Undercover Christian
How a trip to Indonesia changed my understanding of the gospel
Did You Know?
In summer 2011, SPU students will go on SPRINT (Seattle Pacific Reachout International) trips to Brazil, Indonesia, China, Russia, Egypt, Rwanda, Guatemala, Uganda, Haiti, Vietnam, and India.
I wish I could tell you the organization's name that we worked with in Indonesia — but for their protection, I can't. I can just say that they sought to build God's kingdom in a nation that is typically misunderstood. We were not missionaries; we were not tourists; but rather we were undercover Christians.
I went with four women from Seattle Pacific University on a SPRINT (Seattle Pacific ReachOut International) trip. We didn't go onto the islands saying that we were "Christian," because to them that meant we were rich, white Americans who party all the time (aka Hollywood). Instead we explained ourselves in terms that they could understand by saying, "I am a follower of Issa Almassi" (Jesus Christ). Talk about applying the SPU model of engaging the culture, changing the world!
We embraced the Islamic community, built relationships, and served where they had needs. We were put into a place where Christians are persecuted for their beliefs, only to be stripped away from religion and surrender to the truth that Jesus is our Savior. We didn't evangelize; we didn't convert; we tried to love the people in the way that Christ loves us.
We were doing a service project on an island that reeked of neglect. The men on the team were laboring hard, cementing poles into the ground while the women were assigned a monotonous task of picking up the garbage scattered along the streets. Understand that this culture does not have a trash system, so trash is everywhere.
I was rolling my eyes and wiping the sweat off my brow when I was given a bucket to fill up with the candy wrappers and cigarette butts from the ground. I was tired, irritated, and did not want to pick up trash that I knew would just pile up again by the end of the day.
In my frustration, I bent down to pick up a banana peel and heard God's voice convict me. "Hannah, do you know how many times I do this for you? I cleanse you from your sin, picking up your trash, but you still continue to sin. I will always pick up your trash, so go, and clean my people's street."
I was humbled to my knees, weeping at His words. I am no better than the people in Indonesia, the person on the bus in Seattle, or the girls that I live with at SPU.
I am broken at the foot of the cross. I was reminded on my SPRINT trip how much I need Christ in my life to be my Savior, Father, and Redeemer.It is a simple choice to accept Christ into your heart. Many of us spend so much time debating details. But that's not what it's about; it is about salvation. Jesus came down to die on the cross for our sin. That is the truth; that is what I believe.
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