10 January 2019 | Oslo, Norway [Andrew McChesney]<\/p>\n
Glenn Lie slipped on his favourite green polo shirt and boarded a subway train in Oslo, Norway.<\/p>\n
The 55-year-old teacher hoped that people would stare at him. He didn\u2019t have to wait long.<\/p>\n
Glenn sat across from an elegantly dressed woman who appeared to be in her early sixties. The woman glanced at him and then his shirt. Her eyes remained fastened on his shirt. Embroidered on the left breast were the words, \u201cAdvent Airlines, Steward Glenn Lie,\u201d and the image of a jet plane.<\/p>\n
Glenn said nothing. He knew the woman was wondering why she had never heard about Advent Airlines.<\/p>\n
After staring at him for about five minutes, the woman spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cExcuse me,\u201d she said. \u201cI haven\u2019t heard about this airline before. Do you work there?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d Glenn said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh,\u201d she said. \u201cWhere do you fly?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe only have one destination.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh really?\u201d she said with surprise.<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t ask for the destination, and Glenn didn\u2019t volunteer it.<\/p>\n
After a long moment, the woman asked, \u201cIs it very expensive?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, the tickets are free.\u201d<\/p>\n
The woman was flabbergasted.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d she exclaimed. \u201cWhy are the tickets free?\u201d<\/p>\n
Now it was Glenn\u2019s turn to pause. The woman\u2019s curiosity grew. Finally, Glenn spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe tickets are free because they were paid for 2,000 years ago,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The woman looked puzzled for a moment. Suddenly understanding flashed in her eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She paused.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, for me, I have a hard time believing in heaven,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can understand, but why?\u201d Glenn asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have had bad experiences with religion in my upbringing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
![\"NORUC](\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/sitenews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/images_news-2019_NORUC_-_Shirt_to_Talk_About_Glenn_Lie.jpg\")
It was a story that Glenn had heard many times: people who rejected Christianity because of what they saw as the poor example of Christians. Norway is a highly secularized society, and church membership has declined in many denominations for decades. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is no exception, and its 4,500 members have struggled to make inroads in the Scandinavian country of 5.3 million people.<\/p>\n
On the subway, Glenn sensed that the woman longed for something better.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe you can find your way by exploring the Bible with new eyes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Hearing those words, the woman visibly relaxed in the nearly empty subway car. She spoke freely with Glenn about her doubts and questions for the next 20 minutes. Then she stood up.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m getting off here,\u201d she said. \u201cThank you for the talk. You have given me a lot to think about. I\u2019ll have to do some research.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am sure you will find your way. I will think of you,\u201d Glenn said.<\/p>\n
Glenn meant it. The woman was the reason that he had worn the polo shirt in the subway.<\/p>\n
Glenn dons the short-sleeved shirt as often as he can during the warm summer months. When he does, he draws stares. Sometimes, the stares lead to conversations.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am not very bold,\u201d Glenn explained in an interview. \u201cI don\u2019t go out to ring on doors. That is something that I am not comfortable with.\u201d<\/p>\n
But he does love Jesus, and he wants to be involved in gospel outreach. He also loves airplanes. So, he ordered the high-quality shirt from an online clothing company in Germany. The company customized the airplane and his name at his request.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I could be a tool to help people reconnect with God, that would be fantastic,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Glenn doesn\u2019t know whether anyone has been drawn to Jesus or the Adventist message because of his shirt. But he is convinced that the Holy Spirit can use the shirt to start conversations.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet us meet people where they are at,\u201d he said. \u201cMy job is not to make anyone an Adventist. That is the job of the Holy Spirit. Our job is to sow, and God will take care of the reaping.\u201d<\/p>\n
This article was first published by Adventist Mission here<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
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