Run and Tell the News

“Mary Magdelene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples.” Matt. 28:8 (NIV)

Does your heart burn with desire when you hear this passage to spread the good news that Jesus is alive? Really? Are you running yet? Most of us celebrate Easter Sunday with family and friends and then…move on with our daily lives, including our struggles with doubts and insecurities. We forget we are STILL in the joyful Easter season celebrating the resurrected Christ (which is even longer than Lent…50 days vs. 40…this year lasting until May 24!) Yet, I believe Jesus is calling all of us to not only eagerly and joyfully keep spreading the Good News of the Resurrection…and Jesus in our lives every day…during this season, but all year long.

Evangelization

I used to believe evangelization was only for “Holy Rollers,” those real disciples out there who go on missions to Kenya or Cambodia. I had enough responsibility working for a living and raising a family. Now, many years later, I see I am called to be a disciple and as such, it is MY responsibility to do God’s will and evangelize and spread the Good News. But how?

Called by Name

Mary Magdeline doesn’t recognize Jesus even when He appears to her at the tomb until she hears Him say her name. He calls each one of us to run and spread the news in our own unique ways…maybe through our vocations or volunteering in retirement, or (and this is the case for me now) through putting our gifts or talents to use to pursue our goals, dreams, missions or ministries…to spread His Word. For me, in the past, it has been helping other writers through my book coaching services and Master classes, as well as continuing to write new contemporary suspense novels that re-imagine Old Testament stories to get God’s messages across through edgy, entertaining fiction that speaks to today’s readers. Now, I am being called to make movies based on my novels, starting with The Jealous Son.

Scary but Exciting

In the BIble passage I shared, the women (the two Marys) were “fearful yet overjoyed” once they knew they had to go tell the news to the other disciples. I always say everything worthwhile in life is both “scary and exciting.” Or as Helen Keller says in one of my favorite quotes, “Life is a daring adventure or nothing at all.” This feeling fuels us to run, to keep the fire of evangelization alive in our hearts, and to keep going, despite our doubts, challenges and fears, into sometimes deeper waters.

Encouragement and Inspiration

Jesus instructed His disciples to go “two-by-two” to spread the news and do His will, healing and preaching. I have been greatly encouraged in my journey as an author, speaker, book coach over the past many years. Not only by friends and family, but fellow authors, speakers, mentors and coaches. I’ll never forget attending the International Christian Film Festival in 2018 in Orlando, where TV and movie producer Isaac Hernandez held up my novels on stage (in front of 600 people) in a panel discussion titled, “Why I Hate Christian Films” and said, “books like these is what we need to see made into Christian films.” Talk about encouragement! His words propelled me, along with my love of movies, to “run” and begin the process of making my books into movies. Stan Jantz, the keynote speaker at the International Christian Visual Media conference last year, further inspired me by saying there are still three billion of the world’s eight billion people who don’t know Jesus…and it is our job (as filmmakers) to reach them. It reminded me I’m working as hard as I can at this project to build God’s Kingdom for His glory…not mine. The fact that I love doing it is a bonus. I encourage you to be open to Jesus calling you by name…and take advantage of conferences, workshops and other opportunities that pique your interest. And when you know your unique message to carry…run and tell the news!

Lord, help us every day to spread Your Good News to those who may need to hear it in various individual ways you are calling us to explore.