Recently I have been in contact with Roger Van who will be leading a seminar on internet evangelism at Agape’s Fire Seed Conference for Students held in Nottingham. Facebook is going to be a large focus as many students will hold existing relationships on that social network. Facebook is like a mirror for every day activity, why not faith sharing too? While in New Zealand I came across a great acronym for sharing your faith relationally “BOLD”. I adapted it slightly to “BE BOLD” and shared it with Roger to use in the seminar. I thought I would post it on this blog too.
1. Be who God made you to be – so many young Christians feel overbearing pressure to share their faith. So what is a noble deed tends to be born out of frustration and legalism. Rather you need to be able to share your faith under the knowledge of God’s lavish grace. Understanding that he is for you, that he called you and has given you his power to share His Story. Ephesians 2:6-10
2. Edify – If we are to be who God made us to be then we were made to spend time with God in the Spirit, enjoy being with him, read your Bible and listen to what He is saying. Enjoy His love, peace and joy. Philippians 4:4-9
3. Be on the lookout – (for the right situation) Get to know people through common passions and hobbies. Luke 19:5 is a great example of Jesus being on the lookout and basically inviting himself round to Zacchaeus’ house to chill out.
4. Ordinary conversation – Again don’t put yourself under pressure to share Christ 5 people a day, God is not interested in that. Also listen, do a lot of listening. How can you expect someone to listen to you if you don’t listen to them? Eventually you will be able to…
5. Leap in with the Gospel – Share who Jesus is and what has done and why he is significant to you personally. This is a great opportunity to also demonstrate your faith by praying for people to be healed and leading them in a prayer them selves or to receive the Holy Spirit.
6. Don’t give up – keep speaking to them, keep answering questions, keep serving them, keep listening and finally keep praying for them when your alone with God.
FP Impact has now started and all the North FPrs have had a great first two weeks of training in the Newcastle base. Lots of practical and foundational teaching from an array of Newfrontiers leaders along side some fantastic social events including go-karting and enjoying sunny days in the north, which is is very rare indeed. We have been recording the seminars and teaching from the last two weeks and I have permission to publish them here for our friends in New Zealand doing FP, the aim is to get them up by the end of the week and you will be able to subscribe via iTunes.