The Parable of the Sower

This past week of "Christians on Mission Intense Summer Session" was spent sowing seeds for the Kingdom, as they say...

During CEM week, we spent our mornings hearing great speakers talk about relevant Bible topics; the seeds of knowledge.
Young people from all over Europe met each other and learned that they are not alone as christians: the seeds of hope.
7 CEMistes received their certificates of apprenticeship completion, sending them back from whence they came; I'd describe us as faith saplings ready to be transplanted.
5 nursing homes in Marseille were visited by 20-person choirs of young people, showing the elderly that the youth haven't forgotten about them.
A choir of over 60 people sang in concerts on Thursday and Friday night and 20 people participated in skits that share aspects of the Christian life and the plan of salvation in an amusing manner.
A group of about 10 people went every morning to share croissants and coffee with persons "without permanent residences." Meeting, sharing and talking with the downtrodden will prepare Europe's future for a life of service and a more heart-felt desire to help with the problem of homelessness.

On Saturday morning, we took time to share feedback on our weeks. A teen from the Geneva church shared the following insights on the seeds we've been sowing:
"I feel really uncomfortable around older people; I even left a hospital room earlier than everyone else because I felt so uncomfortable. But, when we went to the nursing home, I tried very hard to overcome my discomfort and to talk to the residents.
I started by asking a woman her name. She said "oui oui."
The next woman I talked to, I asked her name and she responded, in a rather unfriendly manner, "why?"
I moved on to the next woman, who responded with her name but didn't want to talk anymore.
I asked a fourth woman her name, and she not only responded, but we launched into a great conversation!"
And this is what evangelism is like!"

This teen relived and then recounted to us a modern version of the Parable of the Sower, and learned a whole lot about evangelism, discouragement and persistence from 30 minute meet-and-greet after our concert.