Growing in Christ

"God has put it on my heart to share the gospel with as many people as I can, I'm not always good at this, but I have been called to make disciples everywhere, not just on trips abroad."

Tim Ennis’ life radically changed this past summer on a trip to Ethiopia with Watermark Single Adults. “On the third day there, we went to a small village and rounded up some kids to tell them about the life of Jesus. My friend, Jessica, presented the gospel. While she was speaking, two 20-something guys came up and stood in the back of the group to listen. My attention was immediately drawn to one of them. He was making eye contact with me, and I could feel that God was about to do something.”

“After Jessica finished sharing, he started asking me questions about Jesus and how you become a Christian. I’m not normally one to over-spiritualize things, but it was almost like God was giving me an opportunity to feel what He feels for His children. In that moment, I wanted him to trust Christ more than anything in the world. I yearned for him to repent of his sins and turn to Christ. So I asked him if he believed. The man looked me in the eye and nodded yes. But as he did, his friend turned and walked away.”

“I could see in his eyes that he didn’t know what to do. He had just told me that he believed in Christ, but he was torn because of the terrible persecution Christians face in Ethiopia. He started to back away, then sadly turned and left with his friend. I wanted to run after him, but the translators told me not to. I literally cried over his soul and still can’t get his face out of my mind. I am trusting that God will finish the work he started in that guy’s heart.”

“God showed me what it was like to deeply love someone I had never met. I couldn’t help but feel like the apostle Paul must have felt when he desired so much for people to know Christ. Since I’ve returned to the U.S., God has put it on my heart to share the gospel with as many people as I can. I’m not always good at this, but I have been called to make disciples everywhere, not just on trips abroad.”

It’s hard to believe that this same Tim Ennis grew up completely unchurched in Midland, Texas, and was “part

of the high school party scene.” But that all changed when he arrived at Texas A&M where his “potluck” freshman roommate, who was part of a small group of Christian guys from Dallas, started sharing the truth about Jesus. After eight months of late-night conversations, Tim ultimately trusted that Jesus was indeed the Son of God, and that He paid the ultimate price of death on a cross to wash away our sins. After graduation, Tim came to check out Watermark.

Philippians 1:4-6 “In all my prayers for all of you,
I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident
of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

“A few days after I heard a Sunday message on basing your life on biblical beliefs, I went to meet with David Penuel, Watermark’s Junior High Director. Within thirty minutes of talking with David, I knew that I wanted to lead a small group of young men. I had seen the exponential impact that one leader – my old college roommate (a regular guy from Mesquite) had on this group of ten men that had become my best friends at A&M. Even though leading in Watermark Student Ministries was a seven-year commitment, I was all in.”

Tim started out with a group of a dozen sixth graders two years ago, and this group has now grown to 21 eighth graders. “It’s amazing to see the authentic faith and transparency that these kids have at such a young age. They aren’t afraid to admit sins and the things they struggle with. They realize that it’s not about giving Sunday school answers, but about being open and honest and account- able to each other.” Matthew, who is in Tim’s small group, says Tim is, “One of the most godly guys I know. He’s a really great role model and always encourages us to do the right thing. The coolest thing is that we can ask him the same questions that he asks us.

Tim’s life has been changed forever. “The biggest impact on my life as a result of serving is that I realize I need to stay above reproach as their leader, and model what it looks like to live in a way that is consistent with the Bible. My hope in leading them is that as they grow older, they will also go on to make their own disciples. Think of the exponential impact that these 21 individuals could have for the Kingdom someday if they continue to follow Christ. Since these guys are forming good habits and pursuing Christ at such a young age, there’s no telling where they’ll be and what they will have accomplished by the time they’re my age.”

– by Riis Christensen