I was recently struck by a statement in Pope Francis‘ address EVANGELII GAUDIUM from January 2014 —
“Every Christian is challenged, here and now, to be actively engaged in evangelization; indeed, anyone who has truly experienced God’s saving love does not need much time or lengthy training to go out and proclaim that love. Every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus: we no longer say that we are ‘disciples’ and ‘missionaries’, but rather that we are always ‘missionary disciples’. If we are not convinced, let us look at those first disciples, who, immediately after encountering the gaze of Jesus, went forth to proclaim him joyfully: ‘We have found the Messiah!’ (John 1:41).”
I love that! I love the normalcy; a person knows Jesus and a person speaks about Jesus. I think sometimes we tend to think that a person who is a missionary, or who does a mission or ministry work, is somehow holy or special, with degrees and big words and giftedness that can never be done by someone like…. well, like me!
I joined Covenant Players a long time ago, basically to travel and to find myself. It was a few years later that I realized I was a missionary! Not because I was special or brave or extraordinary, but simply because I was going into all the world and preaching the gospel. Covenant Players was a perfect way for me to express my faith, because I could work with a group, and use the words of the plays. I grew in my faith, and I grew in my confidence in expressing my faith.
So, if you are a “normal person” and not a “saint” or a “great person”, how do you know if Covenant Players is right for you? If you think you can do this, or if you think you can not do this — ask us your questions. Have your family ask us questions. Have an interview with Covenant Players. Pray. Think. Once you have the information, talk to people you trust and who know you. Talk with your pastor, your teachers, your family. This may be the place where you can fulfill your faith!
I think you will be surprised what normal people, like you, can do!
Penni Jo Blatterman
(This article is one I wrote for Covenant Players "Acting in Faith". If you are interested in serving with Covenant Players, or want more information, please contact them at www.covenantplayers.org)
