Big Break 2010

Stepping Out in Faith and Leaving the Results to God

By Jonathan Moynihan

Jaron Cookson (green hat) talks with spring breakers Shea and Brad about Jesus. Jaron is bold, knowing that successful evangelism is about faith in what God's doing, not their decision.

By Jonathan Moynihan

22 . March . 2010

How do you define successful evangelism?

Is it someone praying and receiving Jesus into his or her heart? Is it a radical flash of lightning in the life of someone as they hear the gospel for the first time? When I think of successful evangelism, I usually think of these two images or something similar. But the truth is, I’m dead wrong.

Thanks to Ben Rivera, one of the speakers here at Big Break, this question is answered. He relayed to the students what Bill Bright often said, "Success in evangelism is taking the initiative to tell others about Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and leaving the results up to God."

University of Illinois senior Jaron Cookson, a 3-time attendee of Big Break, embraces this definition of success. His neon green hat sticks out on the beach almost as much as his excitement to “man up” and talk to people about Jesus.

Today, Jaron has more than indifference and drunkenness to combat on the beach. With temperatures in the 50s, the shore’s gloomy aura seems to consume the miles of sand. Spring breakers are scattered throughout the beach like stars in the sky underneath big city lights.

You wouldn’t know any of this by looking at Jaron. His highlighter-colored Phi Delta Theta fraternity hat seems to shine under the clouds. After walking just over a mile, God offers a divine appointment for Jaron and his friend, Jordan.

We walk by the Breaker’s Hotel, and 4 students stumble out of their apartments and onto a nearby volleyball court, challenging Jaron and his crew to play. Jaron, a competitive and athletic guy, happily agrees. After the game, the two sides shake hands and Jaron takes the opportunity to engage with them about Jesus.

He begins talking to Shea from Ball State University, and Brad from Cincinnati, telling them about the Big Break conference and explaining the Would You Like to Know God Personally? booklets.

Ignoring shouts from their partying roommates, Brad and Shea eagerly listen as Jaron shrewdly weaves in an out of the points of the booklet, balancing personal testimony with engaging questions.

After an hour of conversation, both Brad and Shea express a clearer understanding of the gospel and a deeper interest in learning what it means to truly walk with Jesus Christ.

Neither prayed and received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior there on the beach, but Jaron still can’t stop smiling because he knows he is 100% successful.

Pray for these students, myself and other staff members as we continue to learn what it means to be fully confident of this -- that we are 100% successful when we step out in the power of the Holy Spirit to talk with others about Jesus, and let God do the rest.