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As John the Baptist (quoting Isaiah 40) said: “Prepare the way for the lord, make straight paths for him”
Hear me read this article (and add more) with the audio supplements available in my E-zine at www.everyday-evangelism.com.au
'Connections', a 7 day “Everyday Evangelism” mini seminar
Day 2: “Let’s make (and keep) non-Christian friends”
There is a sad statistic here in Australia in regard to established personal friendships when one becomes a Christian. NCLS Research (http://www.ncls.org.au/) tells me a new Christian will lose all their non-Christian friends in 5 to 7 years. This disturbs me very much.
I want you to consider on what level the connection is with non-Christian friends. If you have none, may I suggest this is the best way to connect? I want you to consider connecting on a COMMON level, not CHRISTIAN level. This is not rocket science and most of us already know this principle. However, despite this concept being in our minds, I feel sometimes it is ignored.
Let me give you an example. As a Prison Chaplain, I need to minister to a very diverse group of Staff and Inmates. One particular group stands out for me. That group is Bikers. Do I connect with this group on a Christian level? Some (a few are Christians), but mostly not. It is pretty hard to connect on a Christian level when most are not Christians. As an Evangelist, I connect on the common level of Motorcycles. More specifically, Harley-Davidson Motorcycles. I went out of my way to meet with people who loved Harley-Davidsons. Why? Very simple! I love Harley-Davidsons. There is a great sticker you can buy from the HD Company which says it all. It simply states “Harley Davidson: If I had to explain you wouldn’t understand”. It made me laugh when I first read it, but it is so true!
This was highlighted to me once at a Motorcycle Rally I attended. I was standing among several of my Biker friends when a group of Christians approached us giving out tracts. A good friend of mine standing next to me looked at them and (very angrily) said “Why are they here? We didn’t invite them to come over to our campsite! We don’t want Christians here!” I’ve paraphrased his words somewhat taking out the… well, colourful adjectives one may say. I wasn’t offended as I certainly knew his comments were not aimed at me. I looked at him and said (smiling), “Hey, don’t forget you already have at least one Christian here!” He beamed back at me, put his arm around my shoulder and said “Yes, I know, but your one of us, not like these people”. It gave me a great sense of belonging and acceptance.
Why I look for this connection is twofold. Firstly I deeply love my non-Christian friends and secondly they need to know Christ. I weep thinking of their future beyond this life. I weep at how they live life without God. I weep as I think of their rejection of the Savior they desperately need and have no real knowledge of! If the standing of your non-Christian friends and family before God does not deeply move you and even distress you – do something else! Really, do something else in the church.
I want to teach (and learn from) angry, distressed and passionate Evangelists. I want to be with Evangelists who are boiling mad because our world is turning away from its loving, forgiving creator. I want to be with Evangelists who are driven by the Holy Spirit to connect outside their communities of faith. Above all, I want to be with Evangelists who REALLY LOVE those destined for hell and are moved by God to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!!
May God bless you in all your endeavors.
Andrew D. Carter
“Everyday Evangelism”
My parting thoughts for now:
Make a list of what hobbies, interests or different aspects of who you are that constitute your ‘common level’ of connection.
Is there 1 or 2 that you could put some time into and develop friendships in?
Author Resource:-
I am a Commissioned Church Army Officer. Church Army is a world wide Anglican (Episcopal) society of Evangelists. I was commissioned in 1991 after obtaining a Diploma of Evangelism (Dip. Ev.) from the Church Army College Australia.
Currently, I am the full-time Anglican (Episcopal) Chaplain for the Silverwater Correctional Centre. The Silverwater complex is located in the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. I have worked here on the complex for over ten years.
Before my Chaplaincy I was on staff at Saint Andrew’s Cathedral working with homeless people in Sydney’s inner city. From there I joined ‘Streetwork’, working with drug effected and street youth. I also was involved in pub ministry. One of my main tasks was putting into place the necessary structures to connect local churches with these groups so ongoing ministry would be both viable and effective.
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