The following article appeared in the May-June 1999 issue of On-Mission Magazine:

These field-tested ideas came to On Mission from a variety of sources, including individuals and churches in Canada, Georgia, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas and Virginia.

Buy books like John Grisham’s The Testament, Jan Karon’s Mitford series, or the Left Behind series by Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye to pass along to friends. Follow up with a dinner or talk over coffee to discuss the spiritual applications in the books.

First adopt a younger Christian friend to mentor in becoming on mission. Then commit to find ways together to share your faith with others, and hold each other accountable to carry out your intentions.

Know a sports fan? Take one to a major sporting event and tell him or her the testimony of a famous Christian athlete. Then tell your friend you have at least one thing in common with the athlete—your faith.

Exchange e-mail addresses with people you meet and share the gospel on-line. Point e-mail correspondents to www.thegoodnews.org or other evangelistic websites.

First make a commitment to share your faith with a non-Christian friend. Then keep a prayer list of non-Christians you will pray for daily, and then take the opportunity to share the gospel with them when you sense the time is right.

Start a “brownie brigade.” This can be done in groups or individually. Simply bake up some goodies and take them to neighbors, shut-ins, retirement home residents, the office or any place close by where people might need a lift. Tell the recipients you were motivated by the love of Christ.

Prepare neighborhood care packs of 9-volt batteries for use in smoke detectors. Attach a note with your name and phone number that says you’ll be glad to talk about a “charge” that can last forever. The same concept can work with light bulbs and a note about a “light” that never burns out.

Assemble and deliver gift packs with snacks for school or hotel staff, security workers, police or fire fighters. Include a gospel tract and contact information for you and your church.

Sunday school classes or singles group members looking for a project could ask the owner of a local gas station or convenience store if they can pump gas and wash windshields. When people ask why you’re helping them, say you’re trying to express the love of Jesus in a tangible way.

Adopt an office park or building and minister to the people there. Host a lunch, business seminar or other event to show you care. Consider offering an after-work exercise class or other activity in which employees might show an interest. Be up front about your motivation.

Drop in coins for a customer’s wash at a laundromat, or pay for someone’s car wash, subway fare or parking meter. Make sure they know that your motivation is the love of Christ.

Volunteer for a literacy program. Literacy missions give you the opportunity to build relationships and show how much you care. Using the Bible as reading material makes sharing the gospel a natural.

Sponsor a refugee family and assist them in settling into your community. Invite them to your church and share time with them, showing them the love and concern of Christ. You can get information about this ministry by calling Richard Robinson at 770-410-6343.

Give away sports drinks or water at a biking trail or other outdoor recreation area. Tell those you serve you’d be happy to tell them how to never be thirsty again.

Do you live near a lake, a river or the coast? Give away free bait at a boat ramp or local fishing spot. Tell fishermen you’d like to talk about the greatest fisherman you know—Jesus.

Print up time-change reminders in the spring and fall, and distribute the fliers at hotels, apartments or your neighborhood. Include a message about being set for all time (eternity) and a telephone number where they can call you to discuss Christ.

Place small bags with candy or microwave popcorn on neighbors’ doors along with a note inviting them to your church, Vacation Bible School or other event.

\Sponsor a women’s day or men’s day at a local community center. Have Christian speakers on financial matters, health concerns and other topics. Include a brief presentation of the gospel under a heading like “Why Morals Matter.”

Provide a free breakfast before Sunday school at your church. Invite your friends and neighbors to join you for the food, fellowship and a gospel presentation.

Host a car maintenance clinic. Checking the oil, tire pressure, hoses and belts can give you time to start up a conversation about the temporal nature of cars that rust and wear out versus the eternal nature of the human soul. Have youth clean windshields—another opportunity to talk about clear vision.

Place door hangers with a gospel message, your phone number and a bag of candy in your office, or ask permission to distribute them at an apartment complex or hotel. Write: “Taste the sweetness of Jesus and give me a call to talk about it.”

Partner with your Sunday school class or church to provide free pizza and drinks on moving day at a condo or apartment complex. Tell movers they are welcome at your church and ask them if there is anything you can pray about for them. Tell them Jesus has lifted your burdens.

Take the lemonade stand into the 21st century. Set up a free cappuccino stand at a store, mall or even in your neighborhood on Saturday morning. Tell recipients why you’ve taken the time to provide them with refreshment.

Adopt a college student who may be unable to go home during a semester break. Invite the student into your home for meals and to your church. Offer to engage in a study of spiritual values with him or her.

Are new neighbors moving in? Mow their lawn or rake their leaves. Help them get settled and begin to feel at home. Value this relationship. They are not projects or prospects. Get to know them. Dialogues are always better than monologues in bringing friends to Christ.

Make it a practice to be a good neighbor. Help watch the kids, run errands and offer help when it’s needed. Living out a life of integrity, openness and caring will give you opportunities to tell people why those character traits are important to you. Always be ready to give credit for the Source of your lifestyle.

Get involved with your kids in school, sports or other activities. Volunteer to serve as a team chaplain, water boy or whatever else a coach may need. Not only do you get to spend more time around your children, you’ll have opportunities to build relationships with their friends.

Begin a Bible study in your home or office. Invite those you know who have shown an interest in spiritual matters or have been questioning life issues.

Prayer walk your neighborhood, office or campus. Pray specifically for non-Christians you know. Celebrate Jesus 2000 resources can help you target an area and reach it.

Pay attention to birthdays in the neighborhood or at the office. A card and some cookies or other thoughtful item show you care. Include a scripture verse or gospel tract.

Do you have an innovative way to create opportunities to share Christ? Is your church reaching your community by using methods that you would like to share with other readers of On Mission? If so, please send us your ideas:

Carol Baker, North American Mission Board, 4200 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta, GA 30022-4176 or e-mail at cbaker@namb.net.