Relational Evangelism

As active Christians, the Lord is going to give us people to come alongside in life and with whom to be a friend.  We are called to serve those persons by discovering their needs in the context of that friendship and meeting those needs as the Lord directs us.  Of course the greatest need any non-Christian has is not going to be met through friendship with us, but through friendship with God.  Relational Evangelism is therefore making a friend, being a friend, and bringing your friend to Christ (this will sound familiar to all those who have been involved in a Cursillo 3-Day Weekend.).  

What we often settle for in meeting Jesus’ mandate to “go into the world and make disciples” (Matthew 28) is Passive Evangelism.  Displaying a church sign or running a church website are forms of Passive Evangelism.  This blog is Passive Evangelism.  These are useful, but relationships, personal witness and personal invitations to “Come and See” are how The Lord redeems lives and grows His church.  This is particularly true in our culture where we seem to be a people in search of meaningful and lasting relationships. 

Do you have a person in your life with whom you can develop a relationship, discover their needs, lovingly work to meet those needs, and assure that their biggest need is met, a relationship with the Living God?