Grab Your Coffee and Let Me Tell You My Story
by Graham N. West, pastor, St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Stevens Point, WI

Evangelism is for some the dreaded E-word. Some churches have reduced evangelism to providing nametags, recruiting greeters, and arranging coffee hostesses. But I have had a conversion experience. I now realize that although hospitality is not the all of evangelism, it is integral to it.

Every time I hear the story of the evangelization of my wife's sister and husband, I cringe. While hitchhiking across the United States, they were picked up by two men. Once they were settled in the back seat, the man in the front passenger seat turned to them and began witnessing to them. Then they prayed "the prayer." The evangelist then turned to the driver and said, "Well, chalk another one up for the Lord." He didn't speak again to the couple.

I cringe at this style of evangelism. Astoundingly though, God used his testimony. My sister-in-law and her husband have been missionaries for more than twenty-five years now.

Hospitality is at the heart of our faith and the ministry of the church. Igniting Ministries has told us that, but we are slow learners.

Welcoming the strangers among us begins long before they walk through the church's door. The public witness of every Christian, articulated in actions rather than words, is what gives us credibility. The invitation to our community to share God's love among us has heart only if our churches are open and accepting enough to welcome whoever walks through the door. Relating sincerely with warmth and sensitivity reveals God's love and acceptance.

Our primary motive for evangelism is not increased church membership or budget improvement, although those things may well happen. Good intent in evangelism springs from a heart that is awed by God's incredible grace, stunned by Christ's selflesss love, and excited by the unseen Spirit moving us with passion.

There can be no holding back of those so moved. What can they do but tell the story – their story? When they do, God reaches out to ignite a spark in the hearer.

Certainly, evangelism is more than nametags, greeters, and coffee mugs. But these items of hospitality do create a context for human warmth, and they prepare the inquirer for the good news of God's love.

But all too often we are unpracticed at telling our story. It's as if we are self-conscious about the divine love that changed us. We are unsure of the vocabulary, nervous about the judgments that may be made of us, and uncertain of how our story will be received.

Perhaps telling your story need be no more than sharing sincerely the impact of God's love in your life. Practiced over a cup of coffee, our fumbling words may well give voice to the unseen God.

A cup of coffee creates the atmosphere, but we must do the telling.

Posted 12-19-03.