A Call to Walk With People, Not Ahead of Them

When was the last time you made a meaningful connection with someone in your community?

We often quote the familiar line, “Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people.” But what does that actually look like in practice? And where does that process begin? The truth is Christ’s method starts long before a Bible study ever opens.

At the heart of personal evangelism is friendship. Data shared in Tuesday morning’s meeting revealed that 94% of active members were reached through dialogue and friendship, while 71% of those who dropped out had been approached with pressure. This shows us the reality that most people are not argued into the kingdom; they are loved into it.

Pastor David Klinedinst reminded us that “trust is the currency of spiritual influence.” Every life eventually encounters “windows of opportunity” – moments of loss, illness, transition, or crisis when hearts become open to hearing the gospel. The question is not whether such a window will open, but whether we will have earned the right to be the person they turn to when it does.

This calls for a shift from separation to engagement. Jesus did not avoid people; He avoided sin. He ate with tax collectors, spoke with Samaritans, touched lepers, and entered homes others refused to enter. He went to the places many of us would feel uncomfortable entering. Pastor Klinedinst reframed biblical separation as distancing ourselves from worldly values, not from worldly people. Jesus was not of the world, but He was in the world. Evangelism, then, is not broadcasting truth from a distance but entering people’s lives with compassion and presence, walking alongside them in their spiritual journey.

Three practical principles were presented when conducting evangelism:

1. Practice Agreement. Start with finding common ground with others. Agreement is not endorsement, but it is a doorway to a relationship.

2. Never Condemn. Condemnation is not a spiritual gift. Even when Jesus corrected, He did so with tears, not triumph.

3. Accept People Where They Are. Acceptance is not approval; it is choosing to walk with someone toward transformation.

If you want to learn, grow, and practice soul-winning skills, how to introduce spiritual conversations naturally, how to share your testimony, and how to lead someone to Jesus, join Pastor Klinedinst each morning at 9:30 a.m. in the bottom level of the Harrell Center. Come ready to learn, ready to grow, and ready to live an evangelistic life that looks like Jesus.

—Benjamin Lawson