We live in a world on the move. Our cities and communities are becoming more culturally diverse. In Louisville, for example, there are now over one hundred languages represented in the metro school system. Thousands of students are coming from abroad to study at our American universities. The international community is evident in many of our small towns with the presence of ethnic restaurants and local shops. The world is coming to us.
How, in this changing world, can I be part of Christ’s Great Commission?
How can I plant seeds for the Gospel with those from other lands that God is bringing to my community?
- Smile. Grace and kindness work in any culture.
- Open your eyes to those that God has brought to your community. Take time to see the server at the restaurant, the cashier at the convenience store, the nurse at the hospital, the new person in your office, or the neighbor across the street who may look, dress, and speak a little different from you.
- Start a conversation. It can be as simple as asking someone their name and where they are from. Ask them about their family or homeland. Inquire about religious beliefs in their country.
- Be a good listener. Seek to be a learner. People tend to listen to others who really listen to them.
- Pursue genuine friendship. Many internationals would love a real friend in a new land. You are called to share with folks in a relationship, not sell the Gospel.
- Be an ambassador for Christ. Let them see Christ in you. A good ambassador knows when to talk and when to listen.
- Practice hospitality. Share your phone number if they need a friend’s help or guidance. Invite them over for tea or coffee. Drive them to the doctor or help them at a grocery store. Have them over for a meal at your home.
- Pray for them.
- Share your faith story. Tell them what your life was like before Christ, how you came to Christ, and what Jesus means to your life now. Try to work on being able to share this in two to four minutes. Avoid church words like lost or saved, as unbelievers often do not understand the internal language of Christians.
- Remember the goal is not to win debates, but to passionately share your faith. Stand strong on what you believe in a loving manner.
- Finally, be ready for the day when your new friend wants to know how they can have a relationship with God through Christ. Be prepared to share in every day language what sin is, who Jesus is, and what the Gospel is.
“Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.
Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt,
so that you may know how you should answer each person” (Colossians 4:5-6).
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