evangelism advice for a homeschooler

[g0pher]

Hey there, as the title suggest i'm homeschooled. So basically, i'm not socially deprived but most the people i know are Christians (nothing to complain about). So since i have no real friendships w/ non-Christians (because i don't really know any) how would i be a witness? i know i'm s'posed to be a witness by my actions and that i'm also to love my fellow Christians but is this all? Would appreciate your thoughts (prayers).

[Phil]

Well, as far as meeting other people.... there are always sports, clubs, neighborhood people, etc.

But yes, another way to "witness" is just be a very strong Christian and your life will impact others, even if they are Christians.

[MrCrabby]

If you're asking for ideas on places to witness, then my answer is EVERYWHERE!

You don't just have to go right up to someone and start sharing your faith, everywhere you go, let your actions show who you serve.
And whenever you do get the chance to actually talk to someone about Jesus, then go for it!

[WaKaDruM]

get a job :)

[MrCrabby]

I'll tell you from personal experience (i'm also homeschooled), it's not easy to find ways or places to talk to people about Christ.
So, take my advice from my last post, and also, if your church has some kind of evangelism program, get into that.
Also, getting a job wouldn't hurt........it's just as hard to talk to people there then it is to talk to someone at school.

[Chrysostom]

A good way to meet non-Christians is to attend a church. At most churches i have been to, it's probably only 30% actual Christians... maybe less

[OnEaglesWings]

well, yeah, like Phil said, community stuff is great...
also, have you considered missions? If you're plugged in with a youth group they probably do missions trips, otherwise there are Christian organizations that do. Those are great, particularly if you go places where they don't have many oppurtunities to hear the Word...and if you need something that takes less time, try a homeless shelter, crisis nursery, hospital, or nursing home...one of my friends was just saying how she went to a nursing home and got into a long discussion about faith with one fo the residents...anyway those are all great places to share your faith. (another tip--if you go to, say, a hospital and can't overtly just walk into a room and start "preaching", try wearing a cross or a Christian shirt--that way it gets peoples attention and they feel comfortable asking questions).

[g0pher]

Thanks for the advice guys. Appreciate it. My brother is goin' on a mission trip to Brazil to work with the homeless kids in Jan. However, i'm 14 and my opportunities in places away from home are a bit limited (in other words i can't drive, legally that is ;-(
Anyhows, God's kinda showin' me that he has me here for a reason. In a year or two (if my parents are okey-dokey w/ it) i want to go to Brazil too. I'll keep these in mind and look for the opportunies to help people (and wear my Christian shirt "I'm one of those Christians satan warned you about") thanks again.

[calebb]

"Teach the Gospel wherever you go, and if necessary, use words"

-Caleb

[Dice]

g0pher: I was homeschooled as well, and I think right now it is good for you to witness (as it is of everyone) but that may not be the focus for you. It may be time to really take in and learn about everything, so that when people ask questions you'll know how to answer them. As someone who was homeschooled, I encourage you to shine through your actions in a radical love, find a place of ministry you can volenteer in. And just spend this part of your life learning, loving and gaining a heart for servanthood. There is always a place to become more active in Christ, it may be a humble place at first, but God tells us if we are faithful with the small things He trusts us with the big things.

I remember I first helped out at a local christian youth centre and the childrens service at my church, it wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but I knew it was God's place for me so I accepted it and continued. As time went on I grew as a leader, met others who had the same heart and were growing as well, we all grew as leaders and were appointed as such for a christian club at our highschool (yeah I was homeschooled but it wasnt school sponsored so no matter, and I'm graduated now anyways, soon going to college to be a youth pastor) and now we are orginizing a huge city-wide youth rally between all the christian school clubs and youth groups in town.

Just keep a humble heart, focused on God and serving Him and others in total love. Stay in His word, take things a day at a time and God will use you and shape you to use you in things greater. Many times you wont be ready, you wont have all the know-how or skill, but when He calls you to things like that step forward in faith and He will empower you in that step. Rejoice when He calls you to action, but also rejoice when you are waiting on His call, because it's while we faithfully wait that He builds and shapes us for the work to be done.

