August marks the beginning of our new cycle of ministry. It feels like summer, but school is back in Session and so are we. We start a new volunteer cycle for children and student ministries. We start Wednesday nights. The choir returns in full force and starts practicing for Fall performances. It’s also a good time to remind ourselves about our individual commitment to evangelism.

Evangelism conjures up lots of different images depending upon your past experiences. You may see it in a poor light if you have encountered mostly negative experiences. I assure you evangelism doesn’t mean you have to yell at people with a “turn or burn” message. You don’t have to carry a sign with a Christian message in a crowded place or pass out tracts to strangers. Evangelism is not confined to televised preachers or event speakers. Most evangelism as modeled in the Bible is based on relationships. It’s the process of meeting people, building a genuine relationship with them, and in that context sharing what your faith has meant to you. Along the way, you make invitations for people to take a step to know God, such as worshipping with you or studying the Bible with you.

We teach a simple formula for doing that kind of evangelism. It’s the same formula for making a new friend. We call it the B.L.E.S.S. method. It’s an acronym for:

B: Be in prayer. Pray that God would help you see unbelievers in your life or for God to open opportunities to connect with people you already know that are unbelievers.

L: Listen. Listening is a powerful relationship tool. Asking good questions to get to know someone is critical. Showing you are listening to their answers conveys care and interest. It gives you information for building the friendship.

E: Experiences. Experiences give you the time to grow a friendship. It can mean sharing coffee or a meal together. It can mean enjoying a shared hobby. It means finding ways to share time together in whatever way is mutually valuable.

S: Serve. You may know people who are only interested in what they can get from you. I doubt you consider them friends, or at least good friends. Good friends care about you and do kind things for you. Find out what a person needs and care for them.

S: Share. At some point along the way, you will have opportunities to share your faith. It can mean an invitation to gather with friends from the church or attend an event at the church. It may be encouraging them in their time of crisis by sharing how God was important to you in a time of crisis.

It may mean asking if you can pray for them in that crisis.

There are many ways to build friendships and share your faith. B.L.E.S.S. is just one way. Whatever way you choose is fine as long as you choose some way to do your part to fulfill Jesus’ command in the Great Commission from Matthew 28:16-20. A

t our monthly Session meetings, we check in on how we are doing with the B.L.E.S.S. process and pray for one another. We aren’t asking you to do anything that we aren’t already doing. This Fall, if you aren’t already, make evangelism a priority. If you think the Bible is authoritative for the Christian life, then you should follow everything it says to do. Evangelism is at the top of the list.

Blessings,

James Harper