When you & your brother want to get tacos at midnight, and your parents get mad/ freak out.
Annoyed-- I feel like I'm still in high school.
23.10.12
How effective are street corner missionaries and door to door sales people for Jesus?
Last December I attended a Christian based conference in Denver known as DCC (Denver Christmas Conference). One of the events I participated in was going down to 16th street mall and 'evangelizing'. we would walk up to random strangers and ask them how their walk with Jesus was going. If they seemed interested we would give them a 'run down' of Christian basics... Jesus died for man on the cross erased our sins (although we are still sinners), loves us, wants to save us so we can spend eternity in Heaven with him. We would then ask if the person(s) was interesting in accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior right there on the street. One memorable lady said yes and we stood next to her praying and rejoicing. Then we handed her a small booklet (not a Bible) and wished her well encouraging her to get involved in some other Church. I remember walking away feeling clearly saddened. While the other student I was with was glowing; I felt like that wasn't enough. Sure it gets a person to think and maybe even be proactive about accepting Christ but it doesn't help them in the days that follow. It's so easy to be wooed by a group or truly feel the love of Christ but it's harder the next morning when you wake up and go about business as usual with no one to help hold you accountable.
Sitting in the quad of my college campus I have watched this same scenario play out over and over again. I have even been on the receiving end of this scenario. I have heard peers in my classes say, "whenever I see them I put my headphones in and stare straight ahead" , "I pretend I am on the phone" or "I tell them I am late to class." Even I will willingly admit that I have also pulled the music, cell phone, late to class bit. When I have spare time I will sit in the quad, silently reading, staring and inevitably a street corner missionary- door to door sales person for Jesus will approach me. We will talk (mostly them); it doesn't seem like they appreciate me asking questions. Then they will then hand me something a card or a brochure depending. And before I even get their name they are lurking, looking for anyone else sitting, staring, silently alone. It's a numbers game and they waste no time. I would like to add that not ALL follow this outline but most I have encountered do. Also, they will usually invite me to their church or Bible study which is nice but it seems almost like an after thought. I feel it's necessary to add that I don't see people who evangelize this way as bad or mean or anything of that sort I just don't see it as an effective method but at least if nothing else they get people to think and question which is GOOD!
It seems to me that people generally enter a conversation about Christianity with a lot of preconceived notions and experiences; weather these be positive or negative it effects their attitude and willingness to open up to a complete stranger. Through my short lived 21 years I have found that the best and deepest conversations happen with those whom you feel comfortable with. They happen with friends and family. That is why I believe that to really reach someone and connect with them it takes more than one interaction, more than the spectrum of one topic, more than a one sided conversation and more than polite casualties. If you really want to minister to college students or homeless people- immerse yourself in their world, get to know them, be their friend, eat meals with them, be someone they can count on not just a fleeting memory from the chaos of their daily lives. It takes TIME but I think the experience would prove to be more effective for all involved. If you get rejected it doesn't mean you need to stop being their friend, with this method you have a solid base that you can keep trying to build off of.
When I attended school at Mesa we had a solid group who participated in Tuesday (or whatever day) soccer where we would all gather and play for fun, blow off steam and connect. Through that experience I made so many new friends, so many new foundations and awesome people to have in my life. To be honest I am not sure how often Jesus or the Bible was brought up but I think the effects were seen in the actions of the players.
Now, I have a few other things I would like to rant about such as: crude abortion protesters on campus but I am trying to stick on topic and not turn this into a me babbling session. I hope I don't sound like I am on my high horse- just therapeutically writing what is on my mind.
So here it is one more story... of rejection. I was walking through campus one day when I got asked if I would be interested in attending a Christian retreat up in the mountains. Sounded awesome to me and made me think of my days in GJ and at the Lodge in Durango. When I went on those retreats we were asked to pay like $20 to help cover the costs. That seemed reasonable to me. as this girl gave me a sales pitch for the retreat she said something along these lines, "We will be staying at a mansion in Vail and it ONLY cost $75 to attend for two days!" I responded as politely as I could (I really tried to be nice!), "So I am honestly not trying to be mean but $75 is a lot don't you think that money could be used more effectively? I mean a mansion? What about those who can't afford it?" Her response was something like this, "Well it's super fun and I have seen a lot of people brought to Christ through it (which is awesome don't get me wrong) but if you can't afford it we do other stuff throughout the year as well." And that was that. I walked away stunned.
Jesus was homeless and he preached out on the street, he shared everything he had and encouraged Christians to give away their possessions. Maybe it's just me (I pray not) but what happened to the ideals he preached? This interaction still leaves me feeling cold- I can't count the number of homeless students Auraria campus hosts. Sure we have free daily lunch and 3 food banks but there is still more we can do and I don't only mean monetarily. Let's LOVE on everyone. Let's go out into the world on fire to make friends and preach like Jesus did.