[calebb]

Oh yeah, I was homeschooled too, for what its worth :)

Definitely, keep a humble heart. Getting the gift of parents that will take the time to homeschool you is a really awesome gift. Most kids don't get the opportunity. So when you find in college or even now that you're way more intelligent than your peers, give the glory to God! :)

-Caleb

[g0pher]

hey there, thanks Mr McB, i really appreciate that. i'm trying to use this time to grow closer to God and learn about Him but i'm having a hard time spending those "open" hours (pretty much all afternoon, every day) studying. Me and a couple other guys are starting another book together, "The Normal Christian Life" by Watchmen Nee (from what i've read, its a sweet book). Any day a greek book i ordered from amazon should be arriving, so that should occupy some of this time i've got. Thanks again, God bless.

note to Calebb: nice sig, i got a shirt like that (worded slightly different though),

*awesome passages*
Gal. 4:1-8(?), Jeremiah 30-31(and surrounding chapters;-) the rest of the Bible

[codyofthejungle]

one thing you can do is be a witness to your christian friends,be a strogn influence,and help them if they slip.also,im sure you leave your house every now and then,hand out tracts,it might take a little courage to get started,but then it becomes habit,whenever you buy something,give a tract to teh cashier,leave them on restaurant tables,if your looking at magazines at wal-mart,slip a tract it,you can even leave them in public rest rooms.every where you go hand,pass,drop,leave them anywhere.They might get thrown away,only to be found by a lost garbage man,the word of God never returns void,you dont knwo what taking 4 seconds to give out a tract can do to someones life.this is for non-homeschoolers too,hand out tracts like mad

[skywalker]

Hey, g0pher, I'm homeschooled, and a good organization which you can work with on one of the best mission feilds is Child Evangelism Fellowship. I've worked with them for 5 years already, and my sister worked with them for 10 years (she is now in Japan) They teach you to tell the gospel in simple ways that actually work great for adults and teens too, and then give you the opportunity to use what they teach you. If you are interested check out their website at [URL]http://www.gospelcom.net/cef/[/URL}
It's really awesome, and it only takes up time in the summer, not when you have other things going on :D
Check it out!

[NothnButClay]

I know EXACTLY how you feel. I'm 14 and I homeschool :D . What I've figured out is: that until I'm old enough for my parents to let me go on missions trips and such, I can be a strong influence to my friends and to the people in my youth group. There are so many Christians out there who need help in their lives so bad.
I've found that just being there for people can help them so much, and keeping my rep. makes people who aren't total Christians (whatever that means) come to me for advice and help.

In Christ,

~nothnbutclay~

[lee]

I am homeschooled, and know a great way to witness to lots of people. On aol instant messanger you can select your interests to be, islam, jew, buddhist, christian, etc. Then people will try to chat to you about those subjects, and the door is wide open. Also use the "buddy wizard" to look up people having a religion as their interest. Don't make the mistake of getting in a argument as I have, freely give the same love you have recieved. "and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fittng, but rather giving thanks."Ephesians 5:4

[Xkcer Man]

I try to pull over and help people on the side of the road whenever possible. Changing someone's tire is a great tool to witness with. Just make sure they know you're a Christian and that you invite them to church. We don't always get to reap, but we are called to sow.

[Unregistered]

I was homeschooled from 4th grade til college and the best way I found to witness was with my life. By your actions, the way you life, the things you say and the way you treat total strangers you are a witness good or bad either way still a witness. By the way you go about your day you can share Christ with everyone you come in contact with if you really show His light. If someone sees such a difference in you they may ask why or even make a comment about it and you may have the chance to mention the Lords name or even share with them about Him. Try it I promise it works :).

[Singin4Him82]

oopsy, that was me up there :)

[JungleJonDOC]

you shouldn't worry so much about witnessing like that. If God wants you to witness to somebody, he will put you in the position. don't rely on yourself to go out there and evangelize, sacrifice your life to God and you will be following his will. the rest follows automatically :) thank God it does too

I wouldn't really like having to earn my salvation like the mormons and jehova's witnesses. that kinda stinks riding around on bikes for hours

[Xkcer Man]

you shouldn't worry so much about witnessing like that.
Who were you talking to here?

Edit: Nevermind. I figured it out.

[g0pher]

muchos gracias everybody. i really appreciate your ideas. God's been doin' some neato stuff in my life lately. in particular, God has taught me about 5 times now that He has totally forgiven me. of everything; past, present, future. the verse in 2 Corinthians 5 that says, "for if you belong to Christ, you are a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come" (i know that wasn't nearly word for word) has totally encouraged me. so i guess i'll quote a friend who was teaching on this passage, "take yourself off the shelf and show somebody!" he made the point that we show people our new anything no matter how little they care and it should be the same way w/ Jesus. anyways, it just goes to show that God is most definately alive; dead people don't make good teachers.

[cowboy]

Originally posted by mustbenothing
A good way to meet non-Christians is to attend a church. At most churches i have been to, it's probably only 30% actual Christians... maybe less

Uhhhhh, not my church.
Oh, on the subject, just try and live your life in such a way that you will have a positive influence on people. I also, am homeschooled.

