Today we were blessed to have a study with a woman named Jacinta. She starting worshiping with us about three weeks ago, after being directed towards us by one of our church leaders who works for a local non-profit.

Jacinta checked on her connection card (member/guest card) that she was interested in a seeker Bible study. We have this listed as a prominent type of response that people can check on their card, which helps in setting up these studies. So we got together and went through lesson 1 of the Story of Redemption so that she could join the Tuesday night Story of Redemption seeker study that we started at our house last week.

As always happens when studying with seekers, I was moved by Jactina's story of God working in her life. Jacinta is from Mozambique--a country in Southeast Africa. As we went through the first lesson in the study, and then played the opening video (which was filmed out at a beach in Malibu), she remarked how she loved the ocean, having grown up in a country which opens to the Indian Ocean.

We went through some of the seeker questions that people often wrestle with God about, including why there is so much pain and suffering in the world. We also talked about what evidence points toward a Creator, and she cited the beauty of the world as well as inexplicable things happening to her that seemingly only God could bring about.

Jacinta had never dreamed that she would come to the US, but about ten years ago she fled an abusive situation. She noted that if she had not gone through this, she would never have come to the US. So she saw God at work in this, that God could bring good out of anything. This is, of course, the Christian story, that through the cross, God brought about our redemption. And resurrection follows death.

In going through the account of Adam and Eve, in which they were "naked and without shame," Jacinta had an interesting analogy from Africa. We all know little children--whom Adam and Eve most resembled before sin entered the world--also feel naked without shame. Jacinta said that in the neighboring country of Swaziland, children lack this sense of shame up all the way before adolescence sets in (12 or so). Then, after marrying at a young age of 13 or so, their awareness of themselves is suddenly awakened.

It is always interesting to hear the perspective and stories of seekers, but here in this area, there is the added dimension of meeting people who are from countries all around the world. I must meet a person from a different nation each and every week!

Just in this one study, I was already blessed by Jacinta and touched by her story of God. She said that when she was contacted about doing the seeker study, it was on a night that at that time she had a conflict on. They were both good things. So she prayed to God to have him decide for her. It turned out that God seemed to make very clear to her what she ought to dot. She is joining the study--the other event got canceled!

Jacinta said that she was glad to share her testimony of how God has been with her through her trials, especially if it would help someone else. So I share with you a bit of her story! Jacinta also has 2-3 friends that she said would be interested in being part of a seeker small group if it were closer to Centerville. We had another woman come and worship with us this morning who is also from Centerville (another DC suburb nearby). So we may soon get a study started in Centerville.

All that I can say is, God is at work! There is a fertile field here, and God is opening all kinds of doors to reach people for Christ. 

What do you think that we can learn about God from seekers? What studies have you been a part of, and what are 2-3 three things that perhaps you learned from these types of studies?