Written by Bethany Loux Fatahian
Read: Mark 2:15
“If you died tonight, do you know with certainty where you would go?”
This is what I imagined growing up when I heard evangelism: Billy Graham crusades, street preachers with megaphones and signs, or asking this question on an airplane. Living in another culture broadened this perspective so much. A wise pastor from Eastern Europe told me that until you have shared a bag of salt with someone, they aren’t ready to hear the gospel from you yet. He was talking about people from that area of the world, and yet there is wisdom for us in this part. Think about how much “salt” Jesus shared with his disciples, all the bread, meals, and time together. And these were who He influenced the greatest who then influenced everyone else.
Taking this pastor’s advice, I began to intentionally get to know the people God placed in my life and strategically try and meet others. I showed up for birthdays, babysat kids, drank so much coffee, and prayed. In that context, the miracle of Jesus moving in the simple things happened over and over again. Instead of asking these deep thought-provoking questions, the questions that brought the most “fruit” often were questions like, “How do you celebrate Christmas?” or “Tell me about your family.” And in these conversations, they would open up and suddenly I would realize, they are asking me about my faith, the moment becoming so holy and not forced.
Evangelism in my life seems to be this desire I have for the lost to know Jesus and the willingness to engage people, to show up in their life, to ask good questions, and pray and trust God to move. He does.
Weekly Reflection Questions
- As you read about the gift of apostleship, what aspects of this gift resonate with you? Do you find yourself drawn to pioneering new ministries, encouraging others to step into mission, or helping establish God’s work in new places? Why or why not?
- Where has God placed you right now to be a messenger of the gospel? As you reflect on your everyday relationships and responsibilities, who might He be inviting you to intentionally invest in?
- Does sharing Biblical truths of the gospel of Christ and His Kingdom feel less like an effort and more like an inspired, natural, and authentic conversation for others to understand?