This was the question Transform participants asked people on the streets of Rome yesterday. Following are a few of the encouraging stories...
Detoured for Peace
Hilary from Scotland was eager to see whom God wanted her to meet on Wednesday afternoon’s outreach in the centre of Rome. Kayla, delayed four days en route to Transform, had finally arrived but there was no one else available to meet her at the train station. Hilary refused to be disappointed about missing the opportunity to minister in Rome, and resolved to accept ‘Plan B’.
While waiting for the train, Hilary was approached by a young Italian Muslim. After initial introductions, their conversation turned to a comparison of the Koran and the Bible. Never having shared with a Muslim, Hilary was rather daunted at first, but then asked: “If you could ask God one thing today for you, what would that be?” “Peace,” was his solemn reply. As she asked God to reveal truth to the young Italian, tears streamed down Hilary's cheeks.
As his ride arrived, Kayla’s train pulled into the station. She had missed her first train while sharing the Gospel with someone at the airport. If she hadn’t taken that opportunity, neither that person nor the young Italian would have learnt about Christ this week. Delays…or divine appointments? God uses both when we act in faith.
Now Hear This
Feeling the heat of the day in Rome, Lory’s group decided to cool off with gelato, chatting with their server as they ordered. During orientation for the afternoon, suggestions were given on how to engage in a conversation about God including the question “If you could ask one thing from God today for you, what would it be?”
When the waitress was asked, she responded that she had a lot of pain and pressure in her ear; she wished for that to go away. When asked if they could pray for her, the woman was touched that young people would so offer to pray for others—very unusual in Rome. After praying, Lory asked her if her ear felt any better. She responded excitedly that the pressure was gone, though some pain remained. Seizing the moment, the server called over her colleague and asked Lory’s team to ask him the same question. He was hesitant to converse, but responded that he would like to have a son with his wife. After praying, the man seemed very thankful and open to the message that God loves and cares for us. No dramatic decisions were made, but seeds were planted in these people’s lives. Who knows what this moment will cultivate in the future of these people’s lives?
Finding Common Ground
As the day’s outreach in Rome was coming to a close, David tried to distribute his remaining literature on the way to the train station. Ricardo stopped him and asked where David was from.
When David responded that he was from Toronto, Ricardo said he had family in Toronto. Excited by this connection, David realized God was giving him an opportunity, so he fell in step with the man and they began talking. David gave him his email and an invitation to visit if he ever came to Toronto. Ricardo responded positively, and shortly after stopped for coffee. They discovered they were heading back on the same train, so David talked further with Ricardo, told him where he was staying, and hopes to see him again to continue building this relationship—one more example of the many seeds planted in one afternoon that could lead to deeper relationships between participants, people on the street, and God.