Tips for evangelism with friends

These tips have been brought to you by contributors from Church Army Evangelists, Activate, Purpose Driven Church Europe and Christians to encourage you to Share Faith through Words and Actions.

Matchstick testimony with friends

Make notes about your faith journey – your background, how you came to faith, what events or people were involved, how it affected your life, and what difference it makes today.  Practise your story by chatting to a mirror. Try out the story with one of two trusted friends who would not call themselves Christians.  Explain that you have been asked to do it as an exercise, and ask if they would comment afterwards about whether you were understandable or used jargon or clichés.  If they would like to tell you what they thought of your experience,that would be great.

Name above all names

Here’s a simple tip from Church Army evangelist Phil Clark. In your everyday conversations with people, name the name of Jesus.

As the well known song by Noel Richards goes: “There is power in the name of Jesus… At his name the demons flee. At his name captives are freed. For there is no other name that is higher than Jesus!”

Say “God” to people and there’s no problem, but say “Jesus” and it’s more of a challenge. Maybe it’s because many people create God in their own image, but Jesus is more specific. Don’t be ashamed of your Lord.

Pray to Win

Get together a team a join a local football league.- but give your team and unusual name- such as God Squad .You may want to start or finish with a prayer huddle, demonstrate the fruits of the spirit in your playing performance, or have special messages written on your shirts for you to bare when you have that all important goal celebration. Go out of your way to develop strong friendships with the teams that you play and when appropriate invite them to a suitable outreach event such a sports quiz or watching a football match. Ask you opponents if there is anything you can pray for them about.

Stars and signs

If you get into any conversations with people about horoscopes and star signs take a different approach than condemnation. Church Army Evangelist Hugh Boorman suggests that you tell people your star sign is the cross and explain that the Lord of all creation and the universe who flung the stars into space died for you and guides your life each and every day.

Prayer to go

Whenever you talk with neighbours, ask before you go if there is anything they would like prayer for. If they mention something you could even pray right the. People rarely reject prayers. You will soon note how this simple question can transform your relationships with non Christians. You don’t have to bible bash people to share what you know of Jesus. Simply naturally introduce into conversations with friends and family times when God has helped you and how you depend on him each day. You will be surprised at home effective this is when done sincerely and openly.

Focus on a friend

Think of a friend you haven’t seen for sometime but who you know needs Christ. Spend some time this coming week with that person, by phone, email, invitation to dinner or a film or theatre trip or a sporting event. Let them know that they have been on your heart and you are sad you have not spent time with them for some while. Make sure your intention is to keep in touch more regularly because you really care for them.

Have you noticed in the New Testament how Jesus first ministered to a person’s need and then shared the gospel with that person? Think of the people you know who you’d would like to see come to Christ and start ministering to their needs. When you do so, you will have the credibility to share the gospel with them.

Do’s and don’ts

Don’t but in. Don’t judge; don’t try to offer pat solutions to problems. Don’t hijack the conversation with your own agenda. Show you are interested b y making good eye contact and by asking questions relating to what you are being told. Keep confidences so that trust is built between you. The Art of Connecting says- “Questions allow people to go place within themselves that they probably would not otherwise go. A sympathetic listener, asking relevant questions at the right time and in the right way can often open up emotions, fears and points of pain that may have been deeply buried and would certainly mot have been volunteered”.

Hatch, match and despatch

Talk to people you know who do not regularly attend church who may have been involved with a baptism, wedding or funeral in recent years. Ask them about their experience of the process and how far what was offered met their needs. Did it make them think any differently about faith ?Try to discover why they approached the church they did, were their expectations met and how could things have been made easier or better for them

Football Evangelism

Church Army evangelist Phil Clark recommends that Christians should learn to recognise the latest football strips, even if they don't like football.

“It is an easy conversation starter,” he says, “the person wearing it will be proud of their new shirt, and it shows you are human!”

Phil advises keeping up to date with the latest signings, top scorers and star players: “Like it or not, football is massive in this country and people are passionate in their following of teams. Plug into the football scene, subscribe to Sky Sports and invite people round to watch the big match!”