WAYS TO GET STARTED REACHING OUT TO NON-CHRISTIANS
Marvin Bryant
Are you ready to actually get involved in reaching out to lost people? Or do you feel you should be involved in reaching out to others but don’t know what to do? Perhaps you have wanted to reach out to a friend or loved one to help them become a Christian but didn’t know how. Take heart!
What follows is a brief description of some ways you can contribute authentically to God’s mission of seeking and saving the lost. Of course, there are many other ways of reaching out. I highlight these five, however, because one or more of them will likely be appropriate for you. What’s more, if a congregation has people involved in all five, it is probably covering all the necessary bases for many people to become followers of Jesus, to the glory of God.
Praying. Since evangelism is God’s mission, it is imperative that we pray for Him to work through us (I Cor. 3:5-9; Col. 4:2-4). Prayer is not the second-rate avenue of involvement for the untalented and unspiritual. Rather, it is an indispensable part of reaching people. The Bible indicates several specific things we ought to pray related to evangelism. There is a tremendous need for people who will learn what those things are and pray earnestly about them.
Developing Relationships with Non-Christians. In the United States, the gospel travels especially well over the bridges of relationships. Simple acts, like introducing yourself to a neighbor or co-worker or having a non-Christian acquaintance over for dinner, can be outreach. They build trust and credibility for Christianity and for you as a genuine sample of what a Christian is. Relationships also provide opportunities for people to see some of the traits of Christ in you (I Pet. 2:12, 15; 3:1, 15-16), and they may be attracted by these. Because of the credibility that is built and the modeling that occurs, developing relationships sometimes surfaces people who are open to hearing the good news.
Inviting People to Take a Step Closer to God. Many people are open to taking a step closer to God, if only someone would invite them to do so. If you think a person may be open, invite them to an event that will give them an opportunity to meet other Christians and perhaps hear some of the word. It might be a social or recreational activity, a group Bible study, a Sunday service, or a one-on-one Bible study. Prayerfully, and to the best of your ability, invite people to an event that will be appropriate to where they are on their spiritual journey.
Teaching the Good News. Since the gospel is the power of God for salvation (Rom. 1:16), there is a great need for people who will share the news with others. These must be people who understand the gospel themselves, live lives worthy of it, and are able to communicate it clearly. Sharing the gospel is the heart of evangelism.
Mentoring New Christians. New Christians must not be left to fend for themselves; they need someone to serve as a mentor for them. Mentoring includes building a relationship with the person, teaching, answering questions, and generally orienting new believers to their new life.
God may be calling you to one or more of these activities. If you believe He is, I urge you to jump in and get involved. You may want to get together with some life-minded Christians for prayer, encouragement, and problem solving, but at some point you just have to jump in and get started. Don’t worry if you don’t know exactly what to do. You will never really learn to reach out to others until you actually start doing so (Mark 4:24-25). God will bless you if you take a step of faith and get involved in His mission.