The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:2-3

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
1 Peter 3:15

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My first attempts at evangelism completely blew up in my face. Like today’s Scripture passage suggests (1 Peter 3:15), I learned I needed to soften my approach. So now, I intentionally ask people about their spiritual journey. Usually, they don’t ask about mine, but in the course of normal conversation, the opportunity arises to share mine. When meeting new people, I intentionally bring up my church, my Bible study, or other relevant topics. It’s my way of saying I’m a Christian without outright saying it.   Because, like the Apostles, we can tell our story and invite people into saving faith and fellowship with God and us. This invitation is the greatest act of hospitality. 

In the course of my world travels, I met a woman who grew up Hindu, went to a Catholic school in India, dated a Jewish man and is currently attracted to Buddhist philosophy. I went to stay with her for a weekend recently and asked my serving group and small group to pray for a ministry opportunity and to prepare her heart and mine. Over four days, we had many meaningful spiritual conversations where I could say things like, “I am only called to tell people about Jesus. I am not called to convert people.”

Near the end of our time together, she said, “What I am hearing is that the Christian religion is about helping all people and being kind.” 

Talk about answered prayer! In the next moment, I said, “No! Not entirely. It’s about Jesus dying for our sins and defeating death. It’s about a personal relationship with the God of creation starting now and for all eternity. Christians are kind out of gratitude and a desire to follow Jesus’s example.”

Returning home, I was so excited to tell my small group about our prayers in God’s will being so fruitful—the openness of her heart and so many natural discussion moments. Inviting people to know Jesus might feel intimidating, but it truly is the greatest act of hospitality we can offer “so that [they] also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).

Next Steps

If there is any prayer that we are confident in within God’s will, it is any prayer about spreading the Gospel. In my experience, once you pray a prayer like that, you’ll meet so many people who don’t know the Lord. Your heart will grieve for them. Your prayers will revolve around them. You will “see” them. When the Holy Spirit gives you the chance and the words, you will be bursting with joy. It’s a roller coaster of emotions. Are you ready?