Last week I promised to share how you can help someone learn invitational evangelism — how to invite others to hear about Jesus in a way that feels natural and genuine.
But before we get into that I want to invite you to a special Webinar where Fiona Dunn and other experienced missionaries will be giving ideas on connecting your friends with Jesus this Christmas.
- Sydney, Australia (AEDT) Thursday, 6th November 12:30pm or 8:00pm
- London Thursday, 6th November 9:00am
- New York Wednesday, 5th November 8:30pm
Two simple ways to learn:
1) Learn together in a group.
Outside a local train station I watched twenty Christians handing out flyers for an evangelistic concert. They weren’t professional evangelists — just 20 friends doing it together. Because they were part of a team, each one felt more confident. That’s a great way to start: invite a few people from your church or small group to go together. You can say, “Let’s learn this together.” After an hour of giving out flyers, head to a café to share how your experience went.
The heart is to love people well. When care comes first, the invitation feels natural — and anyone can learn it.
2) Invite one-to-one — personal, specific, and simple
The strongest invitations are delivered privately, one person at a time — not by putting someone on the spot, not by a crowd. Think of a single friend, pray for them by name, and craft a warm, normal invitation that fits them.
How to prepare a one-to-one invite
- Choose one person God is highlighting right now.
- Match the moment — pick an event they’d genuinely enjoy (church Christmas breakfast, city lights walk, gingerbread night at your place).
- Bridge naturally from real life: “You mentioned missing family at Christmas… we’re doing a relaxed breakfast at church.”
- Ask clearly, not vaguely — include day, time, and what to expect.
- Make it easy — offer a lift, to sit together, or to introduce them to a friend.
- Confirm kindly the day before: “Still good for tomorrow? I’ll save you a seat.”
- Follow up afterwards with care, not pressure: “So good to be together — want to grab coffee next week?”
Simple wording you can use
Text/WhatsApp:
“Hey <Name>, a few of us are going to <event> on <day/time>. It’s relaxed and I think you’d enjoy it. Want to come with me? I can drive and save you a seat.”
In person:
“We’re heading to <event> this <day>. I’ll be there and would love your company. Can I pick you up at <time>?”
If they’re unsure:
“No worries — how about we just see the Christmas lights this weekend and keep it simple?”
Use the “Daisy Chain” to stay focused (one petal at a time)
Sketch a daisy with petals for your social circles (neighbours, classmates, colleagues, sport, school parents, etc.). Write two or three names on one petal. Pray for those names and invite one person to something this week. It could be as simple as a cup of coffee or a sports game. Keep it relational, not promotional.
One-minute practice before you invite
- Say their name to the Lord — “Jesus, give me love and clarity.”
- Read your message out loud five times; remove churchy jargon.
- Press send or walk over and ask.
I hope you have a great week preparing to invite people to hear about Jesus. Next week I'll share my feelings about inviting Kabir to my home for a conversation about Jesus.