Dear Jonathan,
I am a very young youth just getting into evangelizing. I go to a secondary school and I find it hard to get a hold of my classmates, especially to talk about God. We have religious instructions (r.i.) about once a week and even after r.i. they still don't want to talk. Also, when they have certain problems and I ask what's the matter, they say nothing. I know I can help, but they won't give me the time of day and I even find it hard to embrace them in a chat on another subject. I need your help.
Leighlyn, Trinidad
Answer
Leighlyn,
Thanks for the email.
Your problem isn't an uncommon one. As a matter of fact- I wrote a book about it. It's called DO THEY RUN WHEN THEY SEE YOU COMING? It talks a lot about how we as Christians can reach the people around us without scaring them off.
The best advice I can give you without rewriting the book in this email is to study Jesus style in the Gospels. Read the Gospels and notice how Jesus handles people. He serves them and loves them first- he doesn't shove it down their throat. He was loving and forgiving to the people that were unloved and unforgiven (Zachaes, The woman at the well, the prostitute that washed his feet). He “ate” with the sinners (Matthew 9) and didn't condemn them. He didn't come to condemn. (John 3:17)
We as Christians often seem to be more focused on sharing a tract then listening to the needs that people have and meeting them where they are at.
So the best advice I have is . . . be a good friend. Friendship will help you discover doorways to deeper conversation about God.
Hope that helps.
God Bless,
Jonathan McKee
The Source for Youth Ministry
www.TheSource4YM.com