I don't really know how to wrap up all of my thoughts coherently but I would love to get your take on what I have laid out. Just remember to be intentional and kind in your words. Thanks for letting me spill my heart to you.
-Andrea
Sitting in the quad of my college campus I have watched this same scenario play out over and over again. I have even been on the receiving end of this scenario. I have heard peers in my classes say, "whenever I see them I put my headphones in and stare straight ahead" , "I pretend I am on the phone" or "I tell them I am late to class." Even I will willingly admit that I have also pulled the music, cell phone, late to class bit. When I have spare time I will sit in the quad, silently reading, staring and inevitably a street corner missionary- door to door sales person for Jesus will approach me. We will talk (mostly them); it doesn't seem like they appreciate me asking questions. Then they will then hand me something a card or a brochure depending. And before I even get their name they are lurking, looking for anyone else sitting, staring, silently alone. It's a numbers game and they waste no time. I would like to add that not ALL follow this outline but most I have encountered do. Also, they will usually invite me to their church or Bible study which is nice but it seems almost like an after thought. I feel it's necessary to add that I don't see people who evangelize this way as bad or mean or anything of that sort I just don't see it as an effective method but at least if nothing else they get people to think and question which is GOOD!
It seems to me that people generally enter a conversation about Christianity with a lot of preconceived notions and experiences; weather these be positive or negative it effects their attitude and willingness to open up to a complete stranger. Through my short lived 21 years I have found that the best and deepest conversations happen with those whom you feel comfortable with. They happen with friends and family. That is why I believe that to really reach someone and connect with them it takes more than one interaction, more than the spectrum of one topic, more than a one sided conversation and more than polite casualties. If you really want to minister to college students or homeless people- immerse yourself in their world, get to know them, be their friend, eat meals with them, be someone they can count on not just a fleeting memory from the chaos of their daily lives. It takes TIME but I think the experience would prove to be more effective for all involved. If you get rejected it doesn't mean you need to stop being their friend, with this method you have a solid base that you can keep trying to build off of.
When I attended school at Mesa we had a solid group who participated in Tuesday (or whatever day) soccer where we would all gather and play for fun, blow off steam and connect. Through that experience I made so many new friends, so many new foundations and awesome people to have in my life. To be honest I am not sure how often Jesus or the Bible was brought up but I think the effects were seen in the actions of the players.
Now, I have a few other things I would like to rant about such as: crude abortion protesters on campus but I am trying to stick on topic and not turn this into a me babbling session. I hope I don't sound like I am on my high horse- just therapeutically writing what is on my mind.
So here it is one more story... of rejection. I was walking through campus one day when I got asked if I would be interested in attending a Christian retreat up in the mountains. Sounded awesome to me and made me think of my days in GJ and at the Lodge in Durango. When I went on those retreats we were asked to pay like $20 to help cover the costs. That seemed reasonable to me. as this girl gave me a sales pitch for the retreat she said something along these lines, "We will be staying at a mansion in Vail and it ONLY cost $75 to attend for two days!" I responded as politely as I could (I really tried to be nice!), "So I am honestly not trying to be mean but $75 is a lot don't you think that money could be used more effectively? I mean a mansion? What about those who can't afford it?" Her response was something like this, "Well it's super fun and I have seen a lot of people brought to Christ through it (which is awesome don't get me wrong) but if you can't afford it we do other stuff throughout the year as well." And that was that. I walked away stunned.
Jesus was homeless and he preached out on the street, he shared everything he had and encouraged Christians to give away their possessions. Maybe it's just me (I pray not) but what happened to the ideals he preached? This interaction still leaves me feeling cold- I can't count the number of homeless students Auraria campus hosts. Sure we have free daily lunch and 3 food banks but there is still more we can do and I don't only mean monetarily. Let's LOVE on everyone. Let's go out into the world on fire to make friends and preach like Jesus did.
I don't really know how to wrap up all of my thoughts coherently but I would love to get your take on what I have laid out. Just remember to be intentional and kind in your words. Thanks for letting me spill my heart to you.
-Andrea
20.10.12
Sugg: Hit Play
This Year And How To Survive- Chad Sugg
Golden,
If there’s one thing I want you to be it’s—nevermind
I still remember last year and how I’ve never liked me
That bastard knew I didn’t like it either, and so it goes…
Figure up all the moons and suns,
divided by how many times I cared,
and you’ll end up with another day
where the city is still lousy with all of it.
All the streets the hookers,
record stores
and windows
the happy hours
and the drunks
and love
and constant motion
and despair
squinting at the sky yelling so someone will notice
Don’t we all just want someone to notice?
Our quirks, our shortcomings, our happiness?
It’s those mornings alone when you really feel it, or hear it rather.
That voice whispering about the future and how it’s here and how it’s fleeting
and how your feeling a little like it’s about damn time something went my way.
