I truly believe that prayer opens conversational doors.
One of the principles that I put forth in my Fear Free Evangelism Seminar is that when you pray, evangelism stuff happens.
Conversations appear. You don’t have to force a conversation. Conversations about faith simply show up.
The challenge is then how to listen to their spiritual thirst and listen to the work of the Holy Spirit to help the other person discover their next step towards faith.
Here is a recent testimony from a pastor’s wife after a recent Fear Free Evangelism Seminar.
Notice that they took the initiative to pray first and then the conversations unfolded.
My husband and I attended a Christmas party on our street last evening. All of the people on the street were invited. This is a first since we have lived here.
I connected with an older woman in her 80’s. After probably 30 minutes of conversation, she said, “Is your husband a minister?”
I replied, “Yes.”
She shared about being raised in a strict Catholic home (very common in our town), but she doesn’t “practice it” anymore. She hasn’t since she was about 18.
I asked “why?”
She said it was the confession to the priest that turned her off.
I asked if she had ever tried any other church. She said no. She never wanted to. But, she hastened to assure me she believes in God and do it their “own way.” She said religion has never been a real priority.
She began to make a negative comment about “these born-again Christians.” I felt very peaceful in gently saying to her, “I’m a born-again Christian.” She apologized and I said, “Oh, no. I understand.”
About then her husband and a young woman joined us. The husband said, “I’m reading the Bible.” and the young woman said, “That’s on my list, too.”
The older woman said, “It’s too hard to understand. I tell him he’s just reading it to make him sleepy.” She and her sister had tried to read it when they were young and “there was no one to explain what it meant” to them. They couldn’t understand it.
By this time, my husband joined us. I asked the husband what version of the Bible he’s reading and he said the King James. I said, “Oh, you could read a more modern version.” I don’t think he even knew there were other versions. I told him we could give him one and I plan to take it to their house.
We parted with hugs and the older lady invited me to come to visit them and bring my grandson.
I was amazed that my husband and I were talking with three of our neighbors about reading the Bible!! But, we did pray before we went to the party.
Now my husband wants to make a list of our neighbors and pray for them. He talked with some people that I didn’t. I’m very excited about how God may what to use us here.
This is an excellent step in growing. The conversation was natural, and I already know that the Bible has been delivered. That led to a follow-up conversation that may turn into an investigative Bible study.
See another testimony at: Fear Free Evangelism Case Study.
Let me ask you this?
Have you spent time asking God to whom are you going to speak with today? Do you notice those who cross your path?
