Blog – YWAM Tyler

Fear didn't hold me back to evangelize on the streets of Thessaloniki

Written by Tyler Tom | 27 Jun 2018

During my School Of Evangelism (SOE), we traveled to Greece and Kosovo for outreach. It was a night to evanglize in the City of Thessaloniki. Evangelism is a time to freely allow the Lord to guide and direct our steps in a time and place. So as I was walking in the square with a group of people, I felt the Lord tell me to go to the other side of the square to a bench with two men sitting on it. Knowing the Lord was directing me there and not wanting fear to hold me back, I quickly crossed the square to sit with them and started a conversation.

As small talking led to deeper conversing, I ended up telling them God loves them. The one guy asked me who I was. So I told him a little bit about myself. Because I briefly opened up about myself, it caused this guy to start opening up too. He ended up telling me that he is from Bulgaria but here in Thessaloniki because he had lost his passport and documents.

While waiting for his paperwork to be worked out, he had to go to the hospital to get medication and care. As he continued sharing, he told me that he had schizophrenia. I also noticed during this time that that there were no soles on his shoes. I asked if I could pray with him for healing of his schizophrenia and just for him and his life. So I did. I then asked if he wanted to pray. He was hesitant at first but decided to bow his head. He prayed quietly. I don't think he wanted others to hear him. I think he had some trouble believing.

After a few minutes of praying and talking to him, two of my teammates showed up with a brand new pair of shoes without knowing the conversation that took place. That was so amazing. So we all stayed with them and hung out. The next day, we went back to the square and saw him there. We spent a little more time with him, and as a whole team we prayed for God to bring him home.

The next day, I got a text from him saying: “Hello my friend, I just want to share a good message with all of you that God blessed me with a ticket, and I am going home tomorrow. Thanks a lot for showing me Light in a dark moment. God bless you my friends I know that you are going to do more amazing things on your mission. I’ll pray for that. Hope to see you again. Love you all."

This whole thing really impacted my life. If I didn't obey that still small voice of the Lord in my spirit to go to the other side of the square to evangelize, this all may not have happened. I am so thankful the Lord speaks and guides us. 

Guest Author ~ Matheus Soares, who is a full time missionary at YWAM Tyler

 

After spending time to get to know God on our campus, all of our training schools go on outreach to make God known in our world. This story from Matheus is like many we hear from students. God is an ever-present help in trouble and is faithful to guide our steps to those who need to know of His love and grace. Join us at YWAM Tyler and participate in an upcoming Discipleship Training School. Begin the journey and see where God takes you!