Through my life I’ve come across various programmes and methodologies for how to do personal evangelism. In the end though, what I would encourage is that we need to just have conversations. That might be a conversation with someone you’ve known for years, the colleague at work, fellow parent at the school gate, even a family member. Alternatively, it might be the person in the queue at the football or sitting next to you on the train.
And if it’s a conversation, then you just need to start talking. You don’t need to be pre-armed with special diagnostic questions, or five steps complete with Bible verses. Instead, just have a normal friendly conversation. This also means that Jesus and the Gospel needs to be so important to you, that you will find yourself naturally talking about him, just as naturally as you talk about the other things. I can guarantee that a conversation with a mum or dad at the school gate will very quickly get into whatever hobbies the kids are doing or how hard it was to get everyone through the bathroom and out the door this morning. The football fan will talk passionately about the transfer window and plans to increase the number of teams in the play-offs etc.
So, there’s our starting point in a conversation. Discover what is important to them and show an interest in it. Don’t be in a rush to get onto other things. Be prepared to talk at length about whatever it is they are concerned about. If it isn’t something you know about or are particularly passionate about, that’s not a problem, they are. Ask them questions. “Why is this important to them?” “What do they think about x or y? And all the time, you are engaging as a Christian with Christian values. Even if what they consider important isn’t the most pressing thing for you, it’s important because it matters to God.
As you are talking about what matters to them, you may pick up that there are heart issues, things that they care about because it affects their lives. Here’s the second point. People don’t tend to mind if you offer to pray for them. I don’t necessarily mean that they will want you to get on your knees or lay hands on them there and then, though sometimes people might appreciate you praying with them.
At this point, you might find that they are curious about you. You’ve naturally wanted to pray, no doubt, naturally in the conversation, things have come up about your own interests, hobbies, causes. “So what made you get religious?” They ask. Or “Why are you a Christian?” There’s an opportunity to give an answer for the hope you have. That might include a bit of past testimony, some of your story about how you came to faith and moments when God has been there for you. It also should include the up to date “this is why I’m a Christian now.”
A frequent response at this point from them might be along the lines that although they are not religious themselves and don’t expect to be, they are interested to hear from those who are because they want to respect faith choices. This can be a good opportunity to ask them about what they believe or don’t believe. Why not ask them about what obstacles there are to them believing in Jesus.
Finally, don’t feel you need to get everything into the conversation. You’ve offered the kernel in explanation to why you are a Christian. You can signpost them where to find out more, a website to visit or book to buy if you are unlikely to see them again or back to you if you are.
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PS If you are looking for a helpful resource to refer them onto, why not suggest First Look to them?
Faithroots 