So, your mates mean everything to you? After all, you see them most days at school, college or your work-place. The fact is you’ve been around these guys for some time now and I bet you want them to know - if they don't already - that you're a Christian. Faith, knowing Jesus, living life to the full, that’s what matter most in your life anyway, isn’t it? So, where do you start?
Matthew 28:19 speaks of making disciples of all nations; something we’ve all got to be involved in, and something we can all enjoy. For some of us, we get a little daunted when we hear the ‘E Word’ – Evangelism, yet for others it’s an exciting prospect – full of risk and challenge but something we love to do.
However for all of us, connecting our faith with our mates can seem so difficult can’t it? What if they don’t listen to me? What if they laugh at me? What if I try to tell them about God and it all comes out wrong? How do I tell them? What exactly do I tell them?
So – where do you start? By living it out! What ways can you show your mates you care? Try the odd random act of kindness like buying their lunch one day, or listening to them when they really need it. When the opportunity arises, why not try sharing part of your life story. Be brave! – tell them of God’s involvement within your life so far. Go for it!
If you need some help with this (who doesn’t?) - take a peek at The Art of Connecting Course from Youth for Christ. This has been developed to help young Christians just like you, to ‘connect’ naturally yet effectively with their mates. Hundreds of young people have already seen God do amazing things through them in the lives of their friends and family.
Want more info? - The Art Of Connecting is a dynamic seven week course aimed at giving you all the key evangelism training you need to reach your mates with the good news of Jesus.
In this frontline resource you will:
- Explore the concept of Three Story Living - how does your faith story link in with your non-Christian friends’ life story?
- Develop key listening tools - find out how to connect your story and your friends’ stories to God’s amazing story in Jesus.
It’s fun, it’s creative and it’s full of challenging ideas to help you get going on a life of evangelism. You can use it within Church groups, Small Groups, Christian Unions or youth cell groups. Large or small, your group will find this accessible and a great way to learn and encourage each other together.
When you or your Youth Leader signs up to Art Of Connecting, you’ll receive your own personal copy of the ‘My Story’ journal, to document your own journey through the seven week course.
There’s even three key streams tailored to your own age group: 11-14s, 14-18s and a fantastic, bite-sized peer-to-peer led stream for groups you set up and run in your own school. The Art Of Connecting also sits well alongside all of Youth for Christ’s 11-18s discipleship resources: Rock Solid, RS2, Mettle and Youth Alpha, so if you’ve been part of one of these groups already, you’ll find the Art Of Connecting just as simple to use.
Want to know more? Then simply check out www.theartofconnecting.com for more information on how to purchase this resource.
Hope08 is a year of mission for the whole church to reach the whole community. Let it start with you reaching your mates for Jesus. Get Art Of Connecting and get going in impacting the lives of your friends!
