One Conversation: God Speaks Through a Casual Encounter

The Little Rock Garden

A few moments later, as we approached a little rock garden, Elsa and I noticed two girls talking at a stone table. We immediately altered our course and pushed through the crowded sidewalk of students to head toward them. As we reached their stone table, the young women looked up and their faces registered surprise. I was finally getting used to the stares and shocked first glances when these sheltered students saw my blonde hair and white skin. I smiled to break the ice and asked if we could join them to learn more about their life here on campus. They nodded their heads with eager smiles, and patted the table for us to join them.

“My name is Holly, and this is my friend Elsa. We are visiting your campus today to meet with students and learn what life is like out here for you. What are your names?”

“I’m Samantha, and this is my best friend Rachel.” I assumed they had given me their English names assigned in their English class because I had initiated the conversation in English. I was thankful, because English names are easier for me to remember.

After asking questions about their focus of studies, their families and their values in life, I wasn’t sure how to guide the conversation to spiritual things. I learned that they both came from the countryside and that Samantha came from a village steeped in Buddhism. I was praying silently for the Spirit to give me questions that would enable us to share the gospel, but at this point I wasn’t sensing any clear direction or questions.

I figured I could just start with the basics, so I asked, “What do you like most about being in college?”

Rachel shrugged her shoulders and said, “Hanging out with our friends.”

“What do you like to talk about most with your friends?”

They smiled at each other with chins turned down shyly and then looked up at me. With fluttering eyelashes, Samantha quietly whispered, “Love.” Then they both covered their mouths and giggled in embarrassment.

I smiled, agreeing with them. It seemed like the topic of love came up in almost any conversation I had with students. Everyone seemed to desire the same thing—unconditional love.

Before I had the chance to think of another question, Samantha sighed and admitted, “I am too idealistic. I want a love I will never receive; yet I look for it, crave it, hope for it, even though part of me doubts it can ever be found.”

I nodded at her, realizing that in a sense, she was exactly right. I said, “You know, Samantha, everyone everywhere desires that type of love. You’re not alone, or silly, for wanting that type of love in a relationship. We were all created for that. It is okay to want that love. It’s natural.”

A Friend Like No Other

In that moment, I knew the Holy Spirit wanted me to share with these two girls the gospel in story form. I had never done that before. I had no clue what that would sound like, so I asked the Spirit to give me wisdom, and he opened my mouth.

“I had a best friend,” I began. “This friend knew me better than anyone. He knew my secrets, my weaknesses, my failures; and yet he pursued me and said he loved me perfectly. Even when I was unfaithful to him, he loved me. He forgave me.

“What do you believe is the greatest way someone could display his or her love to you?” I asked.

Samantha replied, “When people encourage me with words and want to spend time with me.”

Rachel replied, “When people tolerate my faults, like my parents do.”

Then Samantha tilted her head and asked, “What would perfect love look like to you?”

I said, “Well, this friend, he loved me perfectly. You see, I did a lot of bad things. Very unloving things toward other people, and I was going to be brutally punished. But you know what my friend said to me? ‘I will take the punishment for you.’ I was perplexed because he had done nothing wrong, yet he quietly took my beating for me. Grievously, the punishment was so severe that he didn’t survive. My friend died that day. It should have been me. But he died instead.”

They looked at me questioningly, wondering if they had heard me correctly in their second language. With a nod, I repeated, “He died.”

They looked at Elsa to translate because they still couldn’t comprehend. As Elsa reiterated what I’d said in their native language, their eyes instantly filled with shock and tears. It appeared that both were amazed that someone would take on my punishment to the point of death.

Meeting My Best Friend

I cleared my throat and continued. “The miraculous thing is that even though I cannot physically see him, he feels closer to me than any other person. He still guides me, comforts me and loves me more deeply than anyone. There is only one condition in our relationship. I can never think that our closeness is because of anything I do. We are friends because of his choice to pursue me and love me perfectly. What’s amazing is how I have changed because of his sacrificial love. I am able to love others much more fully and deeply. I’ve also noticed that I have greater peace, joy and purpose in my life. He is such an amazing friend. It brings me great joy to share with others about him so that they, too, can experience his love for them and have a joy-filled and purposeful life. Would you want to meet him?”

Both Samantha and Rachel nodded, not even questioning how they could meet someone who had died. Hope filled their eyes, and they listened as I continued to tell the story that the Spirit had laid on my heart.

“My friend’s name is Jesus.”

They recognized his name, but I continued on, emphasizing how I related to him personally. “He isn’t just a historical person. He is present with me now. Not because I’ve made him up in my mind, but because he is actually alive today. Three days after he was killed, he rose from the dead and then ascended into heaven. Though he is not physically on earth, his Spirit is very close to me. I have never seen his face or touched him, yet he is very real and present in my life.”

Rachel looked at her watch and saw that it was nearing the time for them to head to class. It was obvious they didn’t want to leave. We knew our time was running short, so Elsa took over the conversation. In their own language she asked if they would like to know this Jesus more personally, like we do. They both said yes, and they would like their roommates to come and listen next time.

Holly A. Melton
Holly A. Meltonhttp://www.mattandhollymelton.org/

Holly A. Melton is national campus director for field ministries for Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ), overseeing more than 300 missionaries engaged in cross-cultural ministry. In addition to her work at Cru, Holly speaks all over the world as she teaches college students and other adults how to share their faith in Christ through conferences, retreats and training events.

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