Unashamed Witness - Sharing your Faith

Yesterday, before leaving for school, my Baby Girl, Adjoa, came to me and asked, “Mommy, do you have any Family and Friends Day cards?” With unbridled excitement she went on to exclaim, “I know three people I want to invite to church and I’ll take a few extra cards just in case!” As I grabbed some cards from my purse and handed them to her, the Holy Spirit began to stir within me. Her UNASHAMED witness enlivened me. Here was a nine year old actively looking for opportunities to share her faith and invite her friends to church. As her mother and Pastor, I couldn’t be more proud. But I must admit, as a disciple, I was challenged.

As I reflected on the moment, I heard the Spirit of God say, “Donna, how are you showing up as an UNASHAMED witness for Christ in your daily life?” When I thought about my life beyond Sunday morning in the pulpit and beyond my “official” duties as your Pastor, I was convicted. Sure, I am pleasant and share the love of Jesus with people in tangible and intangible ways, but I had to ask myself, “When was the last time you shared your faith with someone who doesn’t know Christ?”

Theologian Leonard Sweet once wrote, “Don’t preach to the choir. Don’t even preach to the congregation. Preach to the community zip code.” The truth is that while I talk about Jesus all day, I am often preaching to the choir. But since a little child shall lead them, I am inspired to follow Baby Girl’s UNASHAMED example, which is the mandate given by Jesus in Matthew 28:16-20 and Acts 1:8. First Baptist, I invite you to sit with the question, “How are you showing up as an UNASHAMED witness for Christ in your daily life?” and then be intentional about sharing your faith, not just for Family and Friends Day, but to participate in God’s great work of salvation.

Growing in Christ,

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah