Passing It On

Derek is one of our best friends from our time in our old city, Jingzhou, and he is also one of the brothers that we spent the most time discipling. After we left Jingzhou, Derek got involved with an all-Chinese, Christian student group and he's kept growing during the past year or so. Several days ago, Derek called and told us about his new business plan that he's really excited about. He and one Christian sister plan to open a small English training school, using passages from the Bible and other Christian material to teach English. He's got the whole business plan worked out and is rearing to go. He's even decided that half of the money he makes from the business will go back to the church.

Lisa and I were pretty surprised to hear this idea from Derek. After starting out as an all-star English student who first learned about Jesus in an English meeting, Derek kind of got tired of English in the classroom and got tuned into worshiping & learning about God in his own language. But a month or two ago, Derek heard somebody speaking at the student group about how we should use our gifts and abilities to serve people and glorify God. Even though Derek doesn't really like English (he's getting a master's degree in Finance now), he does have pretty wonderful English (he came in first in a TV speech competition!) and he still has somewhat of a reputation around the university as a great English speaker. So Derek and the other Christian Esther spent some time thinking and praying about how to best use their gifts to serve others AND glorify God.

Now that they've come up with this business idea, they're excited and we are too. We think it's amazing to see young believers not only continuing in their faith, but taking the initiative to share it in new and unique ways. This sort of thing gives me lots of hope as I think back on other people that we've discipled and wonder how they might be used by God for great things.

Please pray for Derek, Esther, and the "good for the Kingdom" business that they'll be starting!