Sometimes the hardest thing about sharing Christ with others, especially strangers is the challenge of starting the conversation and the judgement or contempt which often follows your attempt to evangelize someone.
Saturday night, I was waiting for a takeout order and had a relatively long conversation with the server at the restaurant. I reached for a tract and told her it was a card about eternal life. She quickly realized what it was and assured me she was a Christian and started describing some outreach her church did. It was really a nice meeting; then she pointed out how some people just stand on a street corner with sign and scream at people, and how that is not an effective witness for Christ.
AWKWARD, since I am an open air preacher. 🙂
I smiled (something I learned is extremely important when contradicting someone or disagreeing), and I told her, “I’m one of those guys, well except for holding the sign.”
She was polite, but it was clear she became uncomfortable. I assured her that there was a [small] group of us who try to do street preaching biblically, but that there is an element of people out there who do seem to get their joy from just yelling at people. The conversation finished, in my estimation, uncomfortably. What had been a friendly casual encounter had turned into awkwardness. Her name was Katie; maybe she will consider that just because the devil has counterfeited one of God’s methods, that doesn’t mean we can’t use that method (street preaching about hell and sin and forgiveness).
I have to admit, I was a bit discouraged. Meeting born again believers is one of my joys in evangelism. Usually, it is very encouraging to me as I often have a chance to challenge others to live out the life bought for them by Christ when they are not, and to provoke them to love and good works, particularly evangelism.
Well, the next evening, I was getting an ice cream for my wife and me (seriously, we don’t eat out that often!), and a lady was in line next to me. Again, feeling awkward about simply speaking to a stranger, I made a joke about sampling ice cream to break the ice then I handed her a tract. I told her it was about Jesus and it was a card my church produced. She was glad to receive it and seemed genuinely touched when I told her we would pray for her if she needed and that she was welcome to visit. Her name was Stacia. Would you pray that God would save her by the Word on the tract?
In conclusion, I need to praise God for allowing me some discomfort Saturday then boosting my spirits with an encouraging meeting Sunday evening. I hope you will allow Him to do wondrous works in your life as well.
Michael Coughlin
Michael’s Blog: michaelcoughlin.net
Also found @ PulpitAndStreets.com
