Green Bean Evangelism

by grayman from www.sxc.hu

by grayman from www.sxc.hu

Sunday a dear grandmother, named Sandy Hart, who has six children told me how she came to Christ.  She is a woman of great faith and love of the Lord.  Her husband is a preacher and missionary to India.  She was at Seven Oaks this Sunday visiting with her daughter’s family.  She came from a difficult family background tainted with alcohol and its twisted running mates.

Her family was living in Monett, Missouri with four little children.  They didn’t have much money.  A sweet lady from the local church of Christ befriended her.  She said they would often trade and sell various items.  She shared Scripture and friendship until she felt like she was open to attending worship.  She stopped by to share a mess of green beans.  She was going to sell her half.  Sandy asked, “How much they were?”  The lady replied, they are free to you with the only obligation that you let me take your children to Sunday school.  Sandy replied, “I won’t send my children, but I’ll go with them.”  She replied, “That is what I thought you would say.”  She and the kids attended services, and met a loving church family.

Another sister would show up from time-to-time with a cake or pie.   She would say, “I can’t have sweets, but I just had to cook, so here you go.”  She said a few weeks later when she decided to be baptized, they went to the church building during the day and it was filled with people.  All there in the middle of the day to witness her baptism.  Her husband was baptized into Christ a couple of weeks later.

He decided to go to preaching school.  The church sent them off with a money tree and sent “surprise” money until the G.I. Bill began giving them support.  When they could not return for a baby shower, they gathered for a shower, wrapped gifts, wrote notes, and then two ladies drove to deliver the gifts.

That was many years ago now.  But what a difference that sweet sister and the loving church in Monett, Missouri made for the kingdom of Christ.

People get afraid when “evangelism” is mentioned.  We think, “I don’t know all the right scriptures” or “I just don’t have the courage to go door-knocking.”  But evangelism is just about loving the lost soul.  You know how to love other people.  You know how to care for other people.  You know how to serve.  Evangelism doesn’t have to be a church organized program.  It should be constantly on all of our hearts and minds as we interact with people.

Individuals and churches that love others with sincerity and truth will be evangelistic.  Now it is not enough just to love and care, we must also communicate and share the gospel.  But if you love them, they will give you opportunities to teach them the Word.  And guess what?  When you do, or the preacher does from the pulpit, they will listen with open ears and a desiring heart.

Remember Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35).

Go do some “green bean” evangelism!!

Permanent link to this article: https://www.joshketchum.com/green-bean-evangelism/