08.09.06 thequest UPdate

thequest family,

This week I read a compelling piece...which I thought I would pass on to you here:

X Factor Evangelism by Michael Wiles

To the early Christians a capital X signified Christ. When we involve ourselves in X Factor Evangelism, we are trying to emulate Christ's example in reaching the lost. Christ always started with love. Love is the key that opened the door for Him to minister, but Christ did not stop with love. Love is not enough if it is separated from the light and truth of Scriptures.

Too often when we try to evangelize, we emphasize one aspect over the other. Trying to be the light of the world without love is often hurtful and pushes people away. Love without light does not bring the true healing that a lost and hurting world needs.

X Factor evangelists are willing to love those who are different from themselves and be salt and light in their lives. They are willing to overlook the differences of custom, language, dress and style. Their motivation is to help, not hurt, to make the hurting feel better and not just make themselves feel better. They desire to have a positive impact on all those around them, not just the ones who look, act, and talk like them. They strive to have an impact with life-changing results, an impact that involves bringing everyone to the true light ? Jesus.

To be able to impact the lives of others we must have relational credibility with them, they must begin to trust us, they must give us access to their lives, they must, in the words of a juvenile inmate, allow us to move into their "top five" of influence.

Let me explain what this means. I recently attended a Kirk Franklin concert where he recounted his trip to a juvenile detention center earlier that day. During the visit he met one young man that said "Mr. Franklin, I have to be honest with you. I have some of your music but you are not in my top five favorite artists. But, he added, none of my top five have come to visit me in jail. I want you to know that you are now in my top five, not because of your music, but because you took the time to come here today.?

For God to use us to impact our world it is not about how talented we are but about how willing we are to show love for all people and how much we are willing to take the time to be salt and light in their lives.

X Factor Evangelism will help you to truly love and disciple others as Jesus commanded us to do. It will help you to identify and change those thoughts, beliefs and actions that close the door to relational evangelism to the hurting in your world. Let me tell you the stories of two ordinary people that are living X Factor Evangelists.

Tom intentionally bought his morning coffee from the same convenience store so he could develop a relationship with Mark and look for opportunities to make Christ relevant to him. If you would see Tom and Mark side by side you would notice that they have little in common in the way of appearance. Tom is very clean-cut and traditional in appearance. Mark is just the opposite with tattoos and piercings covering much of his body. Mark now has a personal relationship with Jesus due to Tom being willing to overlook their differences and "take the time" to get into Mark's "top five."

Frank, an atheist, was invited to a Bible study by Jonathon. Frank went and intentionally challenged all the "stupid things" discussed at the meeting. Frank expected Jonathon to get mad and not invite him back. To his surprise Jonathon was patient and answered each question. Jonathon allowed, and even encouraged, him to disagree, at which time he then patiently walked Frank through the Bible. Today Frank's questions are answered and he is serving the God he once didn't believe existed.

It is my prayer that as you apply the principles of X Factor Evangelism you will learn to express God's love in such a way that you are moved into someone's "top five" of influence and have opportunities to be salt and light during your normal daily routine. May God lead you to be the X Factor in the lives of others so that you may play a part in touching lives and changing hearts.


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This article was pieced together by Mike Jentes from a recent ChurchSmart resource catalog and is found online here. The book X Factor Evangelism is available from ChurchSmart Resources and from the author's website/ministry You Can Ministries


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