David* helps with an English conversation class for international students. Through that class, he began spending time with three students who had only recently arrived in Australia.

His first concern was practical. What were they finding difficult? How could he help them understand Australian culture and communicate more confidently?

One week they were talking about Australian values, including mateship and caring for others. David saw a natural opportunity to explain why caring matters to him.

He said that one of the reasons he wanted to care for them was because of Jesus. Jesus teaches us to love God and to care for the people around us.

The following week, David asked what had been good and what had been difficult. One of the students said he had been under a lot of stress because of a project he was working on.

David said, “When I’m stressed, I talk to God through Jesus. Can I pray for you about that now?”

The student said yes, so David prayed a short prayer for him there and then.

What I like about this story is that David did not go into the conversation trying to force a spiritual subject. He went in asking, “What do these students need, and how can I care for them?”

As he cared for them, natural opportunities came to talk about Jesus.

Later that day, the student David had prayed for told someone else in the group what had happened.

That reminds me that care can do more than meet a practical need. It can also create a bridge for people to experience something of Jesus through us.

Who has God already placed around you that you could care for more intentionally this week?

This is one of the things we practise in the MyFriends Lifestyle — learning to pray, care and share Jesus naturally with the people God has already placed around us.

Next Monday, 14 September, I’m holding a free online MyFriends Worldwide Introduction.

If you would like to move from reading about these ideas to actually practising them, I would love you to join us. During the Introduction, we’ll experience some simple ways of praying with people, helping spiritually open people discover Scripture, and recognising the mission field God has already placed around us.

After the Introduction, you can decide whether you want to continue with the nine-session MyFriends training.

MyFriends Worldwide Introduction
Monday 14 September 2026
9:15–10:45 pm Sydney time
Online through Zoom

Register for the MyFriends Worldwide Introduction

Let’s pray:

Lord Jesus, help us notice the needs of the people you have placed around us. Show us practical ways to care, and give us wisdom to recognise the natural opportunities you provide to speak about you. Amen.

P.S. If you know someone who would enjoy learning how to share Jesus naturally and sensitively, please forward this email and invite them to join us.