Focus: To get the story out confronted my lifestyle. I decided that I had to re-prioritize my time spent, so I could share the gospel to my friends at work. But, their were some blocks I needed to deal with.

Too busy Spending too much time in fellowship limited the times to get the story out. This wasn't always the problem. As new believer, it was hard for me to attend fellowship gatherings because I felt like a reject. However, after more exposure to fellowship it was hard to stop attending Christian activities. In addition, I went to all the morning church services, attended small groups, and I only had friends that were Christians.  When I wasn't doing these activities, I watched Christian television or listened to Christian radio or read Christian materials. I sought a balance perspective.

Change my priorities Finding out that witnessing is a command not a suggestion. Christian activities need to be balanced with time. I used to reach out to nonbelievers and had no time with believers. I knew, the command did not mean, hunt, jam the Bible on someone. Instead, the command suggested we are modeling either the flesh or the Spirit. I am responsible to live by the Spirit of God. The fact is that I am always fishing.  In fact, the personal message I am sending to other people matters most because that is the key to relate the gospel message to them. In addition, witnessing is a command and fellowship is a joy. The command is a joy when I have fellowship to spur me on toward witnessing (1Cor. 10:24-25). I can not totally separate the two worlds, but I am called to live out the hope in me, so others will be attracted to seek the hope of the Lord. I must live in the world, but not be of it (1 Jn. 15:16) I prayed that opportunities would happen in my family and at work. I decided that my primary purpose in live would be to relate to others the hope that is in me, the reason for it and way to Jesus.

Relate and Invite Then I took the time and opportunities to relate and invite my unbelieving friends to the hope that is in me, the reason for it, and way to Jesus. I took each opportunity to relate and to invite witnesses to seek Christ. At work a non-Christian co-worker, was always being picked on. He would go out drinking with a group of guys from work, and then during the week that followed the guys told negative stories about him. I related to him about being picked on and about picking on others. I told him the reasons I picked on people was so I did not have to look how bad my life was and how unhappy I really was. I told him how Christ gave me a new life.

At my small group I told some friends about my two seekers, and they encouraged me and prayed that doors would to open to invite these guys. I began to pray daily even while at work for the opportunity to share the gospel. Suddenly, some weeks later, the store manager calls my boss, a seeker, to his office. He told me about the meeting. The store manager demanded that my boss must be on time for work. Later, I saw another seeker and I started to talk to him about the Lord. He told me how he grew up knowing about the Bible, but that it never had relevance for him. I asked him if we could talk about this sometime, and he told me how another man, a shopper at the store, was talking to him about the Bible.

Back at the group, I told them of the impending stories. We prayed and they gave me some material to help lead a person to Christ. I read the material over and decided to talk to this guy this week. During a break, I asked my boss if he would like to come over to my house and a discussion about Bible and its relevance, and he agreed that would be fine. At my house, I brought out some snacks, a Bible and the material from my friends. We talked and ate, and I prayed for the Lord's protection on him, and I gave him material to take home and review, but he didn't accept Christ. I needed to lay back and give him some space, so I prayed for him. A short time later, I saw the other seeker smile and wave. After work, I asked how he was doing, and he told me how he met with, another fellow believer who was also sharing the gospel with him, a shopper, and he decided to accept Christ. I noticed he was on fire because he rambled on about how great it was being plugged in at a local church. My boss, noticed a drastic change in the other seeker who told him of his conversion. This new believer, began to slow down on his drinking and he told me how much better he was feeling. I told him how the truth of being you was the goal of the Christian life and that many of my past struggles were put aside. For instance, I shared about enjoyment of being freed too chose rather than anguish of being controlled by drugs and alcohol I invited my boss to go out to eat. We went out for breakfast, and when the food came, I asked if I could pray for thanks. He agreed, and this was his first prayer experience. At work we talked and our friendship grew. I continued to relate many of his struggles to mine or to the Bible, and he grew interested in Christ and church.. I invited him to church like many other times, but this time he agreed to come to my house and I would drive. He came and we had donuts and coffee and then went to church. I saw him look at the Bible, listen and pray as the pastor led, so after I asked him if he wanted to accept Christ. He said he had prayed to accept the Lord in the church. I learned that taking the time to relate caused friendships that accepted the invitation and the Lord.

Lifestyle Evangelism: Fears and insecurities confronted and Fishing took precedence over hunting. | Getting the story straight and Not religious, but realistic | How to get the story out