Dave is a practicing Buddhist who was born and raised in the South yet by his own admission “never experienced Christianity”. When I asked him back in January what he is hoping for in 2019, he answered to “deepen my spirituality.” Later that week, I met with Dave to discuss several matters and give him a Bible per his permission. However, when we met that Friday, he brought his girlfriend, which was great but unexpected.

Much of our conversation centered on me and Amanda getting to know each other. She too was raised in the South, read the Bible for undergraduate projects, and grew up with Hindu friends and enjoyed playing with saris. The discussion included questions about what they thought about Jesus and the Bible to them answering my questions related to Buddhism. I asked Amanda what she found appealing about Buddhism. She responded, “Steve that is the wrong question. The fact that you asked that question implies there is an answer.” As you might imagine, I was left a little confused and wondered what questions I could and could not ask.

At one point, I asked Amanda if she thought this moment and we were real. Her answer will stick with me for awhile. She said, “the idea of this moment is real.” We continued to talk for about two hours. Fun, engaging, mind-boggling conversation. At the end of the conversation, Amanda said another interesting thing. She clearly and directly stated, “I would like to come visit your house some time.” That was shocking for this well-travelled yet still Southern boy. I do not think I have ever had someone invite themselves to my house. We made plans to have dinner with them later in a few weeks. Afterwards, without Amanda around, I gave Dave his first Bible and encouraged him to read Mark and Ecclesiastes. We planned to talk about it later.

Over the past two and half months, Angela, my friend Andrew, and I have visiting with Dave and/or Amanda on multiple occasions. We had dinner with them one evening along with other friends. It was an enjoyable evening of laughter, good food, and silly stories. In February, Andrew and I joined Dave and Amanda for Sunday prayers at their local monastery. Andrew and I observed several new things and asked numerous questions. Side note: one of the most troubling scenes at the monastery was the array of practicing Buddhists – most from Vietnam had been practicing from generation to generation and several others were like Dave and Amanda – born in the South but “never experienced Christianity” as Dave told me previously.

Probably my most encouraging and truly enjoyable times with Dave have been while the two of us sit together at a coffee shop and ask hard, challenging questions of one another. He told me recently that he does not feel like I am trying to convert him. I immediately said, “that’s right. I am not. If I could convince you of something, then someone else could come along and convince you of something else.”

I have been reminded recently that we have a responsibility in proclaiming the Word (Romans 10:14, Mark 16:15) but also that “no one can come to me (Jesus) unless the Father who sent me draws him. Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me” John 6:44-45. Also I have been reminded that countless have tried in multiple ways to gain salvation/eternal life/enlightenment but “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” Acts 4:12.

Pray that Angela, Andrew, others, and I will love Dave and Amanda as ourselves (Mark 12:31) and they will see our love for one another (John 13:35).

More to come. Pray for Dave and Amanda now. May the Spirit of The Living God move in their lives.