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As John the Baptist (quoting Isaiah 40) said: “Prepare the way for the lord, make straight paths for him”
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'Connections', a 7 day “Everyday Evangelism” mini seminar
Day 5: “Let’s enter into our friends lives”
This is where the rubber hits the road so to speak. This is where you emulate God the most. If you really and truly know how much God loves you, you will LOVE your friends into the Kingdom. These people are your friends, not clients, target audience, contacts etc. While the previous terms can be true, and indeed in a lot of cases helpful, the bottom line is ‘Friendship’ and by extension ‘Intimacy’. Here in Australia we’d call it ‘Mateship’ or something similar.
These are friends you will cry with, laugh with, fight with, and whose company you will relish in. These are the people you will cry out to God for, pray for, get angry with God for and lot and lots of other things. It’s only as this happens can our lives intertwine.
You may be the only ‘Bible’ some people see. A lot of Christian outreach is passive and hard to instantly react with. Invites to things can be forgotten about the next day (If not sooner). Programmes on television can be equally disconnected, at best offering a phone call to a stranger often some distance away. Letter box drops and even door knocking personally are impersonal methods. Door knocking is still impersonal because whole streets are being visited as part of an organized programme by people who are unknown to the door knockee (is that a term?).
I’m not saying these examples are necessarily bad at all. What I am saying is they are sometimes less than personal. It seems to me the church uses these impersonal ministries as the norm, especially in regard to connecting with others outside the church. These types of activities also eat up lots of resources. Quite often I feel the gains are quite small compared to huge effort expended.
Contrast this with you visiting a friend (or a friend coming to visit you). You actually want him (or her) to visit! You’re not door knocking a street or area. Hopefully, both of you look forward to this time together. This would equally apply to group gatherings, such as a Football club.
Let me give a personal example. My second Harley was a 1968 Model. A wonderful ‘Shovelhead’ with an open primary. I loved that bike, but mechanically, well…it was not that good. When I got it registered once, the Inspection Report said my breaks were in ‘Fair’ condition. When I quizzed the mechanic on this (I just spent over $600 on fixing them!), he told me “Mate, back in 1968 when they were brand new, they were only ‘fair’. What else can I put?” He shrugged his shoulders and just smiled. I’m afraid it was true.
I owned this motorcycle for some six years before the pick up service (my Wife!) started getting quite irate at having to hitch up the trailer and come out and get me. I was told to go out and get a new Harley. We had saved a bit. What a woman, every Bikers dream. So, in 1991 I did. I bought a brand new 2001 Road King Classic which I still ride to this day. The day I bought it I went from friend to friend proudly showing off my new acquisition. It was a great day spent with wonderful friends. They all loved my new bike (many now relieved I may actually get somewhere without breaking down!). I spent the day with personal friends who I personally knew and see on a regular basis. That’s how I spend my time! This is very different to the previous ‘less-than-personal’, time consuming and often little or no result approaches.
As our lives connect, the God who is part of our life can connect with theirs. It is only then that they too can experience the awesome love of God for themselves and who He truly is.
May God bless you in all your endeavors.
Andrew D. Carter
“Everyday Evangelism”
My parting thoughts for now:
Think of a friend who does not know Christ. Make arrangements to contact them this week, just to see how they are traveling. After this, decide (reflecting on Day 4) how you will connect further afield. An example may be doing less at church so you can join the local golf club.
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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