Have you ever met someone who has never thought about God before?

This happened to me last week when Mark* joined us for afternoon tea.

Mark, who was born in China, moved to Australia after finishing high school. He recently graduated from university and just started his first job here.  

(I tried to teach AI how to draw the event, and this is the best it could do)

As it was my first time meeting Mark, we naturally began with the usual ‘getting to know each other’ questions. After a while, I asked him if he’d ever visited an Australian church.

Finding that he hadn’t, I offered to share some insights about the churches we’ve attended here. He seemed genuinely interested, so I continued. Then, I asked if I could tell him about something we’d discussed at our last church gathering. He agreed, so I shared the story from Genesis 3—the account of Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit.

About halfway through, Mark remarked, “I think I’ve heard this one before.” As we finished, I posed two questions we often ask: “What does this tell you about people?” and “What does this tell you about God?”

While Mark had little trouble with the first question, the second question completely stumped him. The idea of reflecting on what a story says about God was entirely new to him. He explained that, in China, stories like Noah and the Flood were taught as moral lessons—like a reminder to “be prepared”—without any reference to God.

Mark is curious to hear more Bible stories, but he isn’t interested in formal Bible study.

My next challenge? To meet him again and share the Christmas story in a way that will engage him—maybe with a few simple sketches to bring it to life. Here is how I plan to do it.

Maybe you would like to try to share the Gospel this way.  Don't be put off if you are worried about your drawing skills.  It is about engaging interest, not creating a masterpiece!.  

Have a fun sharing Jesus' story with the people God brings your way this week.  Remember to stop talking before they stop listening.  And look for opportunties to meet them again to talk more about Jesus.  

Let's pray:

Lord Jesus, thank you for the people you bring into our lives.  Allow us to be sensitive your leading and guidance.  Give us boldness to share and sensitivity to know when to stop.  We thank you for the season we are moving into and the many opportunities it gives us to have meaningful and spiritual conversations.  Amen.