We aren’t meant to sit in a pew taking notes for the rest of our lives. I know that’s hard for some to understand, but training was never meant to keep what we’ve learned enclosed. Nope, I refuse to believe that. Instead, we are to fasten our belts, put on our sandals, grab our staff, and go—serve the Lord!
I’m not saying that taking notes in the pews is a bad thing—God forbid that’s how this is taken. What I am saying is that it shouldn’t surprise anyone to see bold witnesses proclaiming the Truth throughout the entire week—not just on Sunday, or at a large women’s or men’s conference, or in a weekly gathering. Oh, and yes, that includes being a bold witness online.
We are living in a time when the online sphere is broadening significantly. In the last five years, internet traffic has increased exponentially; some even call it the new town square. We went from having our top eight friends on MySpace—where most of our connections were family or childhood friends—to now connecting with people all over the world.
I have friends in Israel, Australia, London, and many other places—people I would’ve never met or imagined being in my life today had it not been for the internet. I attend Bible College with professors and students who connect with us right from Netanya, Israel. I pen-pal with sisters in different parts of the world—all because we connected online.
I’ve heard people testify, “We were once in bubbles, being taught by leaders who wanted to control what we learned about Jesus.” You see, it’s easier to control people when they aren’t challenged to ask questions. The internet has given many evangelists access to the hearts of genuine truth seekers—people who were once being lied to about God but are now challenged to study who He is for themselves.
Testimony after testimony, I hear people say, “I came across a video online that challenged me and changed my life!” Many of those people once identified as atheists, or grew up in church but walked away from Jesus. Many are ex-Muslims, ex-Mormons, ex-this, ex-that—all because of a bold witness online who shared a video or an article pointing to Jesus.
My father is big on using nets and tools. He always told me, “Whatever tool or net God gives you to fish, use it.” During the fiery summer of 2020, I told him I was done with the internet.
“People can’t handle intense dialogues or being challenged, Pop. If you disagree with someone online, they delete or block you. They might even stop talking to you altogether—I’m over it!” I said indignantly.
My father looked at me and said, “When Jesus was with His disciples, traveling and speaking, He used boats to reach people. Today, you don’t have to get on a plane to travel with His message—the internet can be used as a boat, Dinah.”
As I said, he emphasizes that God gives us tools to use wisely—and that was all the motivation I needed to get over myself and heed his counsel.
My desire to share Jesus with everyone is not something I just developed. When I was younger—in the late ’80s and early ’90s—my father was on the outreach team at the church we attended, Church of the Revelation on White Plains Road in the Bronx. On Saturday mornings, he would go out and give tracts to people on the streets and in their homes.
Instead of rushing to watch Saturday morning cartoons, I would ask him, “Papi, can I come?” I was always welcomed to go and serve the Lord.
I’d knock on doors, hand someone a tract with the church’s address, and say something like, “Jesus loves you! Come to the address on the tract to hear more.” I don’t remember this part, but my father once shared it from the pulpit:
“One day a man came to the church and said, ‘A little angel knocked on my door, told me that Jesus loved me, and told me to come to this address to hear more.’”
After hearing my father share that story, I thought about a song I sang to the Lord as a little girl in Sister Christine’s Children’s Choir at Rev. I sang my little heart out:
‘Make me a servant, humble and meek, Lord help me lift up those who are weak. Lord let the prayer of my heart always be, make me a servant, make me a servant, make me a servant today.’
I was just a little kid, but I meant every word of that song—and I’m convinced He heard me! It was wonderful that I was enthusiastic to share His gospel with the world. I believe He wanted me to do it, but it wouldn’t happen until many years later.
I went through a very difficult time during my early teens and young adulthood. I was broken, angry, and made terrible mistakes that hurt people I loved (hurt people, hurt people). When the Spirit of Truth convicted me, I cried out to Jesus, “Lord God, forgive me—help me.” That was twenty years ago, and here I am today, still proclaiming, “Jesus loves you—come listen to His Word.”
That’s what many of us are doing online—continuing to use the tools and nets of this generation wisely. Every time I hear a testimony from someone who heard about Jesus online, they always say, “I was challenged to open the Bible and read it for myself!” That’s usually followed by, “I found a gathering of other believers, and when I go meet with them, I can hear more.”
You see, some are evangelizing in the streets, some online, some at work, some in grocery stores, and some in one-on-one conversations—but all are workmen in the vineyard. One person plants the seed, another waters it, and God brings the increase.
In today’s message, the pastor said, “There isn’t just one person responsible for the gospel spreading—we all do our part. No one person can take credit for someone being saved. One might argue, ‘But that’s not fair! I spent so much time talking to my loved one about Jesus Christ, and somebody else comes along and says the word ‘Jesus,’ and suddenly they want to be saved? That’s not fair—I did most of the work!’ No, no—we all did the work, and that’s the joy of it. Some put down the footprint, others join in on the work. There is joy in the collaboration!”
I love the word he chose—collaboration. What a perfect word to describe what it means to be a member of the body of Christ. When we’re baptized, we proclaim, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
Everything we do from that point forward is done in collaboration with every other member of the body—by the power of the Spirit. One living organism, spread across lands and oceans, living as the body of Christ.
Every day, we are to be witnesses of Christ—proclaiming His Word and encouraging others to read it for themselves. We do this at work, in the streets, at school, and online. Those who are challenged to read the Bible for themselves are being convicted by the Spirit, who leads us to repentance and salvation.
Many people are searching for sound assemblies where the Bible is taught in truth, love is shared in power, and going out to serve the Lord is encouraged. We all have jobs to do, and we strive to serve well—in Spirit and Truth. Remember that we are all in this together if we truly are members of the body of Christ.
There is joy in the collaboration.
Go, serve the Lord!
Be encouraged.
—Dinah