[g0pher]

ok, it's me again. please read and tell me if this has ever happened to you. as a brief intro to me, i'm shy, which makes evangelism hard for me even though God has given me this desire to tell people how wonderful He is and live my life for Him. a couple times recently i've tried to respond to God's leading to help some people. one was a homeless person with a hungry sign outside a shopko (or some store like that). God made me feel like i was supposed to give the guy some food. i was like, "God, are You totally sure you want me to do this?" i debated for a while as i was walking around the store w/ my parents. i finally got the guts to ask my mom if i could borrow a couple bucks to get the guy some food(i had no money w/ me at the time). so i found some food for two bucks and went out to give it to the guy and he had left. just a couple minutes ago i had the same struggle with obeying and finally got the guts to go out and ask my neighbor if he needed any help raking the leaves(he was out raking, that's why i asked, i hardly know the guy) and lo and behold he was just done when i got out there. When am i gonna learn to trust Jesus and just obey when He speaks? He's been so faithful to me. He always sustains me when i'm down. i know God can use even these feeble efforts but i want to actually do something for Him. i was just wondering if you could pray that God would make me not shy. I'm so glad that God loves me.

[NothnButClay]

YES! I know exactly how you feel, and YES, stuff like that has happened to me before -- just when you get the boldness ... it's too late :( I soooooooo know what you are talking about! Just recently something similar to that happened, and I was like, alright, that's it! next time ...
and I know God is going to give me another chance. That's something you can definitely count on. I hope I'm ready next time though ...
Since I know exactly where you are coming from, dude you can bet I'll be prayin' 4 ya'!

~nothnbutclay~

[Jozeca]

Hey!
I, too am homeschooled and 14! I totally know how you feel. I'm quite shy, but if the subject were to ever come up about Christianity, it's pretty easy for me to talk. That's awesome about helping that guy and your neighbor. Keep showing love and people will see what's different about you! I'll be praying for you!

[g0pher]

thanks, nothingbutclay and jozeca. i'm sooooooo glad my salvation doesn't depend on me! i would never make it. God love is amazing! i'll be prayin' for you too, man.

[Dice]

Know this about serving God - He is almighty.

If God leads you to a leadership postition and you are set to do something big, it doesnt matter how big it is because you gotta understand God is in control, and it's Him doing it through you not you doing it, so go on without fear. And if He leads you to a more humble position, be content within that position, because God may have you in that place for an extraordinary purpose. You could have a conversation with someone, or not even that but just share a little something about your faith, and that could lead to them getting saved, and they could be the next Billy Graham, you never know. Just be focused on God in all things, and be ready to love and serve others at any chance, if someone asks why (and if they know you well enough they should already know), tell them it's because God has given you so much love you want to share it with others.

Living in Christ is simple, it's just the simplicity of loving and serving and sharing truth when you get your chance, and living in it yourself all the rest of the time. You don't need to fear too much on if something is of God's will, if you try your best to stay in the Word (everything must align with God's Word) and pray and such, well one's best is the most anyone can do. And yes we have limits, and one would wonder how you can truly ever be "sure" but if you believe God is almighty you should believe that if you are trying your best then He understands how your mind works and how to speak to you in a way that you know it's Him. Now sometimes we'll screw up and not do our best but hey, we aren't perfect and God understand that. Repent and try harder next time, and always have your goal to be your best. Thats what walking by faith is, trying your best and trusting God with the rest.

[g0pher]

hey there, i just wanted some prayer for possibly going to Brazil (sao paulo, brazil). My brother got back from there a couple weeks ago and my youth leader invited me for the next time (maybe in May or June). i hope God wants me to go! i just want to make sure i'm following God, not trying to drag Him somewhere. God bless, neighter

[Becky]

g0pher, I think its awsome that you want to do something for God. I've been homeschooled all 17 years of my life. After all this time I am only now starting to ask God to use me in evangelistic ways. Being shy myself I know how it feels, just to let you know, you have accomplished something if you gain the curege to do what God has called you too (even if it IS to late). I never got that far.

God bless,

[Elizabeth]

I so know how you feel. I've been homeschooled my whole life (except for one semester in 2nd grade, when I was in a private school) and I used to get really frusterated when people would say "be a light for Christ at school" when I went to school at home! Even though 4-H (which I used to be in) isn't Christian, everyone in my club was a Christian, and I didn't really have any non-Christian friends.
Now, however, I do know some. At my old job, there were quite a few non-believers, and at my new job (baby-sitting), the people I baby-sit for aren't Christians either.
It's definitely a challange, but with Christ, anything is possible!!