Our family has been watching a series of missions videos called Dispatches from the Front  hosted by Tim Keesee. These videos profile the advance of the gospel all around the world. God is at work is interesting and surprising ways, and these 10 videos (and counting) offer a window into that remarkable work.

In video #2, which is set in Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro, one gospel worker shared his strategy for planting churches. 1. Pray 2. Meet People 3. Tell them about Jesus. This simple strategy has proven to be highly effective. Many people have indeed come to know Jesus and many churches have been planted.

I got to thinking…..what if we used that simple strategy in our evangelistic efforts to spread the gospel? All too often today, we don’t even have a strategy when it comes to reaching the lost. I remember hearing R.C. Sproul put forth a challenge in one of his sermons. Sproul challenged his listeners to pray every day for 6 months for someone and see what God does. I have never been able to follow through on that, but I love the idea. It is a reminder that in order for someone to come to Christ, God must draw them (John 6:44). The Bible affirms that salvation is of the Lord, but yet we still can participate in the sense that we can pray (and then Lord-willing share).

It is also important that we are intentional about meeting new people. When you have lived somewhere for a long time and already know lots of people, there is less incentive to meet new people. But that is exactly what we should be doing as Christians. Yes, tell the people you already know the gospel, but also seek new frontiers. Act like a missionary and strive to build relationships with those around you.

One of the reasons we don’t see more people come to Christ (and I am preaching to the choir here) is because we are not more intentional about it. First of all we don’t pray and put things in God’s hands, and secondly, we are not being creative when it comes to meeting people, and then sharing the good news with them. But remember, the gospel is attractive and people are desperate for hope in a world that offers nothing in the way of peace and joy and lasting satisfaction.

The gospel is the power of God unto salvation…..let’s share it!

Acts 20:24: “I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”