Was it time to "shake the dust off of our feet"?

The new church had grown and was meeting three times a week. They were discipling people and reaching out to the community. One weekend, the leader, Holger, fell back into drinking. This, along with other influences, tore the church apart. When we visited the location the following week, the sign was gone, and the benches and pulpit were thrown in the yard. The congregation was scattered. They had been wounded not only by Holger's actions, but also the blatant sin of another Christian leader.

For the next 6 years, we continued to visit Elsa, Holger's sister, and her adult children. They attended the mission church a few times. Shortly before Christmas, she told us that she had chosen not to be a part of anything that evangelicals did. For Christmas, we took her a plate of Christmas cookies. She was not home, so we left it with her daughter. Last week, Johnny went to their home, but no one was there. He left an invitation to a movie that we were showing at the church on Friday night.

When Johnny got home, we talked about the situation with this family. We have spent much time with them over the past 7 years. We have prayed with them, and for them. I wondered if it was time for us to let go and move on to more fruitful fields. Johnny reminded me of Mark 6:11, "And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them."

That evening, while Johnny was setting up the film at the church, Holger walked into the building. He said that Elsa had sent him. We had not seen him for years. Later, his son and family also arrived. We were very glad to see them and invited them to the Easter service.

God had clearly told us, "I'm still working in this family. Don't quit."

They did not come to church on Easter. I don't know what will happen, but we know now that our ministry to them is not over.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippains 1:6