by Lorinda Roberts
OPEN Doors or OPEN Eyes?
M
ANY COMMITTED Christians fully pray for God’s will to be done, we to Native Americans within the North
earnestly pray for God to pro- should also pray for sensitivity to His Central Region (North Dakota, South
vide them with an open door divine leading. William Carey, the great Dakota, and Montana), and we were
of ministry. While singing “Use missionary to India, said, “To know the delighted to know this reservation was
me, Lord,” they lift up their hands as an will of God we need an open Bible and close enough for us to have a consistent
act of surrender to His plans. These ser- an open map.” We also must have open ministry. Today we are seeing salvations,
vants of God cry out to Him for an open eyes, for without them we may miss the baptisms, and spiritual growth among the
door somewhere in this world, but then very people God wants us to reach. Native Americans from this reservation.
they sit and wait, wondering why God I find cross-cultural experiences fulfill- We know God has a great plan for them
does not use them. ing and exhilarating. Spending time with and we desire to be a tool in helping
Could it be that God has already people from other cultures gives me a them discover all God has for their lives.
placed an open door in front of them broader perspective and an appreciation What a tragedy to think I might have
for God’s diverse missed the rich heritage, cultural experi-
world. I love to see ences, and fruitful relationships that have
God’s use of variety developed in North Dakota had I kept
and creativity by sitting and waiting for God to give me
simply looking at an open door of ministry. As Jesus healed
people. I believe God a blind man so that he could see every-
has placed a long- thing he had been missing (John 9), so I
ing within me to desire for my eyes to be open that I may
reach out to those of see all I possibly might be missing.
various cultures and God loves everyone and desires for
backgrounds. every tribe, language, people, and nation
I wondered, to know Him (Revelation 5:9). People
therefore, why God groups are scattered throughout our
placed me in Beulah, world, even living among us in our com-
North Dakota. At munities. Whom might we miss if we do
first glance, everyone not open our eyes to the mission field all
looked like me. My around us?
eyes were not open The mission field could be in your
International students are studying at our universities,
yet to the bountiful backyard, your local university, or your
refugees are migrating to our cities, and even rural
mission opportunity place of work. International students are
right in front of me, studying at our universities, refugees are
communities are seeing growth among ethnic groups. but I soon discovered migrating to our cities, and even rural
the cross-cultural communities are seeing growth among
that they are not seeing yet? Could these mission field that’s here. I learned that a ethnic groups. Ask God to open your
sincere followers of the Lord find minis- majority of the people living in Beulah eyes to the many people groups around
try opportunities all around them if they are German immigrants from Russia. you. You might be surprised, as I was, to
would simply open their eyes? Sometimes They speak with a heavy German accent discover the cultural treasure right under
it is not an open door Christians need, but and they cook amazing German food, your eyes.
open eyes to see the ministry opportunity like knepfla, kuchen, and borscht. These Are you waiting for an open door or do
within arm’s reach. wonderful people have a strong work you need to simply open your eyes?
As followers of Christ, we should pray ethic and stamina.
for God to close the doors He does not I later discovered that the Fort Ber- Lorinda Roberts and her
want us to go through and to open the thold Reservation, made up of the Man- husband, Landon, live in
ones He does. However, ministry doors dan, Hidatsa, and Arikara tribes, is within Beulah, North Dakota, where
of service are continually present if we a short driving distance from Beulah. My they pastor the Prairie View
will look through His eyes. As we faith- family and I have been able to minister Church of God.
26 EVANGEL • FEB 2010
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