"Chance" meeting with an old friend

I ran into an old friend in Prague the other day. After speaking at the Christian International School's chapel service, I had an hour before my bus would take me home. So I stopped to warm up with a cappuccino from McDonald's. (It was 8 degrees Fahrenheit outside) As I walked towards a table, there sitting by the window was Martina Ř!

Martina was the second of a group of friends who successively gave their lives to Christ while Jan Lukl and I worked with the youth group in Kutná Hora. Martina became one of our most active helpers in English Camps, youth group events, and evangelistic activities and has grown quickly in her faith.

After greetings and catching up, we started talking about the "good old days" in the youth group and the great English camps we organized together. Of the group of 6 who came to Christ through the youth group and became regulars, 4 are growing in their faith and 2 have rejected their faith. We talked about how Filip T could seem so strong in his faith and yet later deny that there is a god. We talked about the mystery of unanswered prayer for unbelieving family members. I could sense that Martina was looking for answers but at the same time recognizing that God is teaching her about himself and showing himself faithful even when she doesn't have all the answers. The time passed too quickly and she had to get to her class while I literally sprinted from the subway to catch my bus.

This unexpected "chance" (read God ordained) meeting was the most spiritual encouragement that I have had in a long time. I was encouraged to be able to follow spiritual growth in someone who I had known since she came to the faith. I was also encouraged by her evangelistic zeal and her concern for those around her who do not share her faith. Looking back on this meeting, I am sure that I helped her understand a little more about where she is on her spiritual journey and the mystery of unanswered prayer...but she helped to re-ignite the flame of evangelistic fervor in me. She can't accept that God would ignore a prayer for someone to come to faith. So, I am encouraged to keep praying for and sharing the good news with those around me. Even if I don't have all the answers.