Evangelism 101 for the Introvert

     This is so not me, I grumble in my head, as I march up, and then down, and then back up Stokes Croft, i.e. Main Street for Bristol, England. Tonight, we have one assignment- go in pairs to a pub or cafe, sit down, and talk to someone. Be friendly, be intentional, and be loving. That's it.
     But I'm an introvert! I protest to God, as if He doesn't already know. I don't talk to strangers about anything. Especially You, Jesus. This is not natural! I don't even know where you want me to go tonight!
     But the unique faces passing by, the elaborate graffiti that covers every spare inch of the buildings, the laughter and shouts that echo from the cafes and pubs whisper a desperate cry that pulls at my heart: I want to be seen. I want to be known. Does anyone see me for who I really am?

      This week is evangelism week, a week I've looked forward to, and also, if I'm completely honest, made me a little nervous. Evangelism just doesn't seem to come natural to people like me, or maybe anyone, for that matter. And yet, sharing our faith is a direct command from our Savior. So how can I not obey?
      But I have always put so much pressure on myself to evangelize, always focused on the "failures"- the rejections, the conversations that lead nowhere, the ticked off, annoyed glares. And so for years, I didn't embrace evangelism as a part of my faith.
     Until this week. Until I realized that what I thought was evangelism may not really be evangelism after all. As I trudge down the street, pulling my hood up against the gusty wind and the tiny rain drops, I remind myself of something our speaker said just a couple of days ago.
      "What is the difference between discipleship and evangelism?" Yan prompted. "When I look in the Bible, I can't find anywhere where it distinguishes the two." My mind churned over this new thought.
     "Do you know how I define discipleship?" he continued. "Loving someone one step closer to Jesus. And you know how I define evangelism? Loving someone one step closer to Jesus."
      Is that really it? Yes, His gentle, firm voice reminds me. That's all I want you to do. Love someone one step closer to Me. 

     And so I keep walking Stokes Croft, asking the whole time, Lord, where do you want me to go?
     The rain continues. It's cold. I'm tired from a week of sleeping on an air mattress and feeling sick. I just want to sit down.
     My friend and I walk past a large, modern, and surprisingly graffiti-free building. I don't pay much attention to the building, until suddenly a man wearing baggy clothes and a bulky coat jumps out in front of us. "Big issue, do you want one?" he spouts, shoving a magazine covered in Ed Sheeran's face towards me.
     "No, thank you," I mumble and begin to walk on when something causes me to look back at the large building. I hadn't noticed the cafe and bar that occupy the first floor. "Do you want to go in here?" I ask my friend.
     "Sure!" she replies, and we walk up the steps. Step one: check.
     Inside is fairly spacious and dimly lit. A band is setting up on a stage in the back, and a long bar stretches down the right-hand wall. Most of the tables are filled with people engrossed in their own conversations. My eyes scan their faces, my mind begging God to shine some kind of spotlight on whomever He wants me to talk to here.
     We walk up to the bar and order coffees. While we wait on the barista, I turn around and continue glancing around the cafe. Then two people sitting at a long table in the middle of the room catch my eye. The girl wears red lipstick and sprawls over a sketchbook. The guy smiles with kind brown eyes at her and continues to work on a laptop. Across from them are perhaps the only two open seats in the cafe.
     So we get our drinks and make our way to the table. "Is it okay if we sit here?" I ask, my heart beating a little quicker than usual. Do I really have to make conversation with them? I don't even know them! They probably don't want to talk anyways!
     "Sure!" the young man says with a polite smile. I feel a tiny bit of relief as I sit down. Step two: check.
     My friend and I talk among ourselves. The girl and guy talk among themselves. And then, somehow, all four of us are talking.
     We learn their names and that they are art students, he from Holland, she from France, here to study in Bristol for a bit. We discuss the city, the art they do, the pros and cons of living in England. Then they ask us why we're here. We share that we're art students too, here in Bristol for a week. The conversation carries so easily that I begin to wonder if this is really happening.
     Then, the guy asks, "So...what exactly is the point of your school?"
     Here it is, I think. The moment where I can shy away and give a vague answer, Or I can tell the truth.
     With surprisingly little apprehension, I respond, "Well, really the point of our school is to know God and to make Him known. To learn why I say I'm a Christian, why I believe what I do. And also to learn about myself as an artist, my identity, and to let that reflect in my art." There it is. I said it.
     And to my delight, instead of looking at me like I'm insane, he seems genuinely interested. He asks questions, and listens intently to my answers.
     As I talk, I realize that this is all so natural! Any checklist drops out of my mind. I'm not speaking in Christian-ese or making sure I hit all five points of the Gospel. We're just...talking. About ourselves. And I trust that God is shining through this conversation however He pleases.
     Eventually, my friend and I have to leave to walk back to the church where we're staying. We say good-bye to our new friends and walk out of the cafe.
     Any tiredness I had when I walked in is completely gone. I feel like sprinting down the street with joy. My friend and I look at each other, grinning enormously. We actually did it! We shared our faith with total strangers! And it was so...simple!
     We talk aloud with God about the two students all the way home, asking that any seeds we planted would begin to grow in their hearts, trusting that though we're unlikely to ever see them again, God's Word will not return void.

     Last week is full of stories just like that, from me and my other teammates. Whether through holding up a painting on a street, giving free hugs or just having coffee with someone, God sparked amazing conversations in which we were able to share our faith and leave people hopefully one step closer to Jesus. And through this challenging week, I've learned that I don't have to be someone else, someone more talkative, more eloquent, or more bubbly, to "evangelize." I just have to be intentional about loving people in the way that only I can. It really is that simple.

     I love and miss you all back home! Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement. Keep being Jesus right where and as you are!