Joel Littlefield

Ever walked right up to a stranger with the intention of sharing the good new of Jesus with them? Any number of crazy and exciting things can happen when you choose this approach to evangelism. People can get saved this way. People can also get angry and tell you to get out of their faces. But, I wonder of this sort of thing has happened to you.

I approached a young man who was walking near my local Library the other day. He was playing Pokemon Go. (I didn’t know anyone played that any more)

I asked if he’d mind me sharing with him the greatest news in the world. And by the way, if you’ve wondered how to start a gospel conversation with a complete stranger, that question has worked for me. Another approach I take is to ask if the person has ever heard the story of the Gospel. Most will say “No”, or, “Not exactly”. Then you proceed to tell them in story form. This might mean versing yourself in the story of the gospel a little more. Anyway…

He shrugged a little and timidly agreed to it. “Sure, I guess.” he said. So we sat at a nearby bench and I began to lay out the story of God’s design and man’s fall into sin, resulting in our need for a Redeemer.

He kept eyeing his phone on his lap. Wasn’t sure if it was nerves, or if Pokemon Go was just that much more interesting than anything I was saying. Both were possible, I guess. I’d only been talking for about a minute when I glanced down and briefly noticed the easily recognizable red stop button on his iPhone screen. That’s right. He had pressed record and was now nonchalantly aiming his camera up at me as it rested on his leg. I tried to stay focused as I began to think of the reasons he would be recording this conversation. What would he want to do with it? It’s not that I minded being recorded, but I have to admit that it caught me off guard. So I kindly called him out on it. “Dude, you’re recording me?”

At first he tried to deny it, but then quickly admitted to it. That humored me.

I didn’t bash him for recording me. I continued to share Christ while I had the opportunity before me.

He assured me he wouldn’t do anything crazy with his new video. It was the eighth one he did that day. To each his own.

This world is strange, no doubt. Video cameras on every phone and aiming at anything that moves. The important thing is that he’s heard the good news now, and has at least a portion of it on his phone to boot. I suggested to him that he replay the video because the message was for him and God wanted him to especially hear the portion that was recorded. I pray he does. I pray I meet him again soon.

In the meantime, if anyone sees the video online, let me know. It’s the one with the awkward camera angle shot right up my nose. 🙂

So what’s the moral of my story? In addition to being ready to share the Gospel with anyone and at any time, be ready to have it on record too. Perhaps I shouldn’t have said anything about the camera and just let it keep on rollin’. Maybe next time.

The best part of this story is what was happening about 100 feet away from me. My buddy was sitting on a similar park bench sharing the gospel with a young girl there. She made a profession of faith. And get this. Nothing was recorded. So you just never know.