Unexpected Delays

On one of our flights out of New York City, we experienced a cancellation and numerous delays. We came very close to spending the night in the airport. We waited and waited, hoping to get a seat on a different flight as one of many on a standby list. Several flights left the airport without us. There was only one option remaining that would get us home in the wee hours of the night, as opposed to waiting until the next day.

When I spoke to the airline representative who said we would have a seat on the flight, I felt as if God had answered our prayers. Although my dad and I would not have seats together, we had found a way home! What a joy to walk down the jet bridge, able to exit an overcrowded airport that was unusually warm on a sweltering summer day in July. As we made ourselves comfortable in our newly assigned seats, a woman sat down beside me. We made small talk, comparing notes as to how many delays we had experienced and what our final destinations were.

On this particular flight, I knew that everyone was weary, having spent too much time in the airport that evening. Fearing I would be “that” person who talks incessantly throughout the entire flight, I briefly hesitated in striking up a conversation with this lady beyond the initial customary small talk. Yet in my heart, I knew I was supposed to speak to my seatmate, despite the negative reaction I might receive. I also knew we had a relatively short flight from New York to Atlanta, so if a conversation was to begin, it needed to begin almost immediately.

Thankfully, I listened intently to her introduction, recalling that she was heading to North Carolina. My parents and I spent nearly two decades vacationing at River Valley Campground in Cherokee, North Carolina. It was a tremendous blessing to have a permanent campsite across from a beautiful waterfall, which my mom affectionately referred to as “our waterfall.” Since my seatmate was heading home to another town in Western North Carolina, I decided this common ground would be the perfect basis for a conversation starter. It was not too long before I recognized that this so-called “idea” was not mine at all, but the fulfillment of God’s divine inspiration.

After an enjoyable conversation about notable locations in both North Carolina and New York (her work schedule allowed her to split her time between the two), I soon realized the plane had begun its descent. I felt led to give her one of my Gospel tracts on which I have written my testimony of how I was born dead and raised to life.

Words cannot adequately describe the rest of our time sitting beside each other, but as she read my story, tears fell from her eyes. What a humbling experience to know God used my testimony to minister to her heart in such a special way. While I may never see her again on this earth, I pray God sends someone to water the seed I planted that evening while cruising at an altitude of thirty thousand feet. I would count it a joy to meet her again in Heaven one glorious day.

Encounters such as this one teach me how important it is to listen to the still, small voice of God Himself. There are times in our lives when we become too busy, too overwhelmed, or too stressed even to pay attention to the Lord’s leading. Even amid countless delays, we can rest assured that God will help us see the reason for the temporary disruptions. If we ignore His voice, we could miss unexpected blessings, and others around us may miss the opportunity to meet Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

If we do not tell them, who will? We cannot expect our pastor or local missionary to speak to every single person on earth. That notion is essentially preposterous. Nor can we place this monumental task in the hands of our fellow congregants. Some of them may never encounter the people we see at our workplaces, our neighborhoods, or our local supermarkets. It is up to you and me to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone we meet. God places people in our path for a reason. We cannot afford to disregard His gentle leading. We need to speak words of life everywhere we go. Let us hold nothing back as we give our all for Jesus Christ!

Homecoming in Eastern Europe

Someone once said that you could not go home again. Nevertheless, I feel as if I just returned home from our home away from home. Over the past two weeks, my dad and I ministered in Bucharest, Romania and Warsaw, Poland. Having traveled to Bucharest three years ago, it was a wonderful homecoming as we greeted our precious brothers and sisters in Christ. The dear friends we met in both of these countries have become family to me. This is why I am convinced, no matter where life may take you, you may be able to return home.

Home is not simply a building comprised of four walls. Rather, it is a place where you feel completely comfortable, compassionately cared for, and so very loved. This summer, I found myself at home, more than 5,600 miles from my hometown. As we were invited into the homes of such loving friends in Eastern Europe, it became clear to me that God had orchestrated this opportunity to share the Gospel and to encourage these kindhearted people. I am humbled that God would choose my dad and me for this incredible journey.

