Trapped...
...The reality: a man cowers at the bottom of a dark, musty well. His clothes are soiled by years of shame and guilt. His shoulders are slumped forward, no longer supported by a sense of pride, and in his eyes dance shadows of foreign, inadequate gods. His chin is collapsed onto his chest as he retreats inward, hoping to find a sense of comfort or purpose.
The man gazes around him, but finds his surroundings the same as every day before. His tongue is desiccated with thirst, but there is no water here. At times, he hears faint whispers of promise and hope from above, but they turn to betrayal and mockery the moment his ears have taken note of them.
The man’s thoughts turn to the world above, where a small gleam of light is the only thing that breaks up the darkness in his world. Squinting at it, he wonders if anyone knows he is down here, trapped in this repulsive place. He wonders if anyone will come looking for him. As the silence closes in, the man sees no options except to draw up his knees and wait…
WELL...NOT IF WE HAVE SOMETHIN' TO SAY ABOUT IT!
Welcome to the Evangelistic Training Center (ETC)! You've finally found it! The place where your dreams to reach the unreached become a reality!
You're here because someone shared Jesus with you, and now you want to do the same for somebody else!
The man trapped in the well is one of over 3 billion people who have never heard the name of Jesus. Through the ETC, you'll go into all the world to share the life-giving Gospel of Jesus Christ...it's what we do...it's what we believe. Enter the well!
THE RESCUE....
...Dust is wrestled from its place on the ground as two men stride down a long dirt road. Their footprints are sure and unwavering. Their shoulders are upright with purpose, yet resemble humility. They know that theirs is a journey for eternity; for Someone greater than themselves. The first man is young, his eyes bright with adventure and expectation. The second man is wise with experience and bears a coiled rope over his left shoulder.
The setting sun casts long, auburn shadows in its wake as the men approach a well. It is just the sort of well their training has taught them to look for. The young man approaches first and leans over the brick edge. The intense blackness hisses at him, threatening to devour anyone bold enough to enter. He steps back, questioning his own strength. He wonders if his training was adequate enough; if he really has the strength to fulfill this mission. He closes his eyes, focusing on the voice in the depth of his soul. As it resonates through his spirit, he gathers the strength it offers.
A firm hand on his shoulder reminds him of the task's urgency.
“I couldn’t have done this without you. Are you ready to lower me?” The young man asks, his eyes fierce with determination.
“I am,” the older man replies.
Wrapping his hands around the rope, he heaves himself over the side and descends into the well. As he pervades the darkness, he reaches into his pocket and clicks on his flashlight, pointing it downward. As the only source of light, its beam explores the mossy walls, until it illuminates the crouching frame of a man.
“Who are you?” The crouched man says through narrowed eyes.
“I am a messenger. I’m here to rescue you.”
The messenger offers his outstretched hand to the crouching man below. The man’s eyes widen as he takes one last look at his surroundings, then he sets his jaw and grasps the messenger’s hand. As they both climb back out of the well, the messenger can’t help but smile as he watches the once trapped man squint his eyes in the daylight for the very first time.
It takes a special person to dive into the unknown and rescue the person in the well. Do you have What It Takes?
The man gazes around him, but finds his surroundings the same as every day before. His tongue is desiccated with thirst, but there is no water here. At times, he hears faint whispers of promise and hope from above, but they turn to betrayal and mockery the moment his ears have taken note of them.
The man’s thoughts turn to the world above, where a small gleam of light is the only thing that breaks up the darkness in his world. Squinting at it, he wonders if anyone knows he is down here, trapped in this repulsive place. He wonders if anyone will come looking for him. As the silence closes in, the man sees no options except to draw up his knees and wait…
WELL...NOT IF WE HAVE SOMETHIN' TO SAY ABOUT IT!
Welcome to the Evangelistic Training Center (ETC)! You've finally found it! The place where your dreams to reach the unreached become a reality!
You're here because someone shared Jesus with you, and now you want to do the same for somebody else!
The man trapped in the well is one of over 3 billion people who have never heard the name of Jesus. Through the ETC, you'll go into all the world to share the life-giving Gospel of Jesus Christ...it's what we do...it's what we believe. Enter the well!
THE RESCUE....
...Dust is wrestled from its place on the ground as two men stride down a long dirt road. Their footprints are sure and unwavering. Their shoulders are upright with purpose, yet resemble humility. They know that theirs is a journey for eternity; for Someone greater than themselves. The first man is young, his eyes bright with adventure and expectation. The second man is wise with experience and bears a coiled rope over his left shoulder.
The setting sun casts long, auburn shadows in its wake as the men approach a well. It is just the sort of well their training has taught them to look for. The young man approaches first and leans over the brick edge. The intense blackness hisses at him, threatening to devour anyone bold enough to enter. He steps back, questioning his own strength. He wonders if his training was adequate enough; if he really has the strength to fulfill this mission. He closes his eyes, focusing on the voice in the depth of his soul. As it resonates through his spirit, he gathers the strength it offers.
A firm hand on his shoulder reminds him of the task's urgency.
“I couldn’t have done this without you. Are you ready to lower me?” The young man asks, his eyes fierce with determination.
“I am,” the older man replies.
Wrapping his hands around the rope, he heaves himself over the side and descends into the well. As he pervades the darkness, he reaches into his pocket and clicks on his flashlight, pointing it downward. As the only source of light, its beam explores the mossy walls, until it illuminates the crouching frame of a man.
“Who are you?” The crouched man says through narrowed eyes.
“I am a messenger. I’m here to rescue you.”
The messenger offers his outstretched hand to the crouching man below. The man’s eyes widen as he takes one last look at his surroundings, then he sets his jaw and grasps the messenger’s hand. As they both climb back out of the well, the messenger can’t help but smile as he watches the once trapped man squint his eyes in the daylight for the very first time.
It takes a special person to dive into the unknown and rescue the person in the well. Do you have What It Takes?
