Courage … to Share Jesus
by Lise Caldwell
“Hey, Lise,” my husband said on the phone one day. “This woman named Amy walked into the church office today and said she had questions about God. Lots of questions.”
“Let me guess,” I smiled. “They sent her to you.”
“Yup. She announced that she is an atheist, and then asked me to tell her why she should believe that God exists.”
My husband is on staff at our church. He excels in pastoral roles—counseling, comforting, advising—but he does not delight in theological or intellectual debates. “I’m sure you gave her great answers,” I reassured him.
“Actually, I suggested that she grab coffee with you.”
Gulp.
And that’s how I began my friendship with “Amy the Atheist.” We met at Starbucks—and she brought textbooks. She peppered me with questions about evolution, the age of the earth, the problem of evil—and she was just getting started. I talked about my own beliefs. She was friendly and respectful, but unsatisfied. “I just can’t believe all that,” she insisted.
I began telling all my friends about “Amy the Atheist.” I continued to meet with her. We both had young kids, and soon our “meetings” became more relaxed and social. Our kids would play, and we would talk together. “Pray for Amy the Atheist!” I’d beg my friends.
Gradually, she began to admit the possibility that God existed. I renamed her “Amy the Agnostic” and continued to ask my friends to pray.
Eventually, through lots of prayer, Bible study, heart-to-heart talks, and most of all the movement of the Holy Spirit, Amy started coming to church.
She listened to the sermons and asked even more questions. Finally, she gave her life to Christ. My husband baptized her as I stood nearby.
“Amy the Atheist” had become Amy, Follower of Christ. Amy, my dear friend.
It’s the only time I’ve walked beside someone through such a dramatic spiritual transition. But I couldn’t take any credit. I’d witnessed Amy being pursued by the Good Shepherd who is unwilling for even one of his sheep to be lost.
I felt grateful and humble that God had invited me along on her journey—and a little surprised I’d had the courage (audacity?) to meet a stranger for coffee to discuss the existence of God.
I’ve been a follower of Christ since I was a child, and I’ve always known that Christians are supposed to tell other people about Jesus.
But for me, the imperative to evangelize has often felt like a wet blanket of guilt—clammy, uncomfortable, awkward. Don’t get me wrong. I want to tell people about Jesus. At least, I want to want to tell people about Jesus. I for sure know I should want to want to tell people about Jesus.
You get the idea.
But the idea of trying to persuade people to believe in Jesus who are apathetic or hostile to him—that’s another thing.
Even more heart-wrenching and stomach-twisting is sharing my faith with the people dearest to me who haven’t accepted Christ. I ache to spend eternity with the people that I love the most. But I often hesitate to open my mouth.
Because I’m terrified of doing it wrong.
Can you identify with that? If you hesitate to share your faith with others, take a minute to identify why. What exactly are we afraid of?
Not long after Amy came to Christ, her husband gave his life to Jesus, too. Both her kids (toddlers then, teenagers now) love Jesus and are active in our church.
Amy herself invests her time in telling others about Jesus and showing them his love. She coordinates funeral meals and comforts those who mourn. She serves coffee on Sunday mornings and provides a safe, welcoming place for people to talk and pray.
And she right now she’s meeting with one of the moms on her son’s swim team to study the Bible and talk about faith—with a woman who, like Amy, has lots of questions.
Where has God placed you? What opportunities surround you? Can you trust God with your fears and share his love and truth with others—in your home, your office, your street, your community?
The way you answer these questions matters.
Your impact can be eternal.
