Every face has a story.
As a child growing up in the evangelical fundamental movement, there was an important aspect to the Christian life that was a big part of our faith — at least, it was supposed to be. Most of us, however, experienced a good deal of guilt and apprehension about it. I’m talking about what was commonly called “witnessing.” Witnessing was sharing your faith with others who were not Christians, to the end that they might want to become a Christian, too. Witnessing was right up there with reading your Bible, praying, and going to church, as the Big Four every Christian had to do.
It is surprising to me how much of these attitudes (guilt and apprehension) are still alive today. I spoke recently to a group of college students who exhibited some of these same fears and hang-ups about sharing their faith with others. So I surprised them by telling them NOT to witness. “Whatever you do,” I said, “DON’T witness. DON’T save anyone.” Instead I held up the card that carried the saying for the day — “every face has a story” — and told them that instead of witnessing, I wanted them to do something they’ve loved to do ever since they were little children. Listen to stories. That’s it.
Hear the story, fall in love with the teller of the story (this won’t be hard to do), and the Holy Spirit will do the rest. That’s my new take on witnessing.
A lot happens when you listen to someone’s story. You get to know them and appreciate them; and when you truly hear someone’s story, and they know they were heard, that says that you care enough to listen. And that says a lot. It’s the way a relationship is born, and as in any relationship, at the right time, you will tell your story, too.
“Tell me your story.” It’s such a simple thing that can go a long, long way. I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t want to tell his or her story to someone who truly wants to hear it.
But you’d better get busy. There are lots of stories out there waiting to be heard. So many stories! So little time! _____________________________________
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John Fischer The Catch 
I luv this and find it to work sooooooooo much better to make new friends, plus they’ll know i care about them. in addtion i no-longer feel this need or pressure to ‘witness’ to anyone any longer…
PS let me plz also add it’s soooo easy 4 me to re-late to this, becauz 4 the pass couple of years there has been a new way in making “cold” contacts in my Biz – in that it is very highly recommened before you try to ‘make’ a contact, or get their name & number, or now-in-days emails address to discuss if they maybe interested in making more time & money. Now it’s called having 6 bumps, or six times having met w/ them to talk about watever, then on the sixth ‘bump’ you and them should have made enough ‘small talk’ to know each other well enough to on that 6th bump – ask them if they’d like to exchange contact info and if so make your Biz apporach – only after the sixth ‘bump.’
PSS By the way if anyone maybe concernred about ‘talking’ to others, maybe try this use the FORM method, which stands for F=family, O=occaupation, R=receaction, or wat they like to do to relax in their free or spar time, M=money, or if you like message, Christ luv 4 them… So those topics usaually almost anyone will feel free to talk about, or as Pastor John suggest ask them wat’s their story…
I recently read Mark’s gospel the whole way through, instead of one parable or event at a time. It’s actually a fairly quick read. I was struck by how often Jesus told people, essentially:
Go home and do NOT tell anyone what happened to you!
What a revelation to a recovering fundamentalist!
Of course, in a few instances he told former lepers to show themselves to the priests. And he did send out the 12 to preach, heal, and do everything he had been doing. Nonetheless, his instructions seemed, for the most part, to be “Anti-witnessing”. And yet, though he steered himself away from the crowds, the crowds managed to find him.
Triple thumbs up! Amen!