God uses imperfect people like us

And Jesus came and spoke to them (his disciples), saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

Perfection ends at Heaven's border crossing, and I'm so far from there that I can't begin to see it or a way that I can get myself there.

Probably most of us Christians feel incapable, unprepared, untrained and definitely unfit to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We lack enough Bible knowledge, evangelism know-how, righteousness and boldness to be effective witnesses. We think we need more time, money and better behavior.

Actually, what we probably lack is enough passion, desire and commitment to talk to people about our savior. I'm guilty. How about you?

We've been duped by the devil into feeling unable and unworthy; therefore, we do nothing. However, Jesus never set up a MAP test (Missions Assessment Program) before charging folks to tell others about his love and mercy. In fact, he commissioned a former demoniac (yes, the "crazy man" of Gadarene who'd terrorized an entire region) to travel around to area towns to proclaim what God had done in his life. The "woman at the well," married five times and keeping house with her live-in boyfriend, listened to Jesus and immediately went out as his missionary to her hometown. Credentials? Well, she probably had lots of tough, out-of-line experiences, but lacked any Bible College credits or even online religion courses.

I recently saw Ruth Graham, one of Rev. Billy Graham's daughters, on television. She talked about her divorce and battle with depression, and then she encouraged people who think of themselves as imperfect and incapable to get involved in ministry.

The shoe fits. I'm imperfect and incapable, so I'm going on a mission trip to Swaziland for a couple of weeks this summer with a World Missions Evangelism Team. Swaziland has the unfortunate distinction of having the highest percentage of HIV positive/AIDS cases (40 percent) of any nation in the world. The average life expectancy there is 35.

Will I get to encourage children whose parents have died of AIDS? I hope so. Will I be an effective witness? I'm praying with all my heart that I will be. Jesus' disciple Peter even denied ever having heard of Jesus, and look what God did with Peter's life! The married-five-times woman at the well, whose life didn't look like it was going so well, succeeded in turning out her whole town to hear Jesus.

So maybe there's hope for me, too. Maybe God will use me as I teach vacation Bible school and help in orphanages.

Anyway, I've got my passport, typhoid and malaria pills, and yellow fever and hepatitis shots. And I'm praying -- lots!

I would be most grateful for your prayers, too. I know God's line is open 24/7, and I'll need all the prayers any of you can send on my behalf. I'm serious -- clip this column and tack it to your mirror and pray for me.

June Seabaugh is a member of Christ Church of the Heartland in Cape Girardeau.