 

Our gratefulness to God began before we even left home. Due to pandemic restrictions and civil unrest in Eastern Europe, our original travel plans were cancelled. After much prayer, we were led to find some other way to reach Bucharest and Warsaw. Romania had opened to U.S. citizens. Poland was still closed; however, we booked the travel arrangements in faith that Poland would open. Revelation 3:7-8 says when we obey His command, God will open doors that no one can close. One week before our departure, God opened the door to Poland.

 

Our entire trip was filled with memories that will remain in our hearts forever. We will always cherish the sweet fellowship with dear friends. One pastor invited us to their home more than once for a delightful meal with his family. On one occasion, they even invited one of my close friends from the church to join us for dinner in their home. What a wonderful gesture, one for which I am very grateful.

Many of the church members shared delicious meals with us. We enjoyed scrumptious food, not only Romanian and Polish cuisine, but also delectable dishes from Myanmar, India, Lebanon, Italy, Thailand, and Moldova. The meals were some of the best we have ever encountered. The combination of spices and fresh ingredients truly made my taste buds sing. Yet, the number one ingredient was love.

 

Sitting in the apartment of one of the families in Romania, we listened and watched as one of their children played worship songs on the keyboard as some of their siblings sang along. Afterward, we all sang together, giving all of the glory and honor to the Lord. Our praise transitioned to prayer as we all bowed our heads. Everyone, including these precious boys and girls, prayed aloud to Jesus Christ. As I prayed over this family, I could not hold back the tears. My heart was literally overflowing with joy as I sat there, feeling the presence of God in the room. As Jesus said, “‘For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them’” (Matt. 18:20 NLT).

 

Throughout our time in these two countries, God opened the door for us to encourage others. Simultaneously, we were encouraged ourselves. The people God placed in our path took First Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV) to heart: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” They continually encouraged us through their friendship and their prayers. How special it was when one of the pastors, his wife, my dad, and I all shared in praying for one another aloud!

 

Words could never express the magnitude of the love shown to us by our friends in Eastern Europe. The term unconditional love does not suffice. They shined forth the love of Jesus Christ to us in so many ways. In addition to their love, they gave us a priceless gift: their time. Even after each church service, these caring friends desired not to hurry home, but to fellowship with us, giving us the opportunity to know them better. Setting aside entire days to join us in ministry, I never once heard someone say, “I’m too busy.” They knew God had arranged a divine appointment for us to fellowship together and to proclaim the Gospel in their city.

 

Several times, some of these devoted Christians joined us for evangelism in local parks and market squares. I will never forget the people we met along the way, such as the woman in the park in Bucharest who told me she felt like an orphan, having lost both of her parents. The fact that God would provide me the opportunity to share the love of Jesus Christ with her, as she stood there in tears, was truly humbling. Then there was the woman and her daughter in Warsaw whose family had made bird whistles by hand for multiple generations, as well as the man and woman who we witnessed to on two separate occasions. My dad and I sang on city streets, handed out Gospel tracts, and told people why we had traveled so far. We came to share the Gospel, just as Mark 16:15 tells us to do. God ordered our steps all along the way.

 

While I have memories that will last forever, my greatest desire is that someone will water the seeds we have sown. As the apostle Paul said, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow” (1 Cor. 3:6-7 NIV). My dad and I planted seeds and watered others. Now, we pray God will speak to the hearts and lives of the men, women, and children with whom we were blessed to share the Gospel.

 

The number one reason we travel is not to see the sights, but to set our sights on Jesus Christ. He is the truth, the life, and the only way to salvation (John 14:6). May we all make the most of every opportunity we have to tell someone about Jesus before His soon return! Like our treasured friends in Bucharest and Warsaw, we pray that every soul we encountered on this journey will one day be our friend in Heaven, our eternal home (Luke 16:9).

