’t let this opportunity slip away,” Rosina said. “I’ll organise people to come.”
A retired political journalist with many connections in the neighbourhood, Rosina soon recruited friends and acquaintances to practise English.
Talking about religion
Theo explained to Rosina that he and his fellow GEM workers were hoping to one day plant a church in the area.
“How will you ever get Italians to go to church?” she asked.
One evening, at one of the gatherings, the discussion was about how a person’s religion should impact how they interact with others. Theo and Melanie decided to invite her to their home so they could continue the discussion.
Person of peace
It soon became apparent that Rosina was a person of peace who cared deeply about her community, always eager to bring people together. She had a growing curiosity about the gospel.
Knowing that Rosina wanted to talk more about ‘religion,’ Theo, Melanie, and their team invited others to join her. Some were atheists, others Muslim or Buddhist. After three discussion evenings, Rosina said she wanted to learn more about what the Bible said about God.
Soon she began coming to Theo and Melanie’s home once a week for Bible study.
Giving thanks
When Thanksgiving came around, Theo and Melanie planned to host a turkey dinner. They invited Rosina and any other members of her family she desired. She soon texted Theo, saying, “I can’t believe it! Everyone in my family has agreed to come!”
At the dinner, when Rosina said, “I’m thankful for our Bible study meetings,” the GEM team knew it was a bold step. This was her way of announcing to her family members that she was involved in exploring faith in Christ.
The fruit of friendship and faith
“Rosina now carries her Bible openly when she meets with us in a public place, like a coffee shop,” says Theo. “It is her way of declaring that she is moving toward a relationship with Jesus. She tells us she can’t resist picking up the Bible at home and reading it!”
“We are not looking to force people into faith,” says Theo. “We simply present the gospel and say, ‘This is what we believe; this is what the Bible teaches.’ We don’t push anyone but rather provide them with opportunities to seek and learn what God says in his Word. This is why Rosina has felt comfortable exploring the Bible with us.”
This story was shortened.
Source: GEM
