One Person Can Make a Difference

Do you ever feel alone? Do you ever ask yourself what difference can I make in the world around me when I’m just one person?This is the question Brother Andrew asked that set in motion a lifetime of ministry in countries closed to the Gospel. He chose to follow God no matter where it led him, and seventy years later, the work he began is still going strong.This week, as we wrap up our four-week discussion of God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew, Lori and I asked ourselves this question: What can I do?Here’s what we kept coming back to: Andrew didn’t start with a grand strategy. He started with a yes. What looked like extraordinary courage was actually ordinary faithfulness. His life was a model of quiet obedience. And God did the rest.We came into this book expecting an adventure story. What we got was a mirror.Because the truth is, most of us are still holding onto our “yes, but.” Yes, but I’m not qualified. Yes, but I don’t have the resources. Yes, but my life is ordinary. Andrew had every one of those excuses — and he laid them all down by the side of a canal one afternoon and never picked them back up.The mission field God has placed in front of you is real — even if it never requires a passport. Your neighborhood, your workplace, your family table. The person sitting across from you who is desperate for someone to notice. That’s not a small assignment. That is the assignment.Obedience is just doing something. It’s you being willing.So we want to ask you what we’ve been asking ourselves: Are you willing to go where God calls — whether that’s across the world or across the street? What would it look like to let the Holy Spirit work through your willingness?SummaryIn the fourth and final episode of their God’s Smuggler discussion, Lori and Christy explore how one ordinary person, willing to follow God wherever He leads, can impact the persecuted church around the world and in their own backyard.Key takeaways:* The question “What can one person do?” was the catalyst for Brother Andrew’s ministry.* God uses us most when we feel weakest and least equipped.* Ministry opportunities exist in your own community, even if you never cross a border.* Persecution takes many forms, but indifference may be the most dangerous threat the church faces.* God is never defeated, no matter what opposition He encounters.Reader Guide Download:Suggested Reading ScheduleEach episode for God’s Smuggler will discuss a theme woven throughout Brother Andrew’s life. This is a suggested guide for reading if you want to create your own discussion with friends.Episode 1: Background of Brother Andrew’s Life — Chapters 1-7Episode 2: Trusting God When All The Evidence Says “No” — Chapters 8-13Episode 3: Praying It Through — Chapters 14-18Episode 4: One Person Can Make a Difference — Chapters 19-EpilogueWe’d Love to Hear From You!We’re making a list of Listener Favorites. Send us your favorite quote from God’s Smuggler - OR one thing that stood out to you from our previous episodes. We will share this list in an upcoming newsletter. To be included, please leave your short response in the comments below or send us an email at [email protected] Next BookNext month we’ll be reading Desiring God by John Piper.“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.” This simple but powerful statement has been a cornerstone of John Piper’s ministry for nearly 40 years. Laying out the principles behind this “Christian Hedonism” Desiring God has proved to be a source of rich theological insight for countless readers through the years, guiding them to the fullness of joy found in Christ.Get your copy HERE!All product links are affiliate links. Purchasing products from the links on this page helps support our ministry. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wellwornpages.substack.com