Let Them Choose

Do you have a certain kind of person that you share the gospel with?  Well, I do- or I did.  You know, the person sitting by themselves on a bench on a college campus.  Or the homely woman leaning against a brick wall downtown, eyes staring hopelessly into space.  It’s like they’re screaming out, “Come talk to me!”  Think of the easiest person to share the gospel with.  For me it would be the most hopeless, depressed LOOKING person I can even think of... you know... they’re like practically screaming, “Share the gospel with me! I need it!!!”  

This story is not one of those times.

I’m on staff with a campus ministry which has a high focus on evangelism- awesome!  I love taking college students out sharing our faith.  I love seeing college students step out in faith and tell someone about Jesus for the first time.  On one such occasion, I was at a campus with 2 other girls who had never shared their faith before.  We started walking around campus and prayed for God to show us who to talk to.

And there she was.

Wavy hair past her shoulders... a Coach purse... Gucci sunglasses... beautiful... I mean gorgeous.

Frantically, my eyes darted around campus- surely there had to be someone else I could talk to!  This girl exuded confidence.  She would not ever see her need for Jesus.... there is no way she would want to talk to us!

Silly lie-believing me...

 There was no one else so putting on my most confident facade, I uttered these 5 words- “let’s go talk to her!”  As we approached her I just knew it was going to go awful and these 2 students who have never shared their faith before would never want to share the gospel again!

Silly lie believing me!

So we approach this girl (I’ll call her Brittany) and one of us asks, “Do you have a few minutes to answer some spiritual interest questions?”  And then the strangest thing happened... she said YES!  Not only did she say yes- she actually went on to tell us how the day before she was talking with her boyfriend saying, “I wish someone would just come up to me and tell me about God.”  WHAT!?  Wow! 

We shared the gospel with Brittany and with tears streaming down her face, Brittany put her trust in Jesus that day.

That day I was challenged in my heart to not decide for someone where their spiritual interest is.  I could have walked past Brittany ruling her out... assuming she had it all together.  But instead of letting my fear dictate my behavior, I stepped through the fear, and in faith by the power of the Holy Spirit shared the greatest message on earth with Brittany- and praise God I have a new sister in Christ!

Luke 19:10 says that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.  Brittany was lost, Jesus sought her out and he saved her!

Do you rule people out before even asking them where they stand spiritually?  Would you step through your fear and in love share the gospel with someone who intimidates you?

About Rhonda

Rhonda attended Oklahoma Baptist University for two years until she felt called to reach out to a secular campus.  She then transferred to Mesa State where she graduated in 2004 with a B.A. in Counseling Psychology. She now serves as a missionary to college students and has a passion for reaching out to young women.  God has a purpose and design for who he wants Godly women to be, and Rhonda is excited about helping women find freedom and joy in His purpose.

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photo credit: c-reel.com via photopin cc