Thursday, February 19, 2009
Restaurant evangelism...
Several of us at Southern Hills have started a restaurant ministry. The elders and ministers have so many meetings at lunch and breakfast that waitstaff all over town know us. We have started asking their names, asking how they are doing, even asking if we can pray for them. We are polite, friendly, and we tip well. They see us pray.
Of course, lots of these are college students and they know me. Many of them have been to HIP and heard me speak. They often recognize Phil, Vann, and Gary. They know who we are before we can ask sometimes. Reminds me to be sure I live Jesus, not just talk Jesus.
But here comes the hard question: when do we "make the ask"? If all our new friends know about our group is that we are Christian people who are good customers... is that evangelism? If that is all we do, maybe this is just to make us feel good about ourselves. When do we invite them to church, when do we say a word for Jesus, when do we ask if they want to talk about Jesus?
I wish I had the right answers for these questions, but I know I am being intentionally more directive. I tell them that we are from Southern Hills. I ask if there is anything we can do for them. I invite them to church. Do I come on too strong? Maybe... or maybe not.
But I do know that being nice, being a servant, etc. is not evangelism. These are good things and they reflect how Jesus would live. It is "front porch" ministry. But we need to remember that our purpose is not to get non-believers on the front porch, it is to get them inside our house. We are opening doors but we need to take advantage of our opportunities.
So several of us are trying to take this to another level. We are praying for them and asking for wisdom to say the right thing at the right time so we can share Jesus.
I think our restaurant ministry is exactly what Jesus would do. We'll see how it turns out.
Of course, lots of these are college students and they know me. Many of them have been to HIP and heard me speak. They often recognize Phil, Vann, and Gary. They know who we are before we can ask sometimes. Reminds me to be sure I live Jesus, not just talk Jesus.
But here comes the hard question: when do we "make the ask"? If all our new friends know about our group is that we are Christian people who are good customers... is that evangelism? If that is all we do, maybe this is just to make us feel good about ourselves. When do we invite them to church, when do we say a word for Jesus, when do we ask if they want to talk about Jesus?
I wish I had the right answers for these questions, but I know I am being intentionally more directive. I tell them that we are from Southern Hills. I ask if there is anything we can do for them. I invite them to church. Do I come on too strong? Maybe... or maybe not.
But I do know that being nice, being a servant, etc. is not evangelism. These are good things and they reflect how Jesus would live. It is "front porch" ministry. But we need to remember that our purpose is not to get non-believers on the front porch, it is to get them inside our house. We are opening doors but we need to take advantage of our opportunities.
So several of us are trying to take this to another level. We are praying for them and asking for wisdom to say the right thing at the right time so we can share Jesus.
I think our restaurant ministry is exactly what Jesus would do. We'll see how it turns out.
