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Have you ever sat in a room of peers and wondered, “How do I talk to them about Jesus?” It’s easy to talk about the Gospel with students, right? I mean, it’s your job. But if you’re like me, it’s much harder with people my own age! And if I’m asking students to share, shouldn’t I be doing the same with my peers as well? So what if you showed up consistently somewhere and loved people? If you think about it, you’re already doing something similar with students. Now just think about it with your peers.

Show Up and Show Up Consistently

Hang with me for just a minute. Several years ago, I went through a season of depression. I had recently left the only job I knew and moved to a new state. I didn’t know many people, and quite honestly, I missed my old job. I felt stuck. My heart and brain told me I “should” be doing something, but my body betrayed me and wouldn’t let me do much. 

So, I did the one thing I could do—I showed up. I picked a place (Waffle House!) and consistently showed up at the same time, on the same day of the week. I said hello, read my Bible, left a good tip, and went about my day. It wasn’t much, but it’s what I was able to do at the moment.

It was all good until one day, my routine changed, and someone noticed. The cook realized I was there later and came over to make sure everything was okay. He noticed me (and my UGA shirt, but that’s a different story). I was seen in a place where I was trying to see others! 

That day changed things for me. It was then that I realized my consistency had opened a door for deeper conversations and friendships with the regulars and staff of Waffle House. Showing up consistently bred fertile ground to share stories about Jesus with my new friends.

Consistency Breeds Opportunity

I didn’t have to say anything extraordinary or do anything weird. I just had to show up, pray, and drink coffee. Ask a few good questions. Make new friends. Leave a good tip (a must!). God did the rest.

So let me ask you, where are you already showing up with peers? A neighbor’s yard, a coffee shop, or a specific lunch table? What if you changed your perspective and became more consistent and intentional? How would God work through you?

Maybe you’re reading this, and you’re already a pro at this—great! I’d love to hear what works and doesn’t work for you. But maybe you’re reading this and feel God tugging at your heart. You’re wondering how to get started. Here are a few simple ideas to jumpstart your brain. 

1. Pray. It’s where we always start, right?

2. Pick a place. It doesn’t matter where, but if it’s a restaurant, be prepared to tip well. 

3. Show up. Pray for the people around you. Read a book or the Bible. Ask people’s names. Introduce yourself. Ask good questions. Don’t have an agenda. Be prepared to sit and enjoy the moment. It’s going to take time! 

4. Ask for peoples’ prayer requests and really pray for them. Follow up with them next time. The follow-up questions are key and will set you apart! 

5. Make new friends, not projects. Students know if they are projects and so do adults. Projects have an end goal in mind, but friendships do not.

6. Keep it simple, and don’t overthink it!

See a theme here? Just show up and show up consistently. When you do, opportunities open up that weren’t there before. People begin to trust you and share more of their stories, making it easy to share Jesus’ story with them. Showing up breeds fertile ground. 

One word of caution: Don’t get comfortable and miss the opportunities God gives you. It may take years, but one day a door will open for you to share Jesus! Because if I know nothing else, I know that consistency breeds opportunity.

Share your thoughts with others in our YM360 community:

• Where can you begin showing up consistently so that God might move in the lives of the people you meet? What would it take for you to do that?
• Do you struggle to share the Gospel with people that are not students? Why do you think it’s so hard and so different from sharing with students?

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