By Kelly Williams
Does it strike fear in your heart when your church talks about going door-to-door to visit strangers to tell them about Jesus? It certainly does in mine! Growing up, I remember my dad going on Thursday nights with other men to visit homes of people he did not know. Times have certainly changed, haven’t they? Some may still engage in weekly visitation like that, but with today’s culture, most people won’t answer the door to someone they don’t know.
That doesn’t change our mission, though. Jesus said, “Go and Tell.” He didn’t give us specifics about how and when (certainly he didn’t say Thursday nights at 7 p.m.). However, Jesus was very clear that our mission is to share the good news of God with others.
In 1993, my husband Ken and I, along with our three children, moved to Algonquin, Ill., as interstate missionaries. The method we used to begin our mission was a program called “The phone’s for you.” Ken and some volunteers from local churches made over 14,000 phone calls to invite people to receive further information about a new church that would soon be established. That method would not work today either, because we don’t answer the phone unless we know the person calling. On opening Sunday in March 1994, we had about 85 people in attendance, so I suppose that program was successful at the time.
I’ve often thought about how church planters are greatly challenged in our day to introduce themselves to a new community in order to build the relationships necessary to introduce Christ into their lives. The very best method is still to build relationships with people. To go into the community and be genuine and loving, just like Christ, is how I’ve seen church planters be successful. One method used in Illinois was distributing water bottles (with the church logo on the side) filled with ice and water at community festivals. No charge, just free water. People were shown how we loved them before we ever introduced ourselves to them.
When working in an office in the suburbs of Chicago, I worked with a lady who was not a believer. After a few months of working closely together, she told me she had not met many “Christians” who were the same in the office as they would be in church. She went on to give me a great compliment. She said I believe you are the same all the time. Wow, I was blown away, but it gave me a perfect opportunity to share Jesus with her. She did not immediately accept Christ that day, but I pray that she eventually came to believe and accept the gift of salvation that comes only through Christ.
I Peter 3:15 says, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” That verse essentially states that when people notice the difference between you and those around them, they will ask you about it. Be ready to give your answer to what God has done for you in your life. As you are “going” about your daily routine at school or work, be genuine. Be kind and loving to everyone so that they give you the opportunity to “Tell” them about Jesus.
• Prayer — Father, please help me as I go about my life to let Jesus shine through me, through my words and actions. Please help me to be bold in speaking Your name to all those around me, sharing what You have done for me at every opportunity.
— These articles are shared via the National WMA web page blog that can be accessed at nationalwma.org/blogs.
