OPINION:
At Groundwire, God has for years blessed our efforts to saturate the media landscape with the message of His love. Every day, we use the same technology that floods your Facebook page with shoe ads if you chat with a friend online about your new Nikes to communicate the Gospel in a relevant and authentic way, mostly to your kids and grandkids.
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Algorithms identify people who are hurting, then we respond in real-time with videos and other online content that offer them immediate encouragement and hope. An invitation to chat with a Groundwire coach follows, offering a listening ear and an understanding heart.
Last year, more than 6.8 million visitors flooded our sites, and 567,545 people prayed to receive Christ.
Why? Because when they experience kindness, they are willing to answer questions, they hear more about the God surveys overwhelmingly say they believe in, and they find that people are willing to pray for them and teach them to pray.
The same principles work in your day-to-day, in-person interactions.
Recently, while out to dinner, my conversation with my server took an interesting turn. “Oh, I believe in God,” she said. “I just don’t believe He can help me with my fear, my anxiety, and He can’t heal my heart. I have to do that on my own.”
Although she believed in a God who was either unloving or powerless in her world, I was able to connect the dots. I shared that He created her, knows what causes her anxiety and therefore can help her overcome it.
After a few minutes, she allowed me to pray for her, and when I was done, she backed up, rubbing her arms and said, “That was awesome! I felt that!”
“That is because He is real. That is His presence and comfort that you felt, and He wants to be a part of your life every day.”
After a conversation about God’s desire to be close to her, the separation that exists because of sin, but God’s rescue plan (Jesus paying the price), she placed her trust in Jesus as her Lord and Savior.
This story illustrates how misguided many people are. However, it also highlights how hungry they are. They are isolating and trying to “pep-talk” themselves through their day, over their pain, and to find joy and peace, but they aren’t winning.
We watch them struggle and want to help, but we might not know how. Well, I have found four assumptions that are helpful as I look to have meaningful conversations that lead to Jesus, and I want to share them with you. They are pretty basic, but with intentionality, they will open many doors.
I assume they will respond to kindness. Sadly, this needs to be said, but many times Christians have a reputation (sadder still, sometimes deserved) of being self-absorbed, sales-pitchy or flat-out rude. However, when someone senses kindness, they are drawn to it and open up. So, make it a point to make eye contact, smile, and just be kind.
I assume they will answer questions. People like to talk, because they want to be known, and many people do not feel anyone cares. So, take time to ask questions. Something as simple as “What is your name?” is meaningful to someone who feels invisible. I have recently asked a couple of servers, “How many people call you by your name?” With disappointment, they often answer, “Not very many.”
I assume they believe in God. According to researcher Thom Schulz, 72% of American millennials believe in God, and the numbers are similar for other generations. They might not believe in the version of God we do, but they do believe in Him. So, they will not be offended when we let them know that God sees them, and that will open the door for us to share with them the biblical God, who does love, is near, does want to protect/bless, and even wants to save.
I assume they will let me pray for them. There is a concern that if you push too hard, people will back away, but everyone has some source of pain, an unrealized dream, or an unfulfilled desire that they think about daily, and they are willing to have you speak blessing and prayer into their life.
In my experience, about 80% of people will let me pray for them on the spot. The other 20% will sheepishly say, “You don’t need to pray for me here; you can do that on your way home, but I do appreciate it.”
I am grateful for what is happening with Groundwire on the internet every day, but as Christians, if we mobilize utilizing the same four assumptions we will see even more people come to know Jesus in every restaurant, school, neighborhood, and even around every Thanksgiving table across our country.
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Sean Dunn is the founder and president of Groundwire.
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