by David English

From tentmakers in Germany:

I kept an Olympics medal table updated on the white-board at work as a conversation starter with all the countries represented in our department. It gave me something to talk about with the Dutch guy when the Dutch gymnast won the balance beam, for example. To counter it appearing that I was bragging on the US, I consolidated all the European Union medals into a group which ended up larger than the US. This got co-workers more interested in the Olympics and opened up some conversations.

For my birthday I made some American treats to take to work, which were well received. I made Pumpkin pie, which most of them had never had before, and Scotcharoos (a rice crispy-peanut butter thing covered in chocolate for those of you that don’t know). I gave the recipe to several people already. Though some commented that American food was unhealthy, they managed to enjoy them anyway and to eat all of them.

Another hospitality idea from an actively evangelizing friend: 

Fred and his wife host an open dinner every Thursday night. Anyone is welcome. Students they’ve connected with from the local university come regularly and bring friends. In addition, he regularly walks to and from downtown a few blocks away and chats with people along the way. He also visits the same coffee shops and restaurants regularly to get to know staff. He observes people’s expressions and asks how they are doing. When they share a need or struggle, he asks if he can pray for them right then. He then does so in a natural way with his eyes open. One woman he prayed for during a crisis had moved one from the coffee shop. But she crossed the street to thank him when she saw him walking one day. In these ways he meets, cares for, shares Christ with, and draws more people to his and his wife’s Thursday night open dinners. Nonbelievers are impressed by what they see and often comment and ask questions. 

What variations of these ideas could work where you are? And what other ideas do they stimulate in your mind? Don’t be afraid to try things and learn. It always works when we make people really feel welcome, appreciated, and loved.

by David English

Ruth Siemens had just arrived in Peru just a few days before to teach third grade in a secular international school in  Lima. She was attending the back-to-school and welcome-new-teachers party complete with dancing and alcohol. One of the teachers, a nonbeliever, asked Ruth, “Would you like to have a drink?” Ruth responded, “Yes, I’d love to. Do they have any Coke or ginger ale?” 

For a Christian from a very conservative, non-alcohol church background, this was a startling response. Why did Ruth answer this way? “Because this colleague wasn’t asking me to drink. She was asking to get to know me. I was responding to her intention. I was delighted with her desire and to get to know her.” 

This is the most insightful response I’ve heard to this question. An invitation to have a drink was bound to come at this party. Ruth had to think this through, preferably beforehand. But her primary focus was the other person. What is she intending to communicate? And how can I respond to affirms her and build friendship. 

We’ll always find ourselves in uncomfortable situations with nonbelievers at times. Think how badly Christians have treated people because they focused on their own scruples rather than the other person’s intentions. Without meaning to, we have alienated and killed opportunities to connect with people.

Ruth was always thinking about people’s motives when interacting with them. I saw this over and over. One day we had lunch at a restaurant near her home in California. A Hispanic waitress came to our table, obviously pregnant. Ruth smiled with delight and said in Spanish, “I see you are expecting. What a wonderful blessing God has given you! I pray it’s a happy, healthy baby.” The waitress just beamed with pleasure and gratitude.

Ruth’s warm response at the party led one woman to say to her, “I think you know about God. Could you teach me?” This woman had lost her airline pilot husband in a tragic plane crash leaving her with two teenage boys. Ruth responded, “I’d love to!” and led Bible study with them for months. All three came to Christ and Ruth discipled them.

In Lima, Ruth led faculty, staff, students and parents to Christ at her school. In spare time, she studied Spanish at San Marcos University, led Bible studies, and started the Peruvian IFES (International Fellowship of Evangelical Students) movement.

From Peru, Ruth moved to Sao Paulo, Brazil to head up an international school where she repeated her pattern. She again led students, faculty, and staff to Christ, and in spare time, started Brazil’s IFES university movement. When she left for Spain and Portugal, there were groups on 30 campuses. After returning to the States, Ruth launched Global Opportunities