Introverts & the Great Commission Part 2: Interview with an Introverted Stay-at-Home Mom

Last week, we talked with a pastor and introvert about the Great Commission. In his interview, Pastor Tim clarified two different aspects of the Great Commission, his experience in fulfilling it, and more.

Now we are going to discuss this subject with a stay-at-home mom (my own mom actually). Let’s see how a homemaker finds opportunities to share the Good News as an introvert.

Tell us a bit about yourself. Who are you? When and how did you become a Christian?

My name is Christina and I am Eliana’s mom. I have two older sisters (very close in age to me), a baby brother and sister (12 and 15 years younger than me). My mom became a Christian shortly before having my oldest sister, so we were raised going to church and believing in Jesus as God who came to live a perfect life, die on the cross to bear the wrath of God as the penalty for our sins, and rise from the dead, conquering death and giving us eternal life with Him. 

I believe I came to faith at a young age — between 5 and 8 years old. I loved God and wanted to live my life for Him. I wanted to glorify Him with my life and share Him with the world so they too may know Him and the fruit of having Him in their lives. 

As a teenager, I really struggled with how to show love to people even when they didn’t love God and follow His ways. In time, I started acting more and more like an unbeliever than a believer. And then, when God convicted me of my behavior, I had a harder and harder time obeying Him. In many ways, I had become bonded more to my sin – especially in how I believed others felt toward me — than I was concerned about how God felt about my behavior. 

In God’s kindness and perfect timing, God continued to convict me until I finally realized how powerless I was to live for God in my own strength. I really needed God to change me and free me from myself!! I was broken before Him, asking Him to change me, and much like the Prodigal Son, God showed His unfailing love and forgiveness. He really helped me in that season to grow in trusting Him and His ways above my own understanding and my ways. 

And then I met David, and I fell in love with the fruit of the Spirit so evident in his life. We got married a couple of years later and had Eliana a couple of years after that. We just had our eleventh child (this side of Heaven) in February.

How do you fulfill the Great Commission Jesus gave us in Matthew 28?

As an introvert, I really thrive more one-on-one or in small groups. But I do really love people and getting to know and really understand what makes a person tick. I’ve counseled at Christian pregnancy centers most of my adult life and I do some of what I call “Facebook counseling” in private groups where my number one goal is to listen to burdened people, hear who they are, love and pray for them, and point them to Jesus as their true hope and joy. 

We also pray for and eagerly look for opportunities to support missionaries who spread the gospel to unreached people groups. Though I do believe that the Great Commission starts at home (even in daily sharing the love of Christ with my unsaved children). I think we should seek to share Christ near and far.

Do you believe that every Christian is called to fulfill the Great Commission? Why or why not?

Yes. I believe every Christian is called to “be prepared to give a defense for the hope that is within” them (1 Pet 3:15). And to do so unashamedly (Luke 9:26), by the grace of God. I believe that if the Spirit lives within us, our very lives will bear witness to the glory of God. I think the fulfillment of the Great Commission looks very different to different people. God creates His children very different people with very different lives. But His work of salvation, transforming the dead to children of the Most High God through faith in Jesus Christ, will proclaim His goodness to all the earth.

What obstacles have made this harder for you?

My biggest obstacle has always been “fear of man” and selfishness. The gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing (1 Cor. 1:18) and in my pride, I don’t like looking foolish. But it is also “the power of God” to those who are saved!! I must not forget this in my shortsighted pride!! My selfishness can often also switch my focus from gospel opportunities to my own comfort and ease. But again, this is shortsighted pride and misses the mark of participating in the glory of God on display.

How have you overcome these obstacles?

Confession and repentance!! “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” These are the hallmarks of God’s sanctifying process of making us more like His Son (Romans 8:29)! 

Also, being at a church where the gospel is always preached has given me much more confidence in sharing the gospel, as it is regularly exampled to me in both word and deed. I wouldn’t say I’m always “good” at it. I can still get nervous, even with the magnitude of the truth that I am trying to share. But God is so good to work through weak and imperfect vessels like me and I can trust Him to be good ALL the time. It is a magnificent thing to see God’s word transform a life!

What is your advice to other introverts who want to obey this command?

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:28

“God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in Him.” – Pastor John Piper

Seek God! Spend time in His word and prayer. Grow to know Him more, marvel at Him, LOVE Him!! Be quick to humble your hearts and repent at any and every opportunity. And pray for a heart that loves others as you love yourself! As you truly grow in your love for God and a love for others, He will be more glorified in and through you. Pray for opportunities to share and show His glory with others. Stand in awe at all the ways He will eagerly answer those prayers according to His good and perfect will! 

Any other thoughts you would like to share?

I was going to share something mushy here to embarrass Eliana, but she determines what is and isn’t published, so I’ll refrain.

Haha, very true! Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, Mom!

What do you think?

What did you think of the interview? Do you have any ways that you get creative to share the gospel? What are your thoughts on the Great Commission?