Man, oh man!
I just had to write something about tonight, before I forget it. I've been going to a new church on Wednesday nights. A church that I love, a church that loves their church, a church that loves the community, a church that loves lost people, a church that LOVES!
The pastor there, is one of the best pastors I have ever heard. He's one of my favorite speakers, and ALWAYS learn something from him.
I've been so caught up lately with working in communities that are not around me, I have been so caught up in finding places outside of this state to do missions. I havent loved this community. You see, I've grown up here pretty much. The only other place I have lived was Alabama where I was born, and I only lived there until I was two. Since i have grown up here, I have not loved this place like I should. I have not loved the people here like I should. I could leave here tomorrow, and not miss it at all.
I spent two months in San Diego this summer. I love that city, and those people more than I have EVER loved this city and the people here. We NEED to love this city! It needs love just as much as any other city! Yes there are over three million people in San Diego ALONE, and less than three percent CLAIM to be christians, and they need that SO badly! But people need christ here too! If we go else where for a week, a month, two months, maybe even a year, you cant build that relationship that you need to build with a person, like you can if you live there.  If we talk to people in our community, we can build a relationship with them, and we can learn to love them, and we can show them what a real christian is like!
Tonight challenged me to LOVE my community, not just be like "yeah I love my community, its a cool place" but really LOVE it. And to LOVE the people here. When I was in San Diego, it was a lot easier for me to talk to people I didnt know, and it was so easy for me to just try to build relationships with them. But here, in my home town, its hard. Its really hard! Because we know if we're 1000 miles away from home, we most likely wont ever see that person again, but here at home, there is that chance that you will see them again. WHAT'S THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN?? They dont talk to you? The reject the gospel? Let me tell you this, if they reject what you are saying, they are NOT rejecting YOU, they are rejecting GOD. Its not your fault because they reject what God is saying, it is just because they are not ready for that relationship with God. But if you keep that relationship with them, and keep bringing it up with them (but not shoving it in their faces) eventually they might come around. Their hearts just need to be in the right place, God needs to be the one to move their hearts, not you. Let God move through you, dont let your words speak, let God's word speak.
Im challenging myself, along with whoever else reads this to witness to at least one person every two weeks. Maybe even every week. I dont get to go to starbucks, or the mall, or wherever, every week, which is why I said every two weeks, cause I know we all at least go somewhere every two week. We can do this guys! There is a revival that is waiting to happen! We NEED to get out there and start this revival! Its not going to start by itself! We need good strong christians to help start this revival that is just waiting to heppen! It's not only a challenge for you, its a challenge for me. I have not done my part with this. I have not loved my community, I have not wanted to witness to my community. But it must be done! If you are a christian, you are called to be a missionary! You might not be very good at talking, but God will use you in amazing ways. God will talk through you if you let him. I know this for a fact. I am not good at striking up conversations with people I do not know, I stumble over my words, I ask stupid questions, BUT if you ask God to give you words, he will. Every time this summer I was about to talk to someone, I would ask God to not let my words get in the way of His, and to let him speak through me. If you're in college, away from home, you can do this too, you can build relationships with the people you will be spending the next four years with. The relationships you build in college, are some that will last forever if you let then. They're the people that you live with, you take classes with, you pass by on campus every day, what better way to witness to people than on your college campus!! I am so excited about this, I am going to be stepping out of my comfort zone a LOT for this, but I am excited to see what God does with it. You never know who might need to hear what you have to say, you never know who needs to hear what God has done in your life, you never know who need to hear the Gospel, so go for it! Share! "If you believe in Heaven and Hell, how much do you have to hate someone to not tell them how to get to Heaven?" -Penn Jillette. If you dont know who he is, then that's pretty crazy haha. Penn is an athiest, he said that in a video where he was talking about someone who gave him a Bible. Amazing, and SO true! Here's another challenge, do to the mall sit on a bench where you can watch people walk by and look at them and picture with them having "condemned to Hell" written on their forhead. See how you feel after that. It will break your heart.
I know who I am going to witness to. It's going to be hard, but I am going to try to do it. His name is Jake, he works at journeys. I've talked to him a lot while I've been in there shopping, super great guy, but not a christian. Every time I talk to him I can tell he's looking for something more. I want to talk to him about what he believes and why he believes it. Be praying for me as I am doing that, be praying for me as I am taking on this challenge to love my community, and to witness to someone every two weeks. I will be praying for you that you will love your community, I will be praying that you take this challenge, and that you will see this revival that is waiting to happen. I will be praying for you as you go out into the world and you make disciples! Im so excited about this, and I hope and pray you are too!

In Christ,
Hannah