Bobby, Jeffrey, and Me

I had to share what God is doing with me because I couldn’t hold it in and I want you all to see how God can use our workplace as a place for ministry. As you all know, I work for Literacy Volunteers of Lee County. We help people who want to learn English as a second language or people who need to improve their reading, writing, spelling, or grammar in general. Bobby came to our office about a month ago. He’s in his mid fourties and needs help with his overall English. He can speak it and he can read it, but he has trouble spelling and writing. I had been contemplating becoming a tutor because I saw that I could use this time to befriend someone who I could serve by offering classes, so when I met Bobby, I decided he would be my first student. We met yesterday for the first time to start class. Bobby works on boats and is kind of a rough around the edges type of guy. He doesn’t show a lot of emotions and he is guarded in his openness. The class went well and I am trying to slowly get to know him as a person and show kindness through our time together on Thursdays. He’s been through a lot in his life and things just haven’t seemed to go his way, but hopefully God will use our time together to reach him and draw him to the cross.

Then there is Jeffrey. He is from Jamaica. He has two children there and he is married here. Jeffrey has a good understanding of God. He says he reads the Bible daily and tries to follow him. We had our first class today. It was awesome! We talked and talked for about 3 hrs. Even after the class time was over. Jeffrey is more open and willing to share his life experiences. He realizes that he needs God, but has a vague understanding of the role Jesus plays in all of it. We spent most of our time together discussing Jesus and what the Gospel is all about. I’m not sure if he gets it yet, but I am hopeful that through time, he will be drawn to the truth and and be transformed. He is a genuine guy and really wants God in his life. I had the opportunity to pray with him before he left and it was great to see the surprise in his face as he realized that I have his best interest at heart. Please, keep Bobby and Jeffrey in your prayers.

So…what about me? I am humbled. I am humbled to think that God would use in the lives of these two different men, but in need of the same kindness and love that was offered to us through Jesus. I am certainly not worthy of being used in this way, but all the glory goes to God. I am starting to see things differently. It’s not about trying to find a perfect place to do ministry or to minister. All we need to do is look around and see people who need Jesus, then get to work. I hope this serves as a testimony that God is at work while we are at work, but He’s always there before us.