The Great Commission remains our primary directive even during periods of social distancing. Here are several ways to maintain personal evangelism—or perhaps begin implementing online evangelism strategies—during these unique times.
1. Start with those who live with you. Being isolated with family provides unexpected opportunities to share the gospel with spouses, children, and parents. Since initiating these conversations with loved ones can be challenging, these online resources are designed to help you:
• The 3 Circles
• Lifeway Kids at Home free resources
• Leading Your Child to Authentic Faith
• Two Ways to Live online tract
2. Write your testimony, and send it via email or handwritten notes to friends and loved ones. My guess is that many people in our lives—including our own children and grandchildren—don’t even know how God saved us. Why not write your story for the sake of posterity? If you have pictures of your baptism, include them. I’m almost certain some member of your family will be pleased to have them. If you need some guidance, check out this CRU website.
3. Check to see what your church is doing to share stories on their Facebook page or website. Some churches are asking members to record their testimonies, and they’re sharing them via electronic means. They’re often finding, in fact, that folks who don’t normally speak much in person are using this opportunity to share about God’s grace! Recording something can be both intimidating and freeing.
4. Text friends and family members to ask how you might pray for them. Many people are facing unique challenges these days, and they might welcome prayer like they wouldn’t have six months ago. If you engage somebody with a conversation about prayer, you might discover a way to transition to the gospel, too.
5. Use the phone, and call people to tell them what Jesus means to you. Set a goal even—perhaps 1–2 phone calls per week. Be upfront and honest about the reason for your call so it doesn’t feel like you’re looking for a “gospel back door”: “During these times that we’re isolated, I’ve been reminded that I need to tell others how much Jesus means to me. May I take five minutes and tell you my story?” Some folks won’t give you the time, but somebody might—and you’ll have been obedient either way.
6. Don’t forget the world—spend some time at least weekly reviewing needs of the nations and praying for missionaries. Doing so won’t be the equivalent of doing evangelism, but it will burden your heart for lostness—and that’s a step in the right direction toward evangelizing. Check out these sites to learn about needs:
• International Mission Board
• North American Mission Board
• Joshua Project
Blessings on your efforts!
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This article originally appeared on ChuckLawless.com and is reposted here by permission.