Evangelism: the long haul pays off

Eighteen years ago Blair Macfarlane went as a missionary to France with the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland. Here he relates a remarkable story which many of us may need to hear to encourage us in our evangelism.

Shortly after moving to Nantes I was speaking to a neighbour who lived a few doors up the street. When he told me that he was learning English I saw an opportunity.

He was using a BBC correspondence course so I suggested that we meet to talk together — half in English for Joel’s benefit and half in French for my benefit. What began as a one-hour meeting for a trial period of a few weeks grew into a meeting for several hours every Friday evening over many years.

Absolutely no interest

We talked about anything and everything. We (in our family) were newcomers to France in general and to the city of Nantes in particular. Joel was a mine of helpful information about French culture and local history. He is a DIY man and I picked up many handy hints. So I benefited immensely from our friendship.

But Joel had zero interest in spiritual things. One time, while attending a funeral, he refused even to enter the church building, such was his disdain for religion. He asked me what my work entailed and I told him. I did this many times, in as many different ways as I could think of. Occasionally I even gave him my sermons to correct! But there was no response. Joel himself summed up his life like this: ‘I got married when I was 25, but there was no spiritual interest in our lives.’ His three children were about the same age as our kids and they came regularly to a little children’s club which we organised in our home.

How long?

Joel was a travelling salesman. He represented a company selling industrial packaging. One day I asked him how long it took to win a new customer from his first visit until he received his first order. ‘It could take up to five years,’ was his answer. ‘Maybe in five years time you’ll be a Christian,’ I replied. Well, five years passed and Joel had not become a Christian.

Difficult times

We went through some difficult times together with the prolonged illness and passing away of Joel’s wife. I was honoured to be asked to conduct the funeral service. Ten years had passed since our first meeting together and still there was no conversion.

Yet it was through his loss that the Lord began to work in his life. Joel recalled: ‘When I was 43 my wife died leaving me with three children, 10, 12 and 14 years old. I was at an all-time low. I was out of work, short of money and had the pain of bereavement. Life was utterly miserable for me, psychologically and materially.’ Joel continued: ‘At my wife’s funeral, Blair quoted the words of Jesus in Matthew 11.28-30: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."’

Some time later the Lord used those words. ‘One night when I couldn’t sleep,’ says Joel, ‘I remembered these words. I prayed to the Lord, asking that he take my burden.’ God was dealing with Joel in a very gracious way. ‘From that moment on,’ he said, ‘things began to work out. I learned that the words of Jesus are not in vain and that through him God listens to me.’

After 14 years Joel found peace with God and eternal life in Christ. ‘This faith in Jesus,’ said Joel, ‘has enabled me to overcome whatever trials he has allowed to come my way. I have also learned to forgive. To strengthen my faith I pray daily, and attend Bible study and worship service each week. I seek the Lord, according to my ability, and put his teaching into practice.’

Lesson for others?

Perhaps you have a friend to whom you have been witnessing for Christ for many years. Maybe you are tempted to think that you are getting nowhere. But do not give up. Who knows what the Lord is doing in that person’s heart or what he may yet do. It could just be that the event which God will use to bring them to their knees has not yet happened. But you need to be faithful and be there for them when it does occur. Evangelism can be a long haul and with God’s help we need to persevere even where situations look impossible.

Today Joel is a solid Christian. In God’s great grace, not only he, but his new wife Michelle, has turned to the Lord. They are now stalwarts in the fellowship of God’s people in Nantes, for which we give God thanks.

Blair now pastors a Reformed Presbyterian Church in County Tyrone.

Evangelism: the long haul pays off

Absolutely no interest

How long?

Difficult times

Lesson for others?

Main Articles

Other articles