THE “CONNECT CHALLENGE”

THE “CONNECT CHALLENGE”

Will you accept the challenge to make intentional connections with people in your community for the direct purpose of connecting them to Jesus Christ?

The purpose of the “Connect Challenge” is to encourage Christians to take advantage of natural opportunities to share the love and message of Jesus with others.  Relationships with neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends provide natural opportunities for Christians to be intentional and deliberate about sharing their faith.

Step #1 – Identify and Pray

Think purposefully about specific people in your life who don’t know Christ but might be receptive to him right now.  Maybe it is one of your neighbors, your kid’s coach, a coworker, a family member, a workout partner, an acquaintance new to town, a business partner, or fellow classmate.  Make a list of names and include contact information if available and anything else about them that might be helpful to remember.  Pray for them and pray for specific opportunities to connect with them.

Step #2 – Contact and Connect

Make personal contact with someone on your list that you feel God is leading you toward.  Reach out to them and be a blessing to them in each of the following ways:

A.      Show kindness – Give them a small token of your friendship, such as flowers, cookies, a note with a gift card, candy, a book, etc.  Demonstrate kindness by doing an act of service for them, such as mowing, raking leaves, repairing something, helping with a home project, trimming bushes, going to the store for them, etc.  Jesus often addressed people’s spiritual needs by first addressing their physical needs.  Acts of kindness are a great way to show your true care and concern for others. 

B.      Spend time – Spiritual transformation often takes place in the context of a trusting relationship.  Do your best to nurture a relationship with them by spending time together.  Invite them over for dessert (less commitment for them than a meal) or set up a cookout together.  Grab a quick lunch or coffee together.  Find out their interests and plan an outing to a game, concert, or other event.  Invite them to come to church with you or to a Bible discussion group in your home.  Look for, and create, opportunities to spend meaningful time together.

C.      Speak truth in love – When you spend time together, be sure to take advantage of opportunities to connect what you are doing with why you are doing it.  In other words, talk about your faith in Jesus.  Don’t be afraid to talk about God, Jesus, faith, and the Church.  Many people will talk about these important issues but may be too uncomfortable to bring them up.  Be a good listener.  Ask questions and avoid the temptation to talk too much about yourself.  Listen without self-redirecting; hear without judging, and as Stephen Covey says, “Seek first to understand before being understood.”  When the time is right, share your own faith story.  Talk about the difference Christ has made in your life. 

Remember their children’s names and activities as well as recent news about their lives and/or families so you can ask meaningful questions.  For example, if your friend’s parent recently got sick or passed away, you could ask about it and offer to pray for them.

Step #3 – Invite and Encourage

Invite them to our FRIENDS DAY on Sunday, TBD).  Make plans to accompany them to Bible class/worship services, and be very hospitable.  Ask them to join you for our congregational luncheon after the worship assembly.

Notes:

Journal – Use an electronic device or notepad to journal about your connections with other people.  Add to it regularly.  This information will be useful in following up with people, and it will allow you to see how God is working through your efforts.  Record your prayers, thoughts, victories, obstacles, and future opportunities.  Journaling is just one more way to be intentional about connecting with God and other people.

Online Community – Join the online community at church (similar to Facebook) that will be set up to post your “Connect” stories.  Share your successes, failures, lessons learned, prayer requests, etc. (keeping other people’s names confidential, of course).  Be encouraged by reading other people’s stories and realize you are not alone as an ambassador of Christ.  Encourage others who are trying to connect with others and celebrate what God is doing in our lives and in this congregation.

Pray – Constantly and continually pray for other people and your efforts to reach them with the love and message of the Cross.  Ask God to provide opportunities to connect with them, and to give you the vision and faith to see what He is doing in your world so you can partner with Him to reach others.  Thank God for the little victories along the way and for the ways He is shaping you and your faith throughout the process.