Some stories don’t end when the blog post does. They keep unfolding, quietly, on the other side of the world.
We have told you about Jason Adrian from Fiji and his “chance” meeting with David Richards, the Regional Director in New Zealand. David recently challenged Jason to commit to deeper training and an internship with Engage (Campus Outreach) in Dunedin, New Zealand.
Six months in, these seeds are bearing fruit none of them could have planned; seeds planted at a table full of pancakes.
Pancakes and a Fruit Farm
Engage staff regularly serve pancakes as a study break for students. That’s where Jason met Johan, a German student who’d spent his life bouncing between countries. He told Jason that he’d recently found God while fruit-picking on a farm, in conversation with a Muslim coworker.
Jason sensed that patience would open more doors than pressure, so he listened and asked questions before sharing scripture that contradicted. Johan appreciated the openness and dialogue. He kept coming back — to pancakes, to conversations, and eventually to Autumn Retreat; still not a Christian, but still curious.
On the retreat’s last morning, Jason and Johan set out to watch the sunrise. On that walk, Jason asked Johan directly whether he considered himself a Christian. The response was a confident, “Yes.”
This change was confirmed weeks later over lunch, when Johan made clear he wanted to fight sin, follow Christ, and grow. He joined a discipleship group that Jason helps lead.
Providence at Play
Jason didn’t stumble into that initial conversation around a table of pancakes unprepared. Years of studying and wrestling with Scripture gave him the foundation to ask and answer questions. Leadership from David and training from Engage contributed to his approach of patience instead of pressure. All of it shaped him for this moment.
And sure, Johan moved from place to place throughout his life. But God had planned for his journey to intersect with a Muslim on a fruit farm and a Christian from Fiji at a pancake table.
Johan is a brand-new believer, still learning what it means to follow Christ. Jason continues to labor as an intern in Dunedin, seeking to help Johan grow. Pray for Johan and Jason as the story continues to unfold.
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