A Model of Witnessing Through Praise
by Francine Taylor-Thirus
A few days ago I was asked, "Where has God's grace appeared in your life recently?" I was able to recall that
I had had an "angel moment" a few days before. An "angel moment" is one of those unexpected God-given experiences that leaves you knowing you have been in the presence of God.
Not long ago, I was sitting on a small plane going over my presentation. We were almost ready to take off when a young lady boarded and asked if could she take the seat next to me. I invited her to take the seat. She was obviously somewhat disturbed and agitated. As she settled down, she looked at what I was doing and asked if I was a recruiter. I have no idea what she saw that made her think I was a recruiter. Sharing with her that I worked for The United Methodist Church opened the door for her to give me an abundance of information about herself.
This young lady was about thirty and had experienced a disconnection with churches and Christians for a long period of her life. She was now attending a church that she was very excited about; she was offered numerous experiences where she could experience the living presence and power of Christ. Prior to this church experience, her impression of church consisted of seeing people reading, memorizing, and singing in a detached and habitual way. She felt a disdain for this and could not connect with it.
Her new church welcomed, nurtured, loved, and reached out to her. In addition, she believed that they were willing to be vulnerable and to live out God's reign in their lives each day; they shared their genuine love in powerful ways. This touched her in a way that invited her to be excited, energetic, committed — a witness and a disciple for her church and for God. She was living these experiences as easily as breathing. This was truly a turning point in her life.
Her faith modeled an important component of an experiential relationship with Christ and how it relates to the work of disciple-making — praise. In addition to Bible study, reading, attending classes, singing, praying, fasting, and preaching, there must be a real experiential relationship with the living Christ that is just as strong outside church as it is inside!
I am reminded of Psalm 9:1-2 (NRSV): "I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart: I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High."
My conversation with her was truly an "angel moment" for me, a feeling of being surrounded by Christ's presence. One of the natural ways of making disciples is by praising God through witnessing. We naturally want to tell others about our joy in the form of praise. It is authentic and real. In this sense, you could say that I am a recruiter, she is a recruiter, you are a recruiter, and all of God's children are recruiters . . . for God!
Dr. Francine Taylor-Thirus previously served on the staff of the General Board of Discipleship.
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