Not very long ago I was visiting St Peter Mancroft, one of the great Anglican churches in Norwich. There I came across a leaflet which summarised the answers to a questionnaire which my friend Edward Carter, the vicar, had circulated to worshippers at his church. In Edward Carter’s introduction to this leaflet he asked his people to share the results with friends and family who are not church-goers or believers, and to ask them what they think of it.
I thought this was a splendid idea, for it will enable the people of St Peter Mancroft to share their faith in a non-threatening way. The fact is that friends and neighbours will never find Jesus if we preach the Gospel at them. Effective evangelism is sharing honestly with others the ups and downs of life as Christians. So let me give you a flavour of the leaflet by sharing some of the responses:
Why do you believe in God?
“To believe in God gives me strength to live each day knowing someone loves and cares for me”
“I have felt a presence beyond the everyday world that we live in since childhood, that has never gone away”
“I believe in God because I cannot otherwise explain the restless human desire for the transcendent. I believe in the Christian God because I find the claims of the New Testament resonate both intellectually and emotionally”
How have you experienced God today?
“By talking to Him – or rather more frequently, to the Jesus part of God. In the sensitivity shown to me by friends knowing how the loss of a friend has affected me”
“This morning in my weariness when I felt God was far away, I cried to Him, saying ‘Make speed to help me’ several times. Gradually I found myself more at ease with my restlessness”
What practical difference does your faith make to the way you live?
“My faith sets me free”
“My faith allows me to live with hope”
“Faith keeps me going. Faith makes me being strong. Faith teaches me to love”
Why do you go to church?
“To give me assurance and for the loving care of the people with which I live”
“To be part of the family…. It is tough being a Christian on your own”
“It is a discipline to do so”
“A fundamental habit. Life would be much emptier without”
Is there an experience of God that you hold on to when times are tough?
“When my father was dying, I prayed that he would live. I very strongly felt a voice saying ‘I cannot stop him from dying, but I can be with you while you grieve”
“It has been difficult to hold on to faith when tough times have been years long and seemingly never-ending in spite of praying”
“I have had a number of tough times in my life, and have found that turning to God and praying is steadying and helpful”
Is there anything you find difficult in terms of faith?
“Loving your brother is as challenging as loving your enemy!”
“It’s hard to believe in God when so much suffering and evil goes on in the world”
“The hardest thing I find is that prayers do not always seem to be answered in the way you would like! People still suffer; people still die; war, hatred, greed and jealousy, seem to get worse rather than better”
As I read through this leaflet I was struck by the honesty of the replies. This wasn’t a sales pitch, rather a simple sharing of people’s faith. If they went on to share the leaflet with their friends and neighbours and then invite them to church, I would not be surprised if many come to church and in due course commit their lives to Jesus and begin to follow him.
Although there is a place for Alpha and other faith-sharing courses, effective evangelism begins not with a course, but with ordinary people sharing their experience of faith with friends and neighbours.
That was an interesting read. Yes, I totally agree with you Paul; it’s by sharing the whole life experience of faith- doubts as well as highs, with (probably a fairly small number of) people that we move forward. I have found our meditation group, which usually numbers no more than 6 or 7, is one very helpful place for sharing. Although most are church goers, there are one or two who are not, and one or two who have become church goers as a result of joining the group.
Of course , different people find very different ways of sharing, and I’m sure all are valid .
The quiet time spend daily with the lord in scripture prayer and waiting always fills me with hope.
The holy spirit is about me and I feel that edification at such times.
Thank you paul for the church responses,I found them very honest and true.