We’re not getting any younger.
That only happens in novels and Brad Pitt movies.
The basis for figuring it all out is throwing it all away
and realizing the words nothing and everything
were both made up by men as lost as the best of us.
And the best of us are really just tragically as normal as the worst;
Jogging for a position in a race that never ends.
So don’t worry about it.
Haunt which ever cities you want.
I can tell you there are many to choose from
and as excited as you may be they all end up the same.
It’s not a good thing or a bad thing, it just is.
Change what you want about the world around you.
And if something doesn’t work right
go into a bar on a Friday night
and ask a stranger if they have ever wanted to give up.
Everyone’s answer is the same and three letters wrong.
It’s proof were not alone.
It’s sanity, it’s comforting, it’s a new year now,
and I’ve survived.
I’m 24 and scared as ever.
If I’m not still saying this in five years like I was the five before this
then I’m not sure how I’d feel.
I think it keeps me on my toes.
So be brave and not only to survive but live.
Take it all in and try to smile a bit more often.
I can’t tell you how many times
I’ve had a shitty day turn around
because someone simply smiled
and said good afternoon to me.
It’s these unexpected simplicities
that surprise you
and make it that much more worth it.
And like us, they just want to be noticed, I’m sure.
Amazing and pure as the light that leads us through the darkness.
May it guide us onward where all is illuminated.
If there’s one thing I want you to be it’s—nevermind
I still remember last year and how I’ve never liked me
That bastard knew I didn’t like it either, and so it goes…
Figure up all the moons and suns,
divided by how many times I cared,
and you’ll end up with another day
where the city is still lousy with all of it.
All the streets the hookers,
record stores
and windows
the happy hours
and the drunks
and love
and constant motion
and despair
squinting at the sky yelling so someone will notice
Don’t we all just want someone to notice?
Our quirks, our shortcomings, our happiness?
It’s those mornings alone when you really feel it, or hear it rather.
That voice whispering about the future and how it’s here and how it’s fleeting
and how your feeling a little like it’s about damn time something went my way.
We’re not getting any younger.
That only happens in novels and Brad Pitt movies.
The basis for figuring it all out is throwing it all away
and realizing the words nothing and everything
were both made up by men as lost as the best of us.
And the best of us are really just tragically as normal as the worst;
Jogging for a position in a race that never ends.
So don’t worry about it.
Haunt which ever cities you want.
I can tell you there are many to choose from
and as excited as you may be they all end up the same.
It’s not a good thing or a bad thing, it just is.
Change what you want about the world around you.
And if something doesn’t work right
go into a bar on a Friday night
and ask a stranger if they have ever wanted to give up.
Everyone’s answer is the same and three letters wrong.
It’s proof were not alone.
It’s sanity, it’s comforting, it’s a new year now,
and I’ve survived.
I’m 24 and scared as ever.
If I’m not still saying this in five years like I was the five before this
then I’m not sure how I’d feel.
I think it keeps me on my toes.
So be brave and not only to survive but live.
Take it all in and try to smile a bit more often.
I can’t tell you how many times
I’ve had a shitty day turn around
because someone simply smiled
and said good afternoon to me.
It’s these unexpected simplicities
that surprise you
and make it that much more worth it.
And like us, they just want to be noticed, I’m sure.
Amazing and pure as the light that leads us through the darkness.
May it guide us onward where all is illuminated.
Ways to know if I love you or even just like you as a friend:
If you answer yes to any of the below than the answer is clear I really do Like and possibly even Love you...
Have I ever made you a mix CD or playlist?
Have you ever received a hug from me?
Have you ever gotten a random text or message out of the blue after possibly months of not talking?
Have you ever received snail mail from me?
Have I ever punched you lightly in the arm?
Have you ever read or seen me perform my poetry?
Have you seen me cry?
Do you know my full name?
Do you know what my biggest dream and deepest fear is?
Have I ever given/loaned you a book?
Have you ever sat around the dinner table with my family?
Have I ever shared food with you?
If you know the answer to these questions it's no doubt were good friends.
Name two of my favorite bands?
What did I do for my 16th birthday?
What traumatic event occurred on my 18th birthday?
Have I ever made you a mix CD or playlist?
Have you ever received a hug from me?
Have you ever gotten a random text or message out of the blue after possibly months of not talking?
Have you ever received snail mail from me?
Have I ever punched you lightly in the arm?
Have you ever read or seen me perform my poetry?
Have you seen me cry?
Do you know my full name?
Do you know what my biggest dream and deepest fear is?
Have I ever given/loaned you a book?
Have you ever sat around the dinner table with my family?
Have I ever shared food with you?
If you know the answer to these questions it's no doubt were good friends.
Name two of my favorite bands?
What did I do for my 16th birthday?
What traumatic event occurred on my 18th birthday?
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