When a young single pastor arrived in a veiled country,* he was eager to connect with the community and wondered how he should let his light shine for God. But with no wife and children, he had little in common with families. He felt awkward inviting anyone to his home because he had no wife to assist him with hospitality. What were his options? His greatest assets were speed, strength, and agility—he was a highly skilled athlete. But how could he use this skill set to make friends with the community?

Soon Gabriel† and his team arrived to help this single pastor establish an urban center of influence. As the group worked together and assessed their gifts, they discovered that several other team members also had skills and education in sports. It was easy to see that they were best suited to open an athletics academy for the community.

Painstakingly, the team built the business, using their international origins as a novelty to attract the community. Over time, they enrolled some 120 students, a large enough clientele to warrant hiring employees from the community. They had arrived at success, but, ironically, it didn’t afford many opportunities to connect with people. Students would get out of their vehicles, take part in classes, then get back into their vehicles and go home. This kind of business didn’t allow much time to talk. The team began to doubt whether sports were the best way to develop relationships with the community.

The young single pastor soon left. But every day, Gabriel and his team worked alongside their employees who were hired from the community. They soon became friends. When one man experienced marriage problems, the team rallied around him, listened to him, and prayed with him. After he divorced, he was all alone in the city. “You are the reason why I stay here,” he shared with the team. “You’re my family,” he said repeatedly.

Now the team meets with him regularly, sharing God’s love and truth.

Another employee organized an early morning walking group that Gabriel joined. “After walking, we have breakfast together somewhere on the street,” Gabriel explained, which allows plenty of time for deep discussions.

On one of these early morning walks, one of his employees said, “Hey, you should invite me to your prayer time,” knowing that Gabriel met regularly with like-minded believers. Inwardly, Gabriel was thrilled, but he hesitated. He had no place to invite his employee that would be appropriate for his culture. “The Holy Spirit impressed me to offer to meet with him privately just like I’m doing with our other employee,” Gabriel said. “But I didn’t tell him that we’re also meeting with our other employee,” Gabriel chuckled gleefully, “so neither one knows!”

Gabriel is delighted because this intense interest from their employees means it’s time to plan the next step. Gabriel and his team are currently planning a small group meeting in his home, where they can invite their friends to talk, pray, and share together on the Sabbath day. Eventually, as their language skills improve, they plan to conduct it in the local language.

Gabriel and his team have also branched out to use the other team members’ gifts and now offer classes or activities beyond sports for different ages and for both men and women.

“Sometimes it’s best to assess the needs of the community and plan how to meet those needs,” Gabriel said, “but God can use any talent or gift that He’s already given you. If you’re good at cooking, we’ll let you cook. If you’re good with kids, let’s use that. If you’re good at teaching languages, we can use that. Think about what you like to do, then look for a way to transform this gift into a project.”

Ellen White wrote, “Those who have not a large endowment of gifts need not be discouraged. Let them use what they have, faithfully guarding every weak point in their characters, seeking by divine grace to make it strong. Into every action of life we are to weave faithfulness and loyalty, cultivating the attributes that will enable us to accomplish the work.”‡

Please pray for Gabriel and his team as they expand their center of influence to reach more and more people in their community with the gifts God has given them.

* We call a country veiled when we have withheld its name to protect the lives and ministry of frontline workers serving there.

† Name has been changed.

Urban Centers of Influence

Global Mission supports wholistic mission to the cities through urban centers of influence. These centers follow Christ’s method of ministry to meet people’s needs and start new groups of believers. Please support urban centers of influence by visiting Global-Mission.org/giving.

Откуда качали?

из-под земли.)я инженер нефтяник, практику на месторождении нефти проходил.)