By Aimee Anderson 

Six to nine minutes.  That’s the time I get to persuade my college classmates and teacher to become Christians.  Or so I thought.  I just finished my Oral Communications class at Southwestern College where we had to do a persuasive speech.  On the first day of class, I thought to myself, “What?  I get to do a persuasive speech?  Surely I can convince them they need a Savior . . . in six to nine minutes!  I’ll use Roman’s Road to Salvation.”

What I didn’t realize was that this was not religious class.  I was not at CCSD.  There were guidelines to follow for speeches.  They had to be “of college level”; recent sources needed to be used to back up my persuasion, sources of non bias.  Someone asked me, “Is there really a source out there now that is not biased?”  Good question!  My teacher said the Bible is not a reliable source for a speech.  (Well, it is for me!)

Lord, what subject can I talk about for six to nine minutes that will persuade these worldly people to seek You?  What is there of eternal value?  As a pastor’s wife and Christian for many years, I only want to speak to a crowd about Jesus.

I was so torn internally about what subject to choose, I even thought about throwing in the towel and showing up on Persuasive Speech Day with nothing in hand but just an eager ear to listen to the other speeches.  I wasn’t there to get a good grade but to learn, I told myself.  That thought didn’t last long when the Holy Spirit told me what a bad example I’d be to the other students and my teacher.  Okay, Lord, then change my heart and give me a subject I’ll be happy to share.

God is always faithful to tap us gently on the shoulder and speak to our hearts when we are listening.  I wasn’t even praying, just talking to myself, when the Holy Spirit spoke so clearly to me.  

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

As I was wrestling with the fact I had “lost” my opportunity to preach Christ in six to nine minutes, the Lord told me that I had been a light in the darkness for eight weeks of class.  I built lasting friendships.  Everyone in that class knows I am a Christian, they know I am a pastor’s wife, many know what church I attend, and they know I care about them.  I brought in home-baked cookies.  We formed study groups and emailed each other.  I invited one classmate to church who lives a block away.  I made friends with three Christians in the class, two of them PKs.  Another new friend, who’s studying to be a preschool teacher, is helping with childcare on Tues. at Bible Study and has been invited to church.   My closest friend in class is deaf, and she had two interpreters with her.  One interpreter is a Jehovah’s Witness and wants to “discuss” my views about JWs.  Two classmates advocated gay marriage and adoption by gay couples in their speeches. One believed in evolution—showed us a prehistoric fish from which we all came, he claimed.

Matt. 5:15-16 You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

My Oral Communications class did hear about Jesus—through the love of God being poured out by little acts of service—cookies, emails, study sheets, talking openly about the Lord, my biblical values, and my faith.  Thank You, Jesus, for using me in this unique way.

In what way are you a light to those around you who are blind and deaf to the call of Christ?  Don’t put God in a “six to nine minute” box like I tried.  Allow everyday tasks, meetings, conversations with those around you to be an opportunity to share the light of Christ to a dark and lost world.

I Cor. 3:6-8 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.  I am praying that the seeds I planted or watered will continue to grow and increase by others who will share Jesus with these people I met.

(Originally published in The Seeds of Life Winter 2007 edition – a publication of the Calvary San Diego Women’s Ministry.)

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