Unfortunately, I did not get around to blogging while I was still in Barcelona after my first day there. So now now that I am back in Cambridge and writing I have probably forgotten some names and places. In any event my second day in Barcelona began with trying to find a good walking tour. I left the hostel at about 10:45 on my way to where a free walking tour of the Gothic quarter met. But alas, I did not find the place in time. So the majority of my second day was spent walking up and down La Ramblas - a major tourist street with souvenir shops and the like - and watching street performers. After a couple hours of that I had enough and went back to the hostel for a bite to eat and to work on some homework I had to get done over the weekend. Yes I actually spent time working on homework while I was in Barcelona. As the night drew near I was hanging out in the hostel and surfing the internet. I noticed a group of people getting to know each other and I contemplated sitting down with them or loading a movie onto my computer and calling it a night because I was feeling rather lazy. I said to myself that I am staying in a hostel to meet new people. So I introduced myself and offered everyone a beer. (The beer in Barcelona is cheaper than the soda and even some of the water.) I got to know a huge group of people.
After talking with this group for a while, I got invited to go out to the beach and have a couple beers with Scott a guy from Arizona, Christ from Montana, and two French girls whose names I could not spell even if I did remember them. I accepted the invitation and had a great night with the four of them. It never fails to amaze me how every one I talk to will listen to me talk about Christianity and becoming a pastor. I basically had four unchurched people listening to me and asking me questions for about an hour and a half out on the beach before the conversation gradually went in other directions. I am thankful that the Holy Spirit provides me with these opportunities to plant and/or water the Gospel in people.
This Gospel talk leads me to a tangent. As I was telling my friends here at Westfield House about my time in Barcelona I got to thinking about a possible mission system. Instead of spending $12,000 on coasters, pens, balloons, and other - imho - useless marketing paraphernalia for Ablaze the LCMS could fund 3 month long trips to Europe. The 'missionary' could move from hostel to hostel talking about the Gospel with people and planting seeds. I know that there is a lack of sacraments and follow up in this model, but come on its Ablaze. I constantly found myself talking about the Christian Gospel with people and they were actually listening or doing a great job of pretending to listen (but to pretend to listen that well you have to actually listen don't you?). The missionary could have a 10 - 20 minute Bible study prepared for anyone who really got interested in the Gospel and could have a list of Churches in the different countries so that he could refer one to people whom the Holy Spirit was working on. I don't know how helpful this would be I am just know that the opportunity for talking with people who would otherwise put themselves no where near the Church or any Christian presented itself to me time and time again while I was traveling through Europe.
After talking with this group for a while, I got invited to go out to the beach and have a couple beers with Scott a guy from Arizona, Christ from Montana, and two French girls whose names I could not spell even if I did remember them. I accepted the invitation and had a great night with the four of them. It never fails to amaze me how every one I talk to will listen to me talk about Christianity and becoming a pastor. I basically had four unchurched people listening to me and asking me questions for about an hour and a half out on the beach before the conversation gradually went in other directions. I am thankful that the Holy Spirit provides me with these opportunities to plant and/or water the Gospel in people.
This Gospel talk leads me to a tangent. As I was telling my friends here at Westfield House about my time in Barcelona I got to thinking about a possible mission system. Instead of spending $12,000 on coasters, pens, balloons, and other - imho - useless marketing paraphernalia for Ablaze the LCMS could fund 3 month long trips to Europe. The 'missionary' could move from hostel to hostel talking about the Gospel with people and planting seeds. I know that there is a lack of sacraments and follow up in this model, but come on its Ablaze. I constantly found myself talking about the Christian Gospel with people and they were actually listening or doing a great job of pretending to listen (but to pretend to listen that well you have to actually listen don't you?). The missionary could have a 10 - 20 minute Bible study prepared for anyone who really got interested in the Gospel and could have a list of Churches in the different countries so that he could refer one to people whom the Holy Spirit was working on. I don't know how helpful this would be I am just know that the opportunity for talking with people who would otherwise put themselves no where near the Church or any Christian presented itself to me time and time again while I was traveling through Europe.
1 comment:
You could sign me up for that type of mission work.
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