Have you ever heard the term body evangelism? It was new to me too—but I realised it’s something my wife Chris and I have been practising for a long time.
Let me explain.
Chris met Jennifer*, Tom* and their four-year-old daughter Kara* at a Family Fun Day our church sponsored. They connected well, and Chris wanted to invite them to our church. But there was a catch—we were about to leave town for a month to help our daughter prepare for the birth of her second child.
Would Tom* and Jennifer* come to church without us there?
Before we left, we invited them over for afternoon tea. We also invited Sam*, another member of our church who’s a natural conversationalist. As it turned out, he and Tom* had a lot in common—especially sports (which, to be honest, I know next to nothing about!). While they chatted in the living room, Chris and Jennifer* sat in the backyard having a much deeper conversation about marriage and life choices. My job? Playing with little Kara* and making sure she felt safe and welcomed.
Then Marlene* and Bill* dropped by. Marlene* visits Chris most afternoons, and she and Jennifer* connected instantly—both of them live with depression. Since that day, they’ve kept in regular contact. We’ve even heard that Jennifer* has started reading the Bible on her own.
Bill* is also into sports. After chatting with Tom* about their favourite teams, he invited Tom* to a marriage course our church is running. I really hope they attend—their issues are significant, and they could benefit greatly.
That afternoon reminded me: evangelism isn’t a solo effort. It is an activity for the body of Christ to work together.
- Chris and Marlene* connected with Jennifer*.
- Sam* and Bill* connected with Tom*.
- And I got to care for Kara*.
Each part mattered.
Even though we’re away from our home church this month, I’m not worried. Tom* and Jennifer* now know people who care for them. They’re on their way—and I believe God is guiding every step.
What about you?
Do you sometimes carry the whole burden of sharing the gospel alone?
Who else could you invite into the process?
It could be as simple as:
- inviting someone to join you for afternoon tea,
- sharing a meal,
- or going to an event together.
Let’s involve others in the journey. You don’t have to do it all yourself.
A prayer for this week:
Lord Jesus,
Thank you for the many people in my church who have a heart for evangelism.
I ask that you would rearrange my schedule and my priorities so I make time to invite others into my world.
Help us share the gospel together—encouraging and building one another up as we reach out to our friends and neighbours.
Amen.
Have a great week connecting the people in your social circles with Jesus and other believers.
P.S.
Who do you think would be encouraged by this email?
Forward it to them—and let them know they can walk alongside experienced cross-cultural evangelists by visiting:
https://hereslife.com/encouragement