Meeting non-Christian people

From AB, 2004
In what ways to people in ministry do this, especially overseas?  Are there times/places I should know about where this is completely unacceptable/offensive?  I’d like to see where other people have done this, the methods/ideas they used. 

Interview with MD and SD:

-          very important to greet people in their culture

-          body language important as well

-          go bowling/out for coffee to  be a part of the group

-          people want to feel heart-to heart sincerity

  

Interview with EB and PB: 

            be  a good neighbor

-          be friendly, show concern

-          learn the language first

-          think of when you went to school here:   how did you get to know people?

-          Some missionaries don’t want to let locals into lives:   Want wall between them

-          Some missionaries do well at programming, others at relationships.

-          Common way to measure success: number of baptisms, confirmands

o        In SE Asia to get one is a big deal

o        In Africa, they probably started 13 churches and baptized thousands of people

 

From AB, 2003

-Be open, loving, and gracious towards them.

-Answer their questions.

-Ask them questions about their life/beliefs.

-Do not shy away from them.

-Live your life as a little Christ.

-Share your hope and faith in Christ.

-Be bold in sharing the reason for the hope you have w/out Lording it over them.

-Encourage them to come to events, get-togethers, etc.

-Make yourself available to talk one-on-one with them if they desire to do that.

-Compliment them(Look to build them up).

-Pray for them.

-When the time is right, share scripture passages, and with the help of the H.S. explain those passages to them.

-In Taiwan, the main religion was Chinese religion(which is a mixture of Daoism/Buddhism/Hinduism).  Most people did not understand what true Christianity was, but were interested in leaning more about Christianity(Gronbach Interview).

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