Q: I live in Europe and am wondering what can I do to reach people who have such a secular mindset? — A friend, from Europe
A: Friend, I’m delighted that you want to reach people for Jesus! While Europe has been considered secular for some time now, we see secularization — along with many other changes — rapidly taking place around the world. It’s good to know, however, that even in the midst of change people are still looking for something that is constant, reliable, and trustworthy.
Genuinely caring about others is a good first step in reaching them for God’s kingdom. Get to know your neighbors, people at work, and others with whom you regularly interact. Show a genuine interest in them. Ask questions and listen well.
As trust builds, they will no doubt ask you questions, too. Pray for and be ready for opportunities to share your faith. Perhaps your new friend is interested in learning how to live a healthy lifestyle. Maybe they are experiencing stress at home or work, or would like to know more about parenting. Perhaps they are experiencing a serious illness or death in the family.
As Seventh-day Adventists, we have many wonderful Biblically-based answers and resources to help with these situations and more. A very helpful website is www.Bibleinfo.com. There’s also a site for children, at www.kidsbibleinfo.com, featuring Bible answers, games, stories, prayer requests, and more.
Talk with your local pastor or the personal ministries director at your local conference office to see what resources are available in your area. Tell them that you are interested in reaching people for Jesus and I am sure that they will be delighted to answer more of your questions.
Finally, I invite you to watch this short video about Total Member Involvement, which I believe you’ll find very encouraging at: https://bit.ly/totalmemberinvolvement. May the Lord richly bless you as you seek to lead others to Him!