Counties Evangelist, Janet Hawking shares two stories of how faith is spread by our dedication to the Great Commission.

JANET’S STORY

JANET HAWKING

Janet is a Counties associate evangelist and lives in North Pembrokeshire. She travels and teaches ‘Walk Through The Bible’.

She became a Christian at age 14 when she knelt in a Methodist Chapel in Devon after a rare altar call to surrender her life to Christ.

She says about teaching the Bible:

“It’s fun, but powerful, giving them the option of a Bible enhances the lessons. We can do this because of supporting churches and individuals. Also, Picture and Good News Bibles come from the charity Bibles For Children, of which I am the Welsh associate - over 5000 were presented to our West Wales Schools last year.”

There’s an old hymn: “Tell me the old, old Story of Jesus and His Love.”

What a privilege to go from school to school, mainly non-faith Welsh-speaking junior schools, to share Bible stories. A whole hour flies by, and the teachers are amazed at the pupils' response, who join in, ask questions, and then ask for a Bible to read and keep.  Eleven-year-old lads and girls are choosing a Good News Bible. 

Three months after being presented with them, they still bring them into school to read, leaving them on display on their desks. 

A teacher shared that a girl had been baptized four weeks earlier. After teaching her about Jesus’ birth and baptism, I asked if she would like to share it with her class. She came to the front and told us all how her Grandma had invited her to church. She had asked for forgiveness and knew Jesus had set her free, so she chose to be baptized. Her face was beaming as she told her class.  

Jesus came to seek and save the Lost!

I needed to deliver magazines to friends of the Good News For Everyone - formerly Gideons, so I cold-called a lady. We stood chatting on the doorstep, then she invited me in. She shared about a recent health diagnosis, and that she had not been to her Welsh chapel for ages, but needed a healing. I saw a lonely, isolated lady. So I shared my story of how Jesus had met me in an unfortunate, difficult situation. Her tears started to roll.  As I went to leave, she was very happy for me to hold her clenched hand and pray for her, and more tears rolled down her face. So I hugged her before leaving - blessed that I had made the effort to track her house down and visit her, even though I have a busy schedule. 

I was saddened when I emailed a dear friend from her chapel, and she replied: “Great, I hope we will see her in church again soon.” My heart sank as Jesus sought and loved the lost before they returned to the fold. Seeking, loving, praying, and sharing one-to-one in their safe places takes time, but Jesus said: “Go, not hope, and wait until they come to you .” 

May we have the heart of the Good Shepherd to GO, SEEK THE LOST.