Every Day Evangelist

A couple of weeks I flew out to Seattle to speak at a youth retreat. As I began my full day of travel, I simply prayed that I would be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit that weekend and that He would go before me opening doors. By the time I got to my connecting flight from Denver to Seattle, I had already put in over 2 hours of driving, a lunch meeting, nearly 3 hours of flying and a 3 hour lay over. I was pretty pooped and ready to just crash.

I got to my seat and no one was in my row. It seemed as though everyone had boarded and I was going to get 3 seats to myself. “Yes!” I thought I’d get the row to lay down and nap. Then, at the very last minute, a lady rushed in and sat down. She was short, wearing a black skirt and red cardigan, had a few piercings and was about covered in tattoos. She had the window seat, I had the isle seat and there was one empty seat between us. She seemed very wound up and immediately began talking with me very franticly.

I was a bit taken back, but just sat and listened. It didn’t take long for me to figure out she was stressed about flying. She kept asking “Do you think anyone is sitting in this middle seat? I don’t think I can make it by the window.” I offered to switch seats with her, but she graciously turned me down and said she’d be alright. I began praying for peace and comfort to wash over her. I began saying things jokingly to get her to laugh and lighten up. Before we even took off, I noticed a difference in her franticness. She had calmed down a lot and just continued talking.

Next thing I know, she is sharing her life’s story with me. Man, had she been through a lot and was struggling with some very serious, hard issues. I just listened and she finally started asking me a few questions, like why I was going to Seattle. I shared with her and she asked what kind of youth retreat. So, I explained that a few church youth groups were getting together and I would be speaking to them. She shifted, changing subjects very quickly.

A bit later though, she came back around and asked if I was a part of the church. I said yes, and shared a bit of my story with her. She went on to explain that she believed in God and all, but had been very hurt by the church. She explained that her grandparents were of a certain denomination and very involved in church. Her grandmother preceded to tell her through out her life that she was going to burn in hell for the life she was living. You could tell she desperately wanted her grandmothers approval and was extremely hurt at those harsh words.

She then shared how she wanted to go back to church, but couldn’t bring herself to because of the hurt she’s experienced from the church. She said she watched the Passion of the Christ and was very impacted, but didn’t know quite what to do with it all. Through all of this, I’m just praying away in my head and heart. She then boldly asked my if I thought she was going to hell because of her lifestyle.

I was a bit shocked, surely did not expect her to just flat out ask that. I asked the Lord for wisdom and preceded to answer her question. I felt as though the Lord was telling me to just love her. That it was not my place at that moment to judge or correct her lifestyle or past. I began to share with her the gospel of Christ. I then continued by encouraging her and praising all the positive things she had shared with me, all the changes she was making. I encouraged her to pursue a relationship with God and read His word. She seemed to really listen and receive what I shared.

Then she told me that she had flown from Kansas City to Denver. When she got off her first flight she was a nervous wreck, even after taking half a Valium. She sat at the smoking bar with a guy she just met chatting it up to get her mind off things. There was a break in the conversation and she looked up and said “Ok Big Guy, you’re going to have to help me out here because I don’t think I can make it through another flight.” I just began smiling. She looked at me and the so sweetly said that this had been the best flying experience she ever had. That it was great to get to talk with someone about God without being judged or condemned because she likes to talk about her faith, but knows no one she can talk with. I simply looked at her and said “I’d say God answered your prayer then my friend.”

The rest of the weekend went great. I had a wonderful time with the youth, saw some of them give their lives to Christ, saw a few more rededicate their lives and even got to pray for some of them. I was just as much an evangelist sitting on that plane as I was speaking at the retreat. I think sometimes we get this image in out head of what an evangelist is or has to be. Someone that stands in front of crowds and shares the gospel like a Billy Graham or Luis Palau. That’s just not true though.

Every single day, in every day moments we all have opportunities to be an evangelist if we’ll just be aware of what God is doing around us. As Heidi Baker says, it’s as simple as “loving the One and loving the one.” In other words, loving God and loving the one He places before you.

On my way to Seattle, I was exhausted and my mind was in a million other places. I could have easily missed a divine appointment, if I hadn’t already prayed and set my mind on what God was up to. I believe God wants us to partner with Him daily, living in awareness of what He’s doing and act on the ability we have to bring Heaven to earth. All we have to do is walk in a love relationship with Him, a desire to love those He places in our path, listen to what He says and say it, see what He’s doing and do it.