Start Conversations with Kindness
You've prayed for opportunities and prepared your personal story. Now, how do you actually get the conversation rolling? The best, most effective, and most Christ-like way to begin any conversation about faith is with kindness.
Kindness isn't just about being polite; it's a deliberate choice to see and treat the other person as someone deeply loved by God, regardless of what they believe.
The Two Pillars of Kind Initiation
Starting with kindness is built on two simple actions:
1. Look Up and Out
Our culture encourages us to look down at our phones or keep our eyes fixed on our own goals. Ministry-minded people, however, must actively choose to look up and out at the people around them.
Be Present: Put the phone away when you're in a waiting room, a line, or even just sitting next to someone on a bench. True kindness requires your attention.
Acknowledge Others: A warm smile, a nod, or a simple, genuine greeting is often the only invitation someone needs to open up. These small acts break down barriers before a single word of "faith" is mentioned.
2. Offer Genuine Encouragement
The easiest way to start a conversation with kindness is to find something true and positive to say about the other person or their situation.
Focus on Them: Instead of immediately pivoting the conversation to yourself, ask an open-ended question about them or offer an authentic compliment. "I love the work you do here; that must take a lot of patience." or "That sounds like a challenging situation; how are you holding up?"
Be a Servant: True kindness often manifests as a desire to meet a practical need. Can you offer help with a chore, buy someone a coffee, or simply hold the door? These actions demonstrate Christ's love more powerfully than any spoken introduction.
The Fruit of the Spirit as Your Introduction
Remember that the goal of every interaction is to represent Jesus. The Bible teaches us that the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV).
When you start a conversation, let these qualities be your introduction. People might forget what you say, but they will never forget how your kindness made them feel. A kind starting point builds trust, which is the necessary foundation for any deep, meaningful conversation about faith.
