[1]ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)–I believe that one of the most important qualifications for an evangelist is to love to eat. And in that sense, I am highly qualified.
Now, I’m not referring to my friends and comrades, the vocational evangelists. They have a vital calling. But I believe all of us are called to be evangelists –- and eating is one of our best tools. Remember my definition of evangelism that I have shared in a previous article: Evangelism is sharing good news with friends. And there’s nothing better than a great meal with a friend to open up spiritual conversations.
Recently, I ate with my friend Ed. That meal reminded me of why I believe that there is nothing more exciting, fulfilling and just plain fun than evangelism. Ed is 81 years old. He is a wonderful man but had never accepted Christ and had not been in a church in decades. Ed’s son is a friend of mine and introduced me to his dad.
Ed and I built a friendship based on great lunches and a lot of talk about politics and World War II. Every conversation was fascinating to me. But I longed to share with Ed the most wonderful part of my life -– the good news of Jesus. Ed would never have come to hear me preach. And Ed wasn’t interested in Jesus until it was clear that I was interested in Ed. But real friends can talk about important things.
And so in between bites of a big salad, I was able to share Jesus with Ed one day. He thought about that a lot and a few months later, at that same restaurant, I almost spit out my mouthful of Diet Coke when Ed said, “So, what do I have to do to be saved?” And after lunch, sitting in his car, Ed accepted Christ!
Do you know what it is like to call a friend and tell him that his father had just become his brother? I’ll never forget it. They now read the Bible together every morning.
[2]Soon after Ed was saved, we got together and talked about spiritual growth. It just doesn’t get much better than that. And while I enjoyed the food at the Village Cafe in Fayetteville, Ga., I thought about all the friends that I had met here, all the wonderful people who worked there who I had the privilege of knowing and praying for over the years.
As we rose to leave, I saw a friend who works there that I had not talked to in a long time. He’s not sure he believes in God, but he knows I care about him. So we agreed to meet again soon to talk about Jesus -– and eat of course! And then I stopped at two tables where dear friends were sitting -– friends who have also poured their lives into the joy of loving those Jesus loves. As I finally walked out, I felt that I was leaving church. It felt that wonderful.
And isn’t that what the word “church” means anyway -– “called out” and not “called in”? So why not answer God’s call “out” today? Take someone out to eat. Someone different from you. Someone who needs a friend. Maybe you will find that you needed a friend too. And that friendship might change someone’s life –- and eternity. And then they might want the fellowship of the church you love so much. And then you might watch through tear-filled eyes as they follow the Lord in baptism one day.
How would it change your day tomorrow if you knew that a simple meal might do all that? You could live your day in the same wonder as a little boy who watched Jesus take his food and multiply it to feed thousands. Sound good? Then eat on Southern Baptists! Let’s make evangelism good news again.
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John Avant is vice president for evangelization at the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board.