From Jon Sween
I first met Erik in a class for seekers at Northshore Baptist Church. His girlfriend had found a website for a Discovery class at the church. Erik and I connected quickly and found that we liked chatting about the big questions in life. The class lasted for a year and Erik had taken steps toward Jesus but had not become a follower.
Erik continued in Discovery the second year as we taught the class. Erik and I continued to meet for lunch where Erik worked. We studied the Bible and read several books on apologetics. We were becoming good friends and did lots of things together including playing golf. My sweet wife even joined us on the golf driving range to hit some balls together. Erik was continuing his journey to Jesus but was still in a seeking mode.
For the next four years, Erik, his new wife Marian, and I continued the process of having ongoing lunch discussions, playing golf and he eventually joined our small group which met in our home. Erik also joined our Missional Community that was studying the gospel of John. God had also raised up other friends who loved Erik and engaged him in spiritual discussions.
At this point you might be saying, isn’t six years enough time to make up your mind about making a commitment to following Jesus? The seed of faith that was growing in Erik wasn’t fully formed yet but was being nurtured by friends, his wife and several followers of Jesus who loved Erik and tried to answer his many good questions. Who can tell when fruit is ripe but God alone?
As this process continued, I was planning on going to a men’s retreat at church but canceled as my dad was dying from cancer. After the retreat, I asked one of the men if he had connected with Erik. My friend said that yes he had connected with Erik and that Erik in his words had, “Stepped across the line.” For Erik, that meant that he had become a follower of Jesus.
One of the distinctives about Erik is that he understood that following Jesus was for a lifetime and that he had made a commitment to become a kingdom follower of Jesus and not just a Christian. I had told Erik that I would never ask him to become a Christian because in the US the gospel of the kingdom had deteriorated to cheap grace and didn’t mean much. Erik understood this like no one I have ever met. When Erik stepped across the line is was for a lifetime of following Jesus.
What a joy to baptize Erik a few years ago in front of family and friends. Investing our life in one person is always worth the effort even if they don’t become followers of Jesus. Erik is now influencing others for the kingdom.
Contact Jon Sween