Building a Community of Faith-Sharing Women: Inspiring Others to Share Jesus

The Blue Cord, by iHOPE Ministries

About the Guest(s):

• Shannon is a passionate advocate for sharing the hope of Jesus across faiths and cultures.
• In 2017, she discovered her calling to actively share her faith and realized that it was not just for missionaries.
• Shannon's heart was deeply moved during a trip to Indonesia in 2019, where she encountered Muslim women and felt a burden to share the love of Jesus with them.
• She has experienced disappointment and rejection from her church friends who did not share the same passion for sharing Jesus.
• Shannon is a part of Arise, a movement that mobilizes women to share the gospel locally and globally.

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Karen interviews Shannon, who shares her journey of building a community of Jesus-sharing friends and offers advice for those who feel alone in their desire to share Jesus. Shannon discusses how she initially thought sharing Jesus was only for missionaries and how her trip to Indonesia opened her eyes to the need for sharing the gospel with those around her. She shares her experience of feeling rejected by her church friends and the importance of finding like-minded individuals to run with in sharing the hope of Jesus. Shannon encourages listeners to pray for boldness and to gather a group of friends to study The Blue Cord and learn how to share their faith authentically. She emphasizes the need to break down societal norms and cultural barriers that hinder Christians from sharing their faith. Shannon also highlights the importance of listening to God's voice and being led by the Holy Spirit in sharing the gospel.

Key Takeaways:

• Sharing Jesus is not just for missionaries; every believer has a role to play in sharing the hope of Jesus.
• It is common to feel alone or rejected when desiring to actively share Jesus, but there are others who share the same passion.
• Praying for God to break your heart for what breaks His can lead to a deeper desire to share the gospel.
• Building a community of like-minded friends who are passionate about sharing Jesus can provide encouragement and support.
• The key to effective gospel sharing is listening to God's voice and being led by the Holy Spirit.

Notable Quotes:

• "God broke my heart for the nations in Indonesia in 2019... all made in the image of God, all so very far from God... feeling so much neglect, trauma, and rejection when the Lord creator and author of life is moving toward them with open arms and they have no idea his name or how much he loves them." - Shannon
• "With God, there are no barriers... Jesus alone is the only way... unless people hear these truths, here in America and to the ends of the earth, how can they make a choice to follow him, to receive his love if they've never heard his name?" - Shannon

Resources:

• Arise: Website
• The Blue Cord: Website

Thank you for listening to this episode of The Blue Cord Podcast. Be sure to listen to the full episode for more insights and inspiration on sharing Jesus and building a community of like-minded believers. Stay tuned for more episodes that will empower you to be an authentic witness in your daily life.

Chapters:

00:05:00 Encouragement for those feeling rejected and the importance of timing.
00:06:00 The parable of the late worker and the prodigal son.
00:07:00 Trusting God with the urgency of sharing the gospel.
00:08:00 Discussion on the American Worldview study and the responsibility to disciple others.
00:09:00 The importance of abiding in the Lord and discipling others.
00:11:00 The urgency of the current time and the opportunity to share the gospel.
00:12:00 Research on the synchronistic worldview and the need to disciple others.
00:13:00 Shannon's small group study and the impact of the Blue Cord.
00:15:00 Sharing the testimony of a friend who was a Muslim believer
00:16:00 Encouraging boldness in sharing the gospel and the name of Jesus
00:17:00 Building a community of Blue Cord women to shine the light of Jesus
00:19:00 Inviting women to join the movement of proclaiming the good news
00:20:00 Mobilizing friends and multiplying leaders to break down barriers
00:23:00 Collaborating together as women in expanding God's kingdom
00:24:00 Shedding the veil and shining the light of Jesus in community
00:25:00 Breaking out of comfort zones and being used by God
00:27:00 Tools to share the gospel and the importance of listening to God's voice
00:28:00 Importance of listening to the Lord when sharing the gospel
00:33:00 The greatest gift we can give is the opportunity to receive the love of the Father
00:34:00 Removing the burden of getting the words right and depending on the Lord
00:35:00 Taking the next step in sharing Jesus and seeking resources for equipping
00:36:00 Reflecting on resistance and opposition in sharing faith
00:37:00 Encouragement to share what matters most and invite others to do the same