"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5
The first time John Dekkenga shared the gospel with someone was his sophomore year in college. It convicted him. Why didn’t he do this sooner? His perspective on life, vocation and his time changed. He put his life and his “yes” on the table and waited to see how God would use him. It didn’t take long.
“We are told to go and make disciples of all nations,” John shared. “I was learning how to do that in Omaha. Last fall, I heard about the Salt global trips, and three months before applications came out I already knew I would apply. I was ready. Leading a City Group - being personally connected with God’s people - and recognizing the need of the Gospel in Taiwan made me put my ‘yes’ on the table. I knew that in Taiwan, not many people know Jesus, and I wanted to see how God would use me there. A few of my friends had gone to Taiwan and Albania before and hearing how God worked in their lives and the people around them really helped to affirm my desire to go.”
For six months before the team left for Taiwan, John prayed for the hearts of the people they would encounter. His deepest desire was to see God move in people’s lives. That season of focused prayer didn’t just prepare John for the trip, it shaped him.
Once John and the team arrived in Taiwan, they realized the need for the gospel was greater than expected. First, they experienced what it looked like to faithfully submit their summer and future to God. Second, they got an opportunity to submit their expectations and will to Him.
“Taiwan is considered ‘reached’ because more than 2% of the population claim to be Christians,” John described. “But it’s more of a prosperity gospel. Out of about 200 students I talked to, I think one is actually a Christian. The church we partnered with only had five people attend weekly. I did not expect that going into it; it was extremely eye opening and sad. I’m sitting down with students to talk about Jesus, and nobody even knows about Him. Maybe they heard of the name once, but not the gospel and what Jesus did for them. You know, missions are not glamorous. Out of every single person we talked to in the seven weeks, I can maybe point to two conversations where something ‘happened’.”
Seeing no fruit of the labor was the hardest part for John. But God. Towards the end of the trip and ever since he got back, God gave him a new and greater understanding of how He works.
“I asked, prayed, and begged God to do something,” John confessed. “I asked Him ‘Why are you not showing up?’ I thought this was all for nothing. I got scared. But, God was merciful. God did move. For one, two students were saved and not because of my efforts but through a different group that came later. Even though I had no claim to them, it made it worth it. Looking back on the conversations I had, even though they didn’t go the way I expected, I know God was working in their hearts."
“It reinforced the idea that our walk is about faithfulness. If you judge how God is working by the amount of fruit you see in your life, you will spiral out of control. But if you look at your life and focus on faithfulness, getting out of bed and having gospel conversations, that is what really matters. Our goal every day was to share the gospel. Through this, you realize God is working, not just in me, but in every conversation we had there is now a seed planted. One thing I heard that stuck with me is how amazing it will be when we get to Heaven and we see the person we thought we ‘failed’ with, where the conversation went horrible. Yet, that ‘failure’ was one seed planted. God will use all I put on the table, it’s just a matter of being willing to say yes and being faithful. He is worth it.”
John learned God is worthy. No matter what. God gave him fresh eyes to see people around him. He has now become more intentional with his daily habits. At home, living with six roommates, he lives with a discipling mentality. On campus, he looks for the lonely and strikes up conversations. His mornings have also been different since the trip.
“I’ve discovered I can’t go a day without spending time with Jesus,” John declared. “We are made to be with Him. I finally recognize that. That’s now my discipline every morning, in the car ... It’s been my thing to talk with Him.”
As next year’s summer global trips are announced, John encourages his Salt friends to go.
“I think it’s important to consider your life in view of eternity,” John said with conviction. “What that meant for me was to be intentional with the way I spent my time and my summer. I recognized this life is so short; we should cultivate a desire and burden to do something for God with it: To be on mission. The fears you have are reasonable; it’s scary to go on mission, scary to arrive in a different country, scary to spend a month and a half with people you don’t know. But, now having experienced it and lived it, there is no other place I would rather be! The Lord has brought and shaped me and the people on that trip. In the midst of heartache and suffering, He is with us. The Spirit is with us now. In Taiwan, He was with us and even now He continues in helping us, comforting us, and directing us. He is with you now and wherever you are.”
God opened John’s eyes to what mattered. In Taiwan, God stripped John of his comforts. He has now found his true Comfort. God also gave John a new burden for lost people - not just for the students in Taiwan, but for all lost people. He has more of a missional outlook on the world. John ended his testimony with this,
“When God’s great commission is being lived out, there is an indescribable fact that this is where I belong. It doesn’t look the same for everyone. However, when we live out God’s purpose for our lives, things fall into place. We are never apart from Him.”
Like with John, short-term trips give our members a glimpse of the long-term call to join Jesus on His mission - whether that’s right here or by crossing real boundaries of language and culture to places with little access to the gospel. It’s been exciting to see how Jesus has worked in and through Citylight this past year as we’ve sought to join Him faithfully - both locally and in sending long-term workers among the nations.
On November 9, during our Global Focus Week, we invite you to come hear from two of our Global Partners, Dave and Chris Manfred! They have faithfully served for decades in Cambodia, witnessing a church-planting movement among the Khmer people, the Bible translated into new languages, and the first baptisms among previously unreached people groups.
We’ll also celebrate all that God has done through Citylight Global this past year and share opportunities for the year ahead - including:
Short-term trips
Discovery Groups – spaces to wrestle with, “What is the mission of God… and what is my role in it?”
Local mission opportunities
Global internships (1 year overseas)
Whether you’re simply curious about Citylight’s global opportunities, passionate about sending missionaries, or personally burdened for the nations, we’d love for you to join us!
November 9 | 12:30–4:00 PM | Midtown Location
Lunch provided. No childcare available.
Register here >>> https://citylight.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3206828