When Opportunity Knocks

Thomas Alva Edison once said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” How true this is, especially in today’s society. But what if the work we are called to do holds the key to a life-changing experience for another individual? Would we refrain from completing a task with such profound significance?

Many of us work at least five days a week. Although we put 100% into our careers, we often count down the days until our next vacation. Whether we simply need a break to rejuvenate ourselves or we need a break to maintain our sanity, most people enjoy a day off. Nevertheless, there is one job that requires us to be “on-call” 365 days a year. While this might sound a little extreme, it is the most important position we could ever fill.

Jesus said, “‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned’” (Mark 16:15-16 NIV). We are called to share the gospel of Jesus Christ everywhere we go. Jesus didn’t tell us to preach the gospel five days a week, or to solely share the good news at church on Sunday.

Additionally, He didn’t make this commandment optional, for it doesn’t say go into the world and preach the gospel if you feel like it. Jesus knew the importance of spreading the gospel. Whoever believes will be saved and will receive the gift of eternal life in Heaven. Whoever does not believe will be condemned to eternal hell. Wouldn’t you do everything you could to save someone from a burning building? And so we should strive every day to save others from the eternal fire of hell.

As followers of Christ, we are called to share the love of Jesus Christ with everyone we meet. Perhaps you are thinking, I’m not a preacher, evangelist, music minister, deacon, or any other title found within the church or field of ministry. That’s the beauty of the gospel. The only qualification to share the gospel is to believe the gospel. If you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you qualify for the job.

When you read the newspaper or watch the evening news, it is evident that Christ’s return is imminent. One day soon, a trumpet will sound and the “dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (I Thessalonians 4:16-17 NIV). Our mission is to share this glorious news with others before it is too late.

I Thessalonians 5:2 (NIV) declares, “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” Many people will be caught off guard. People often put it off, saying they will accept Christ tomorrow, next week, or even next year. They want to wait until a more “convenient” time. Yet the return of Christ could be today.

Many people think they don’t have enough time to witness to others. Jesus knew this would be the case, even 2,000 years ago. Jesus told His disciples, “‘the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few’” (Matthew 9:37 NIV). Jesus knew that millions of souls needed to be saved, yet most people would be too busy to show them the way to salvation. He knew people would often refrain from sharing the greatest gift ever given in the history of mankind.

Just as Edison said opportunity was missed by most people, we often miss opportunities to share the gospel. Yet God’s Word says, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity” (Colossians 4:5 NIV). God places people in our path, if we slow down long enough to notice them there. We could encounter someone on an airplane, at the grocery store, in a hospital, or anywhere else we may find ourselves. Instead of rushing on past them, let’s make a concerted effort to speak to them. Speak words of life. Tell them Jesus Christ loves them more than they could ever imagine.

I can tell you from personal experience that these encounters make a difference. Not too long ago, I witnessed to a lady on an airplane. Uncertain whether I should be one of those people who talk too much to their seatmate, I felt something tugging at my heart strings to speak to her anyway. After some small talk, comparing our travel notes and finding some common ground, I presented her with one of my Gospel tracts, sharing my testimony of how I was raised to life as a premature infant. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she told me how much my story had touched her.

While I will likely never see her again in this life, it is my prayer that I will see her in the life to come. Every time we sow a seed, the Lord will send someone along to water that seed. Whether you are called to sow the seed or nurture the seed, be sure to put forth your best effort. You could be the first person to tell someone that Jesus loves them. Share the gospel with everyone you meet. Be a harvester!

Don’t miss the opportunity to work for the kingdom. When opportunity knocks, you could be the one to lead a lost soul to Christ. If you find yourself contemplating whether or not to share Jesus Christ with the waiter or waitress, the store clerk, your supervisor, or your neighbor across the street, don’t debate the issue. Ask God to give you wisdom. Then, go forth and proclaim the good news! Tell someone about the love of Jesus Christ today!

