Can you hear God? (MEW)

Richard Baek

During this year’s Missions Emphasis Week (April 3-6), Jill Ludlow came to Penang with her ministry team to share and talk about the love of God and having a relationship with Him. She encouraged us to reach out to God because He sees us and loves us for who we are. Jill shared her heart-wrenchingly emotional testimony during the first session. She suffers from KT syndrome, especially in her left arm. Since she was young, her friends teased her. Even through all the trials in her life, Jill, however, felt the unending, unconditional love of God.

Through her testimonial, Jill also emphasized how lies about Christianity cause disconnection in our relationship with God. Because of misinterpretations or misunderstandings of the Bible, people create a lie about God and Christianity, such as God only loves clean people or God’s love depends on our behaviors and actions. Citing various Bible verses, such as Romans 8:38-39, Jill exclaimed that we are already living in His favor, and there is nothing we can do to make Him love us more or less. Also, she said that we are believing a lie that God is not speaking to us. In fact, the opposite is true. God wants a personal relationship with us, and He wants to come closer to us. So, she encouraged us to focus on His voice, and to acknowledge that God is talking to us.

“She was a very passionate speaker with a heart to let others know that God is always there for them. It was a good message and I could tell it really reached a lot of students,” said Aidan Frusher (12).

MEW this year provided us with time and space to worship and build a deeper relationship with God. After the worship and message, Jill gave us time to reflect on our relationship with God, worship Him with our heart, and pray for each other. Jill and her ministry team always remained in front of the chapel, willing to pray for and with anyone who asked. This allowed everyone to focus on God’s voice and walk another step closer to Him.

“I really felt that God’s presence was there and was speaking to me personally. I was amazed to see God working through so many people as well,” said Jesse Lohman (12).

God is Emmanuel, He is with us, and He is in us. He is always ready to talk to and come closer to us. You just have to accept and open your heart. Forsake all the lies about Christianity, about God, and about yourself, and start focusing on God’s voice and His presence. So who are you with? Who do you seek the most when you’re desperate for help? Who influences you the most?