My daughter Leslie (18) is a bold person. When she sees someone sitting alone in a room she’s the first one to head over and introduce herself. Leslie doesn’t shy away from spiritual topics either. She’s not an in-your-face type of person, but if the opportunity comes up for her to talk about God she’ll take it.
One of the things that has helped Leslie is our training to go to on a mission trip to The Czech Republic. In a country where the majority of people are atheists, sharing your faith can be intimidating.
During our training there were many things that were useful, but one resource helped more than them all and it was this book: I Once Was Lost. It helped because it pointed out the #1 thing you need to do when you’re approaching someone … get them to trust you.
For someone to trust you, you need to be a trustworthy person. You act nice because of the goodness inside, not just because you want something from the other person. You talk to them and care for them because you really care, not because you think that talking to people is what Christians are supposed to do.
When people start trusting us, they get a different idea about Christians. Soon they start asking questions, thinking about Jesus, and considering changes in their own lives.
I’m sure Leslie doesn’t think, “I need to make this person trust me ..” before she approaches people, but deep down it starts with that. When she makes a new friend she’s now worried about if or when they’ll find salvation in Christ, she’s thinking only about that person, at that time, and how she can open up herself as a friend. It’s a good example to follow.
That’s amazing blog! Way to go for Lesile!!
Isn’t that sense of trust–or lack of it–what comes through in every interaction? I know there’s no sure-fire formula and we all need to be watchful. Yet I think when we’re worthy of another person’s trust they sense it–and vice versa.
I love my husband dearly, more all the time. We married, popular wisdom would say, way too young. By now we know each other very well. With every passing year I realize more and more how blessed I am to have a husband I can trust absolutely. I delight in knowing he feels the same about his wife.
Way to go girls. Trust is fundamental to human relations try committing to something when you have a “me” question about it. It just doesn’t happen and yet we think that as Christians we have the right to expect it too often.
Great words Tricia
ohh this is very exciting! never entered for a book before!
Good luck to everybody!
Leontien