FRONT PAGE - here you will find the last 20 postings about recent conversations. Please pray for these people!
1/30/10 Michael, about 25
Today I went "fishing" with Pat, 72, a godly woman from church with a heart for evangelism. We went to a nearby grocery store. One young man we talked to was Michael, who quickly told us he didn't think he would go to heaven because he doesn't believe in heaven or God. "Is it possible that heaven exists?" I asked. Like so many of his generation, Michael did not want to be accused of having a closed mind so he agreed "Yes, its possible" His body language told me I didn't have much time; I needed to get to the point quickly. Instead of going through several of the Ten Commandments, I asked "You have a conscience, you know right from wrong, right?" "Yes" "Well, why don't you follow it?" "I don't know" "The Bible says we were all given the knowledge of good and evil. God's law is in our heart yet we fail to obey it and we will be held accountable for breaking it." Pat joined in "You know we aren't guaranteed tomorrow" and Michael had to agree. We talked for a few minutes, and he walked away with a thoughtful look on his face that made me really think he will read the info I gave him. Like so many conversations, this one illustrates the need to really listen and observe where people are at, responding to them individually. This only comes with a lot of practice. I've seen progress in myself but have much more to learn. We might have to start out with an evangelistic "script" that can seem shallow, but with practice we can really learn to respond appropriately to people right where they are at.

5 comments:

Marsi said...

Hey Jeff. I notice there's been alot of people from your church going witnessing with you. Do you just go up to people at your church and simply ask them to go? I'm curious because I've asked many people to come with me in the past,and not many have. And I see that you have alot of people saying yes.

Jeff Reiman said...

Hi Marci! I usually ask people ahead of time, after church on Sunday. I am one of three elders at our church, including our teaching elder (pastor) and we are all for law & grace evangelism, so people are hearing about it and being encouraged often from the church leadership. I think that's helping people to take it more seriously.

Marsi said...

Oh I see. That's cool. Well that explains why you have so much biblical wisdom. I'm glad so many of you are on board with evangelism! Very cool!

Jeff Reiman said...

Well being on board with evangelism and actually doing it are two different things... My prayer is that more and more we will be doers of the word and not hearers only...
Jeff

Marsi said...

Well, your example of being a doer is causing a ripple effect. Probley more than you know. Through your blog, the Lord inspired me to my blog. And I have new people that want to go out witnessing with me,because of them reading my witnessing stories. I suppose we just do our part, and God does the rest. I'm so thankful for your example to others.