Evangelical Pastor
A
few years earlier, I had visited a large evangelical expat church in another
southeast Asian country and heard its American pastor express bewilderment during his sermon at
something that Jesus had done. The answer had to do with how the days were
counted in the Jewish culture during the antiquity. When I emailed him about it, he had replied
with kind words.
I replied to this evangelical pastor's old email to remind him of our previous exchange, briefly mentioned Kristin's situation and asked him if he knew anyone who could help her. He immediately replied that a member of his church is an American woman who is gifted in spiritual warfare and asked me to tell him a bit more about Kristin. When I did, he said he will speak to the woman and get back to me.
After waiting a week, I emailed the evangelical pastor to touch base but didn't hear back. After waiting another week, I emailed him again but again didn't hear back. After waiting yet another week, I sent him a more tersely-worded email, and this time drew a response. He said he is the senior pastor of a large church, hence a busy man. But he had spoken to the American woman, who had replied that Kristin's case sounded "complicated," so she didn't want to get involved; she just wanted to focus on her ministry to the sex workers, some of whom had demons that she cast out.
I asked the evangelical pastor to tell the American woman that while it is great that she ministers to the sex workers and casts demons out of them, Galatians 6:10, which states, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith," compels her to use her God-given gifts to minister to those who belong to Christ before she ministers to non-believers. If we were to travel to her, could she please meet with Kristin just once at least, and try to cast the demons out of her?