What is your plan to reach your neighbors, friends, relatives, classmates, and co-workers? Do you have a plan? You need one, because there is a good chance that no-one is planning a mission trip to reach the people who live around you. When Jesus gave the Great Commission, it was not a command to go on mission trips. It was a command to go and make disciples.
Obviously, there is nothing wrong with going on mission trips and I hope that you will go on many. But, there are people in your life who need Jesus and who need you to share the gospel with them. They may be family members or friends you hunt with. It could be the barista at the local Starbucks or your kid’s softball coach.
I don’t know who the people in your life are who need the Lord, but I do know that God has put you in their life so that you can share hope with them.
I know that it can be scary to consider yourself a missionary to the people in your life, but you need not let fear keep you from fulfilling your gospel calling. Here are some steps you can take to become a missionary in your own community.
- Go to where people are. If you want to make a difference in your community with the gospel, you can’t do it from inside your house. In 21st century America you can almost live your whole life without leaving your home. But, if you are going to be a missionary in your community, you’ve got to be around people who need to hear the gospel. Go to those places and get to know people who need Jesus.
- Make friends. No one likes to be a project. Build relationships with people. See them for who they are, image-bearers of God who deserve real friendship and love. Yes, you are going to share the gospel, but people are more than projects for evangelism.
- Find your niche. I have a friend who practically feeds his whole community. What he has learned is that in his community, the best way to build relationships is to feed people as often as possible. The result? He’s become a Christian resource for his community, not just for the people in his church. Find your niche. Figure out the place where you can best serve and get to it (But, if you don’t know what your niche is just yet, don’t let that stop you. Go do something until you find your niche).
- Pray for people and offer to pray for people. Yes, you can pray for someone without them knowing about it and that is a good thing. However, few things have opened doors for the gospel more for me than offering to pray with and for people. When I ask for prayer requests from servers at restaurants, I get lists of items and I often get to invite them to church or share the gospel or just leave a tract.
- Be prepared. What are you going to use to share the gospel if an opportunity presents itself? Do you have a tract handy or a copy of the Bible? Prepare for how you will share the gospel so that when (not if) the opportunity arises, you will be ready. If you don’t know how to share the gospel, ask your pastor, email me and ask me, or consider one of these options: 3 circles, The Story Film
- Be intentional. The truth is that the gospel rarely comes up in conversation all by itself. If you are going to share the gospel, you’re going to have to do it on purpose. Most people don’t walk up and ask you to tell them about how they might be saved. But, most people are genuinely interested in hearing about how God has changed your life. Be intentional. Steer your conversations toward Jesus and then be courageous enough to tell others about the hope that is within you.
- Start small. If you don’t feel comfortable today leading someone to Jesus, that doesn’t mean that you should just do nothing. Start small. Invite someone to church with you. Offer to pray with a friend. Take cookies to a neighbor and attach a Bible verse and an invite to your church. Something is almost always better than nothing. It’s OK if you aren’t Billy Graham. Just be you and do what you can do today.
There are people around you everyday who need to hear the life-changing gospel of Jesus. You are the missionary that God has called to those people. No one is planning a mission trip to your community because you are already there. They are trusting you to do gospel work in your own community.
You can do it.
Get busy.