In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer

I invite you to visit www.christwillreturn.org and www.jennifercampbell.net for more blogs, my Be Encouraged! video series, free mp3 downloads, and more. May they be an encouragement to you today! God's blessings!

The Search for Answers

When was the last time you asked someone a question? Or when was the last time you typed in an address on your GPS system? What if life was that simple? What would the world be like if we could ask a question and immediately receive the perfect answer? While the Internet has the answer to many questions, it cannot tell me where I will be twenty years from now. It cannot tell us if we will be united in marriage or if we will have children and raise a family. Amid a myriad of challenging questions, it seems we are all on the constant search for answers. The World Wide Web cannot answer them. Even someone as intelligent as Einstein would be utterly perplexed. Yet the answer is so simple a child could understand.

A little over two thousand years ago, God, the Creator of the universe, spoke this entire world into existence. He created every single aspect of this earth, from the smallest grain of sand to the tallest towering tree and the most miniature hummingbird in the air to the colossal whales in the sea. But his greatest creation was extra special. He created you and me, human beings whom he loves unconditionally. In fact, he loved us so much that he gave his only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross, so we could receive forgiveness and salvation through him. But he didn’t stop there. God also loved us enough that he gave us the freedom to choose whether or not we would love him in return.

God does not desire to have an army of robots who worship him simply because they are programmed to do so. He allows us to choose whether or not we will serve him. He gives us the ability to determine our own destiny. The choice is simple. You and I can choose to dedicate our lives to the cause of Christ, or we can reject the very one who died to save us from our sins. If you choose Christ, you gain everlasting love and eternal life in Heaven. If you reject him, you subject yourself to a life of despair, culminating with eternity in Hell.

This summer, my Dad and I spoke to many individuals about the Good News of the Gospel. Some of the people we talked to were very open to hearing the message of Jesus Christ. Others were adamantly against hearing the truth. Sadly, many people go on searching for answers their entire lives, never finding the answer to the over-arching question: Why am I here? For some people, they believe the world came into existence via a Big Bang. But if you think about the aftermath of an explosion, it results in things being torn apart, not coming together. Others think the world evolved into what it is today. When I look at medieval castles, ancient city ruins, and other historic sites I have explored, I can tell you firsthand that things on this earth do not evolve. Instead, they decay and fall apart.

Look at the intricacy of the living things upon this earth. Cats have 32 muscles in each ear, which is why they can have one move completely independent from the other. Elephants have four legs that all bend forward, the only quadruped designed this way, so it is able to carry its enormous body weight. The human body is the most complex of all, having more than 30 trillion cells, each one performing 10,000 chemical functions. This earth was no accident. Just as a skyscraper has an architect to formulate its complex design, this earth also has a Master Designer. God created this earth and every single thing in the entire universe. He created us in his very own image (Genesis 1:27), so we could live for him.

Amid so much uncertainty in this world, I am grateful to know that God is in control. God loves us

unconditionally. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so whosoever believes in him shall not die, but have eternal life.” Every one of us has made mistakes. We have all sinned. But the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on our behalf will wash away all sin. Jesus died so we could have our sins forgiven. No matter what you have done or where you come from, Jesus died for you. I John 3:16 says, “This is how we know what love is: Christ gave his life for us.” Jesus rose again on the third day and is sitting at the right hand of God, interceding on our behalf. That’s how much he loves us. He even intercedes for people who have rejected him.

There are many questions in life. But the most important question is, “Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?” If the answer is yes, then I look forward to seeing you in Heaven one day! If the answer is no, I urge you to stop searching for answers in all of the wrong places. Jesus Christ is the Answer you seek. Jesus Christ loves you more than you could ever fully comprehend. Make a decision to break free from the sin that has been ruling your life. Take hold of the nail-pierced hand of the One who gave his life for you. Choose to love the One who created you. Above all, remember Jesus Christ is the Answer to all of life’s problems.