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How to Reach Your Campus for Christ … One Student at a Time

Find your own "Mark." "The Impossible Dream?" shows how Chris brought the message of God's love to one needy student named Mark—and that one student made Chris' dream come true. So make it a point to reach out to one student this fall. Now maybe your own "Mark" won't end up sharing the gospel with the entire student body. But with your encouragement and guidance, this new friend can learn to share the gospel with his (or her) own "Mark."

Tell your story. Let non-Christian friends know how you came to faith. Your story may leave them wanting to know more about the God who changed your life.

Share these truths. Here are four truths to share with non-Christians: 1) God loves you and wants to have a relationship with you (John 3:16, John 17:3); 2) Your sins separate you from God and keep you from having a relationship with him (Romans 3:23, Psalm 51:3); 3) God's Son, Jesus Christ, died for your sins, making it possible for you to have an everlasting relationship with God (Romans 5:6-8, Romans 6:23, Colossians 2:13-15); 4) You receive the free gift of eternal life by admitting to God that you're a sinner, and asking Jesus to forgive you and take charge of your life (Romans 10:9-10, 1 John 1:9, 1 John 5:11-12, Ephesians 2:8-9).

Don't rush it! Don't feel like you have to share those four truths all at once. And don't feel like the person has to become a Christian the first time you share these truths. Or even the tenth! You may need to share them over and over. You may need to study the verses given with each truth with your friend—carefully explaining the meaning of each one. You may also need to back off. Give your friend a chance to think things through.

Seek help. Do your non-Christian friends ask you questions you simply can't answer? Then get help—and answers—from your youth pastor. Share what you learn with your friend, or set up a meeting between your friend and your youth pastor.

Be a real friend. Often it's the little acts of friendship that make the greatest impression—and cause someone to want what you have. So be a real friend. Demonstrate God's love through little acts of kindness. Show up at a non-Christian friend's soccer game. Drop her a card on her birthday. Give him a candy bar when he's having a tough day. Be there to listen when your friend needs to talk.

Introduce non-Christians to other Christians. Invite non-Christian friends to church or out to pizza with a group of your Christian friends. Take them to youth group, a Christian concert or a special outreach night. Give your non-Christian friends many opportunities to get to know other Christians.

Let God do it. When it comes to witnessing, we sometimes get things turned around. We think it's our responsibility to get someone into God's Kingdom. It's not. It's God's responsibility. We simply need to let others know about the good news through our words and actions. Then let God do the rest.

Copyright © 2000 by the author or Christianity Today International/Campus Life magazine. Click here for reprint information on Campus Life.
July/August 2000, Vol. 59, No. 1, Page 39

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