“Ministry is about seeing people, knowing their name and knowing their story, showing up even in the hard stuff.”
Angie Walston
We all have a story to tell.
Some are stories of heartbreak or hardship; others are stories of joy and gratitude. But no story we could share is more beautiful than the story of God’s grace reaching people all over the world—one heart at a time—even our own.
People need to hear this story. Many of us see sharing the story of Jesus as the pastor’s job, but God calls us all to share Jesus with the people in our lives. The mission of God is for everyone, everywhere, everyday!
We may feel uncertain about how to tell God’s story.
The way Jesus interacted with others gives us direction. He listened well and told simple stories to help people experience God’s grace and truth. And it changed people’s lives. Imagine if we could all grow as listeners and storytellers.
Jesus changed our story, too. While we were still sinners, Christ died for each and every one of us. Our lives have been reconciled to God and we get to live under his grace and mercy. Now we have a story to tell.
Jesus invites us to imitate him by loving others as He loves us. When we walk with people the way Jesus walks with us, no matter who they are, we show them Jesus and open the door for God’s story.
And that starts with listening.
It is easier to keep relationships at surface level. When we slow down and listen with curiosity, relationships deepen. People feel seen, loved, and accepted for who they are. Deep relationships formed by listening well open the door for us to share God’s work in our life and God’s story of redemption.
As disciples of Jesus, we can grow in this area. We’ve used some of our training content to create a resource for you. This infographic gives simple steps to help you learn to share the Gospel and take part in God’s mission of reconciliation.
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