Has God ever allowed you to see the garden fruits within your ministry?
If He has, thank Him. This is such an undeserved gift from God.
The truth is God doesn’t need us, but he allows us to partner in ministry with him.
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.” -1 Corinthians 3:6
Saying goodbye to Romania was incredibly hard for me;
I made close friends whom I love deeply already; I got to do ministry in evangelism with an incredible church; and Jesus did some real refining in this season within my heart.
My soul was so incredibly moved here in this divine place. Thank you, Jesus.
But I so deeply wanted to see the fruits of our ministry there. I wanted to see the people I came to know and love fall deeply in love with Jesus.
The very first night we landed in Romania and drove into Craiova, I heard the phrase “graves into gardens” three times on the radio.
Come to find out, Craiova, the city in which we’ve lived for the last month, is known as a “graveyard for missionaries“—meaning that it is known in Romania as a “lost-cause” location for missionaries to go because evangelism is “wasted”.
The reason for this assumption is based on many past missionaries’ seemingly-failed efforts within a nation built upon firm Orthodox traditions and deeply-ingrained Gypsy culture.
However, our experience was quite the opposite.
Our time wasn’t wasted.
Relationships were built on the foundation of the Holy Spirit.
Seeds were planted within hearts.
And, yes, we saw people come to know Jesus.
While we may not always know the outcomes of the seeds planted, we can trust the Holy Spirit in the growth that will happen in the hearts of those we have loved. So if you’ve shared the Love of Christ with someone, keep praying for them.
John 15:16 says this: “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.”
We did, however, get to see the fruits of past seeds planted by other mission groups:
One youth, [Mariah], received a Hope Church leaflet from another World Race missionary over a year ago. She was curious to see what this church was about, so she visited. Now, she knows Jesus personally and said her life has forever been changed because someone (from a past mission group) handed her a leaflet book on the street.
That’s the power of the Holy Spirit.
Just because we don’t always get to see the fruits of the seeds we plant doesn’t mean it isn’t important to plant them.
“So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.” -1 Corinthians 3:7
I know that any grave (or graveyard) can become a Holy garden, saved by the vast grace of Jesus.
Jesus did this in my own life. He saved me and made gardens spring up out of the graveyard that had been my life for so many years.
“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.” -Psalm 30:11-12
May all the glory be to Jesus for all his goodness and the power of His Holy Spirit that is so alive and moving.
If you have seen God turn graves into gardens, I’d love to hear about it!
How can we partner with Jesus in this season to further the Kingdom for the glory of our gracious King?
Thank you, Jesus, that we get to partner with you in your divine stories! May we hear your voice and be obedient to your Spirit as we seek your heart deeper.
