It was a pleasant Saturday afternoon in late September. I was doing intentional outreach in a local park with Daniel, an 18 year old young man as part of a larger group outreach time. While Candy played on the playground with our children and chatted with some parents there, Daniel and I walked around the park. We had a few good encounters with some people God led us to that really blessed them. They all seemed to be followers of Jesus which was great—though I was kind of hoping God would lead us to some people who didn’t yet know him.
As we walked on the trail in the park, Daniel and I saw three guys who were playing disc golf. I had a sense in my Spirit to talk with them—but for someone reason also felt like the timing wasn’t quite right. They were, after all, in the middle of a disc golf game. I shared this with Daniel and it led to a good discussion about hearing and following God and sharing words God brought to mind with people. Daniel expressed the desire to grow in “prophetic evangelism” which is the style I prefer to walk in. We began discussing that more.
A few minutes later, we noticed someone else who was nearly done with the disc golf course and we felt led to approach him. It turned out that he was also a strong believer and pursuing Bible training, but was very open to receiving prayer from us. We waited on the Lord and each shared what He was putting on our hearts for this guy. By the time we finished, he was in tears—thanking us so much for being obedient to come to him that day and validating the type of ministry that we were doing. It was amazing!
Soon after that, we met two other young men who were part of the larger outreach group that had gone out that day from a conference we were attending. Daniel knew these guys and they joined up with us. We talked for a little while and before long, the original three guys (the ones that the timing wasn’t right before) were finishing up their disc golf game.
Our group of me, Daniel, plus the other two guys Daniel knew had a chance to walk back to the parking lot with these three guys (the timing was now right)! I mentioned that we were listening to the Lord for people and intentionally reaching out that day and they shared that they were also Christians and attended a church in town that I was familiar with. I was a little puzzled that God kept guiding us to Christians that day!
As we approached the car, the guys were saying goodbye to us when I had the sense to ask them a question: “Could we pray for you guys to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to be witnesses of what Jesus has done for you, just as we are attempting to do?” They said “Yes,” and we prayed in a circle right there by the parking lot. When we finished, they too were very encouraged and thankful for connecting with us.
Later, Candy, our children, Daniel and I went to a grocery store deli. There Daniel and I engaged with someone who had a past church background but who was not currently following Jesus. We had a good talk with him and helped him understand more what it looked like to be spiritual but with Jesus alone as the source and Lord of our spiritual guiding. The man was open to talking more in the future. Praise the Lord!
As I look back on that day of outreach, I cannot help but conclude that the Lord does not just send people to non-believers. He sends people to both those who don’t profess Christ and to those who do profess Him. Why Christians? Well, He wants to encourage them, make them feel seen and cared for, minister to them, and model and pray for them to also become His ambassadors and His witnesses to others.
We never know when we talk to strangers exactly where they are at with the Lord. But God knows—everything! Trust Him and be willing to be used in the lives of both Christ followers, and not-yet Christ followers!
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