"Keep On Sharing"

I wish you are doing great today. In Indonesia, the weather is not friendly currently. The weather keeps changing inconsistently from hot to cold and vice versa. For my Indonesia pals, please please be more careful with your condition and stay healthy :)

"Healthy citizens are the greatest asset any country can have"
Winston S. Churchill

Today's post will mostly tell some of my closest friends' experiences on how to keep on sharing Words of God to others. However, I would like to associate it with Paul's story in Corinth. If you open Acts 18:1-22, you will see how Apostle Paul kept sharing God's Words in the midst of many challenges.

Corinth is a quite strategic place for trading. It is flanked by two seas, Sea of Adria and Mediterranean Sea,
Nevertheless, Corinth is knows as a place of worshipping idols. In addition, the Jews did not like Paul's teachings.

As an ordinary person, Paul felt worry and afraid due to those challenging situations. One night, Jesus spoke to him in a vision, says 

"Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent." (v.9)

Nowadays, Paul's feeling seems to be very true. What I know so far, some of missionaries or my acquaintances are facing the same things, both internal and external challenges. But, I found some interesting sayings of my friends about why they keep sharing the Gospel to others, despite those challenges. I am sorry I cannot show you their pictures due to privacy issues.

1. Villyana Rosadi (Sunday School Teacher partner, Indonesia)

"I keep on sharing the Gospel because I have a passion on it. I feel like I owe His goodness, so I want to keep on sharing His amazing story."

2. Christopher Wijaya (Christian brother, Indonesia)

"I keep on sharing the Gospel because I love God. By knowing Him, we will know His goodness, and we will love God for sure."

3. Ridwan Kurniawan (Christian friend, Indonesia)

"I keep on sharing God's words because it is a light that will guide you. His words are alive."

4. Andrew Francis G. (Christian friend in a community, Indonesia)

"I keep on sharing God's words because I want the world to know that I have been saved by His grace, and it's not just for me, but for them too. So, I will keep on telling the Gospel to all nations with everything I have."

5. Ms. Evi (English teacher, Indonesia)

She told me her evangelical journeys. She experienced ignorance from her "disciples" to joyfulness because her "disciples" repent and serve God. I do apologize I just quote some of her essential words, due to space limitation, "Don't let those around us perished because of ignorance and deceitfulness. Let us "work" while we still have the opportunity."

6. Caroline (Cousin, Indonesia)

She told me her ups and downs during her evangelical journeys. Again, I do apologize I just quote some of her essential words. "I keep on sharing Words of God because I am blessed and their (negative) comments are not my business. I just want to be a pleasing God's instrument through sharing His words."

The last two stories come from my friends in Thailand. I met and knew them when I did my exchange program. As you may know, it is very difficult to find Christian fellows there, however, I was lucky to met them there.

5. Mind (Christian friend, Thailand)

"It is like a delicious apple I found in the desert. What would keep me away from sharing a great fruit with my beloved people?" God has mercy on me, as well as everyone out there in the world, so I want them to at least notice that there is still Someone who loves them."

6. Gale (Christian friend, Thailand)

"I personally think that if you have infinite amount of free candy like God's love. Why do you not want to share it with others when you see that they have none and have never tasted the sweetness."

"Personally, I will keep on sharing God's words because it is like a delicious food (you can name it). For me, I will tell my friends or closest one (you can name it as well) to try or taste how delicious the food (the Gospel) is. I do believe if it is a truly delicious food, your friends will love it and share it to another friend automatically."

(Brian Bernadi)

Have a great day!

God bless you :)

Brian Bernadi

brian.bernadi@yahoo.com

The First Christian

I hope this post will find you well. 

Before I share His words, please allow me to share my scary story beforehand. Currently, I am doing internship in a company in Jakarta. To reach the company, I usually ride my faithful motorbike and park it at Joseph Wibowo Center (JWC) campus. After that, I need to take Transjakarta bus in order to arrive at the company. Suddenly, while I was walking across the street carefully to the bus station, I was hit by a careless motorbike driver. Miraculously, I am still alive. Haha. It merely caused some small wounds around my ankle and sprain at my left thigh.

What I want to share with you is, at that time, I automatically reached out the rider's hand to help him to get up. Well, in my opinion, the mistake should go to the rider; however, I just automatically reached out the rider's hand. A classmate of mine said, "Wow, you really apply your faith"

What comes up in your mind when you are called "Hei Christian"?
Are you proud? Are you embarrassed? or Nothing?
Before I continue my story further, I just want to really emphasize that Christian that I shared today is not merely a religion, but it is about an intimate relationship with God.

Today's topic is about Antioch people, who then be called as The First Christian. The passage is quite short, you may read on Acts 11:19-26 thoroughly.There was a terrible persecution on God's followers in Jerusalem after Stephen's death. Stephen is one of many great martyrs at that time because he defended his Christianity before persecutors. He died because of stoning. 

After that, God's followers were scattered, and some of them went to Antioch, speaking God's words to no one except Jews. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The story is very tough, isn't it? What amaze me is the scattered people still share God's words after persecution. What a spirit we see! They still keep their faith.

I also had an experience in this area. When I did my exchange program, I had to pray in the rest room because there is no room available at that time. What a sorrowful story.
The point is wherever I am, even in another city or another country, I want to keep my faith to God. No available room will not hinder me to pray before Him.






My last story comes up when I become a Sunday School teacher. Every Saturday, I have to meditate and prepare my teaching materials on Sunday. While some of friends will enjoy their weekend, I have to "study" very hard on this serious "subject". Again, the point of this story is to keep sharing God's words and my faith. 



No matter how difficult your challenges, keep being a LIGHT of the worlds!
Show your light through your words and deeds!

Have a nice day!
God bless!

Brian Bernadi
brian.bernadi@yahoo.com