For years I have struggled with how my gifts from God were being used for His glory.
Even after attending an intense Called and Gifted seminar I wondered if my fiction writing was a talent or a charism. And then, if it was a charism, how could fiction writing be used for God? After all it was fiction.
After prayer, time spent with God, and a phone call to a Called and Gifted counselor I discerned my writing was a charism, given to be used to glorify God with one little caveat: writing, although a charism, isn’t a stand-alone gift.
Writing is a carrier charism. It supports one of the other charism. My writing was to support evangelization, with a little teaching and a search for knowledge thrown into the mix.
I saw myself as a writer, but evangelization never crossed my mind, at least in the way I thought of evangelization.
I am not a “get in your face, stand on the street corner” kind of person, a “go door-to-door handing out flyers” kind of person, or even a “stand up in front of thousands of people and preach” kind of person. I prefer the security of my private office, maybe my family room, or, if I’m really brave, a local coffee shop or library with a few close friends.
How could I be an evangelizer?
More knee time. Through some discerning prayer time with God the pieces began to fall into place. Besides the inspirational articles and Bible study, all my fiction is imbued with spiritual elements.
For a while I tried to deny this, out of fear (Satan’s seeds I’m sure) that I would never be published, never make any money, never be able to challenge the worldly norm.
Once I wrote an article on one of those web-news groups where the writer submits and gets paid if there are enough hits. There were a few very negative comments. I tried to ignore them, but they shook me. In spite of saying I wanted to be like John the Baptist and stand-up to the naysayers, I couldn’t do it. I skittered back to the security of my world and never posted another article there.
So when someone tells me I’m meant to evangelize, I give them an incredulous stare.
During my prayers, I began to see that maybe God had a different audience in mind as well as a different way to look at evangelization.
The first thing He showed me: I don’t have to be like those television preachers or the door-to-door guys. Instead through my writing for women and young adults, His message was getting out.
Which led to the second thing: There are believers who stumble, who have doubts, who need to read His message just as much as those who have never heard it. Among those believers there are young people, new to the world, new to their faith. These young people need to see and hear the message. They need to see the ways of the world are not their only choice. They are the future, the ones who will carry on God’s call and they need to be taught.
Now I see the tip of the iceberg, the light at the beginning of the path. I can evangelize in my own way, with my own definition.
God gave me the gift of words. It is up to me to use the gift to glorify Him and spread His message with words that He gives me to those who need it, to those He has guided me to.
Now along with writing young adult Christian fantasy fiction and devotionals for women, I also help out at my daughter’s school, guiding young people in developing their writing for the glory of God.
Maybe I’m not living some worldly norm and maybe I won’t make a million dollars selling my books. What I am doing is living in union with my loving and merciful Jesus, trusting He knows the path and what is at the end.
I rest in His arms, knowing the Father knows best.
Copyright © 2012, Christina Weigand
Christina Weigand
Christina Weigand’s a writer, wife, and mother of four. She is also Nana to three granddaughters. She lives with her husband and youngest daughter in Cranberry Twp. Pennsylvania, returning there after a short sabbatical in Washington. Currently, she’s working on fantasy novels and inspirational writing. Through her writing, she strives to share the Word of God and help people young and old to realize the love and mercy He has for everyone. When she’s not writing, she’s active in her local Church as a lector, Bible Study, volunteering at her daughter’s school helping the children develop a love for reading and writing. Jesus fills her home with love as she shares Him through her writing.
One response to “An Evangelist Found”
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Thanks Christina. I’m a newbie and have had some success and interest shown in my writings. Even at that I still do the dance in my head: “I’m a writer, not really.” Your phrase “gift of words” strikes home with me. ….I’ve always been a mega talker!!! LOL, but it helps me remember that the giver of the gift has a purpose for each one he hands out! Lucky me!