Evangelism in multi-cultural communities begins with building good relationships with the people you want to share the Gospel with. You want them to know that you care about them and want the best for them.
For some people it may take several months before they trust you enough to be willing to hear about Jesus. For others you can begin to share the Gospel in just a few minutes. Let God lead you as you seek to follow the flow of this outline:
- Associate with non-Christians
- Befriend non-Christians
- Create an interest in the Gospel
- Declare the Gospel
- Encourage a response
- Follow-up new believers
Associate with non-Christians
In a multi-cultural community most Christians will be operating much like the Good Samaritan. He didn't wake up thinking "Today I will start a ministry to Jews". He was simply being sensitive to the people God brought across his path.
Where do you normally meet non-Christians?
- At the corner shop?
- At the bank?
- At the café?
- In your neighbourhood?
- At the petrol station?
- When you order pizza?
Who have we met in our suburb? An Iraqi military officer, the Romanian ambassador, Vietnamese refugees, Indian government officials and many more. I find it easiest to meet people:
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in a neutral public area (like the park or outside the school)
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where they have time to interact
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and are not already involved in a large group activity.
You may find it easier to meet people in larger groups or in more structured settings. God made each of us different.
Open your eyes and see who God leads across your path today.
Ministry to non-Christians.
tetris51
I associate with thousands of non Christians each year, as the Port Chaplain in the Port of Tampa, Florida. We have about 50,000 International Seafarers and twice as many American Merchant Marines, and Port workers that enter our port each year. The majority of these people do not profess to be Christians and many of them that do are only Christians in their heads because they have not personally repented and invited Jesus Christ into their hearts and lives. To minister to these people we have to see people as Jesus did. Jesus saw every person no matter their language, culture, or financial status as people He loved enough to die for. If we try to follow His example the Holy Spirit will guide our path and provide the boldness we need to be a witness for Him. We have to earn the right to share Christ. We need to befriend them, win thier confidence, and show that we care before we can minister to them. Once we are willing to step out in faith and be obedient to the Great Commission we can Trust God to work through us. He will provde the opportunities and the words we need to share. After our first successful attempt to win someone to Christ, we are filled with joy because He as performed the miracle of salvation in our presence. This makes us want to do it over and over again. when we realize that God will take our feeble attempts and make wonder things happen. We must help meet their physical and social needs before we can can minister to their spiritual needs. Some times it takes time, patients, and comitment. But, the more we try, the more successes we have and this gives us more boldness and power to continue God's work and it gets easier and more enjoyable because we know we cannnot save anyone. Only God can do that, so He only requires obedience not success. Much of the time we plant seeds and water, but what a joy it is to lead a lost soul into the Kingdom of God.associating with non-christians
I try to reach out to my fellow taxi drivers whenever I can, either from the taxi base I start and finish from or from the airport taxi holding bay. I look for people who may seem to have a genuine leaning towards God. I then strike up a conversation with them with some pertinent comment about matters which reflect on society's lack of regard to God.
I speak about common concerns for society where Muslim and Christian can speak with confidence. I try to let them know and understand that I am also a 'Muslim' in that I also try to constantly 'submit' my life to God. I try to do that without building an instant barrier between them and me. I see myself as a seed planter. I plant ideas which I pray will bear fruit later. I can only do that because my contact with them is a one-off. I am not likely to see them again. At least not the drivers at the airport.
The drivers at the base are a different matter. There my life in on constant show. There I have to be more willing to be open about my faith but yet not 'preachy'. I need to be a friend and a genuine friend at that. A friend who cares for them and who likes them and accepts them just as they are. Just last Wednesday I became involved with a Pakistani Muslim driver who said that he came from the Northwest Frontier Territories. This is Taliban territory. We talked about the beauty of the country and why he prefers to live in Australia. The main issue for him is freedom and the access to a free and open justice system. The very next day he told me that at 3.30pm that afternoon he was help up at needle point and robbed. He was anxious about driving again. I offered to pray for him and he seemed to pleased that I should want to do so. I can't wait till Monday afternoon to see him again to see how he went. Pray for him please. There are other drivers there who know that I go to church and I have to come across to them as being a sensible sane ordinary person who also believes in a personal God. I need to show that I am not some loony. I believe that I am succeeding. Nevertheless, pray for me as I will always try to pray for you.
I would like to have the
I would like to have the opportunity to answer emails about faith in Christ. I speak and type English and Portuguese.
Berdie Hope
The comments by the taxi driver are excellent. He is able to approach other taxi drivers and identify with them. He has prayed with the one who was robbed.in the park
People are relaxed in the park and often have time to talk.