In my last blog I wrote about the power that language holds and how often we forget our privilege as those who have access to the Gospel. The Lord has laid it on my heart to continue this conversation but in another manner.

A few weeks back, a few teams from my squad had the opportunity to be dropped off in the center of town and just go where the Spirit led. My team ended up at a small coffee shop towards the outskirts of town. A few of us ordered coffee, then stepping outside to sit on the patio we met two men who spoke ENGLISH— it was wild.

Language is powerful. Therefore, when we are surrounded by those who speak our language, we hold so much opportunity.

For one of the few times in months I had the opportunity to communicate the love of Christ to someone who spoke my own language. (Don’t misunderstand me, I have absolutely adored getting to share Christ with those who don’t speak my language. But as I continue to highlight, there is something powerful about hearing the Good News in your own language and having the opportunity to communicate this love to someone in your own language.) We sat and talked for a while with these men, hearing about their lives and then getting to share a bit about ours. The conversation flowed so naturally as they desired to hear about each of our lives and were open to hearing all about God’s love for his children. It was an incredible encounter that had the Lord’s hand all over it. We got to share God’s love by simply being a vessel wherever our feet ended up, which happened to be a coffee shop. We got to take part in planting a seed by simply being willing to be used.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

As I sat in a coffee shop in a small town in Panama, the Lord reminded me of the immense opportunity I have going home to a city (and country) that speaks my language. The opportunity I have to love and do good within my own community. I got HYPE as the Father lit a fire inside me. I imagined those that I pass often in my own streets of Knoxville, faces that I see regularly, that I have never spoken to— let alone share Jesus with them. My heart hurt as I realized how often I have just completely missed the mark in my own city. I realized how much opportunity I have living in a space that there is often no language barrier. I will be the first to say, I have completely missed it— more than I’d like to admit. It took me being in a foreign country to realize how much opportunity I have in my own.

Just as there is power in other cultures hearing the Gospel in their own language, we cannot miss out on the opportunity we have in the United States. How often do we go throughout our day, passing face after face, never once sharing the love of Christ? How often do we completely miss the mark, not realizing how much opportunity we have to love in our own city?

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join me in suffering for the Gospel, by the power of God.” 2 Timothy 1:7-8

Think about the boldness that is capable within our own language. If we get past our fear and anxiety, imagine the life change that could take place if we were not ashamed of our Father. If 2 Timothy says to “suffer for the Gospel,” we as believers should be able to share the love of Christ in our own language.

So I will continue to emphasize the power that language holds.

Whether you are researching ways to help further the access of the Gospel in other languages, or if you are sitting at your local coffee shop sharing this Love in your own language, I deeply encourage you to not forget this power.

“Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given to me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ.” Ephesians 3:8