Back in 2018, I met a man on a flight and invited him to church. A few weeks later, he came to Easter worship services with his entire family.
As we look forward to celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior later this month, remember that Easter is one of those times when individuals who seldom attend church will often respond positively to a personal invitation.
Easter also reminds us of the importance of praying for, being involved and sharing the gospel with our friends and family who don’t follow Christ. I grew up hearing all of the Bible stories, and if you had asked me if I was a Christian, I would have said, “Yes.” But in reality, I wasn’t following Christ. Instead, I was following my own heart, seeking my own happiness and living for the world’s pleasures.
In my late 20s, this empty lifestyle led me to a place of hopelessness and despair, but God placed people in my path who lived out his faith and shared God’s redeeming love for me. In September 2004, I trusted in Christ’s death on the cross for my sins and decided to follow the risen Savior.
I often wonder what my life would be like had these men not befriended me, prayed for me, shared the gospel with me and discipled me. In recent years, our ministry partners on the national level have emphasized the “Who’s Your One?” initiative as a way to encourage every believer to have someone in their life who they are intentional about serving, praying for and sharing the gospel with.
My own testimony bears witness of that type of investment from the men who invested in me. I have also heard many testimonies of individuals who prayed and shared with their one who saw that person move from death to life by God’s grace through faith in Christ. In fact, my wife, Ashley, has such a story. She prayed for and shared the gospel with a friend and neighbor for years. Then four years ago, that friend trusted Christ on Good Friday was baptized on Easter Sunday.
Do you have someone in your life who you are being intentional about praying for and sharing the gospel with? Who’s your one?
Chances are, you can already name someone that the Lord has put on your heart. If not, ask the Lord to bring lost people across your path. Pray for opportunities to help you serve and engage with them. Ask the Lord to guide your conversations and for wisdom about how and when to share the gospel.
This Easter as we celebrate the victory over sin and death that Christ secured through His death, burial and resurrection, let’s pray that God would use us to see more people repent and believe the gospel. This is what it means to be on mission together.
