Crossing the Cultural Barrier

I have been working in the stock room of a clothing store. There is a young Hispanic woman, Maria, who also works in the stock room. It's kind of funny to me that I hadn't ever thought about sharing my faith with her because we are from such different worlds.

Last week, I happened to bring some photos from the Timothy Ministry Luncheon. After I put the pictures away, Maria walked into the room and asked me about the photos. Somehow, I just had a feeling that God was in this because Maria and I never talk about anything outside the duties of the stock room. I explained to her that the photos were from a ministry and then continued to share with her. She told me she was Catholic, and I explained that I also once was Catholic and how I was invited to a bible study, and then how I came to know Jesus personally like I had never known God before.

Tears came to her eyes right there in the dark stock room and she told me that when she was a child her family visited relatives in their home country and she attended a non-denominational church one time with her aunt. She has never been able to get the experience out of her mind.  She said she cried at that service and for the first, and only, time in her life she really "felt God" in that church but has never had the experience since. She said she has been waiting until she can visit her home country again - maybe two years from now - so she can return to that church.

I explained that she doesn't have to wait. She can have that right now and then I shared the gospel message with her in my own words. I told her I would pray that God would direct her to a bible-teaching church. One problem, however, was that she has to work every weekend, including Sundays.

I told her that I knew God was in this and He can do anything so we should pray. Later that day while shopping at Target, I ran into a friend who attends another evangelical church in the area. She shared her excitement that they now have a young Spanish church in the building and the pastor is only 24 years old and they are on fire. I told her about Maria and my friend gave me the Spanish pastor's phone number. Today while I was with Maria in the stock room, she called this pastor on my cell phone and talked for 20 minutes. She cried as she hung up. She is going to begin attending this weekend because, somehow, our store manager told her a few days ago that she didn't have to work weekends anymore beginning this weekend. Talk about God's perfect timing.

God is amazing!  Maria is so happy and she said the Spanish pastor told her that this is a miracle of God that somehow she would find this church while working in the stock room of a clothing store. I have to tell you that the Gospel 5000 actually was a reminder to me as I felt more encouraged to share the gospel message with her instead of stopping after sharing my testimony as I usually do.

A Weekend Trip Takes a Spiritual Turn
Serving Up Faith in the Break Room
Building a Relationship with Someone Who Needs Christ 
Never Too Young to Evangelize!
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