HAT WAS THOSE JAY DUBS [JEHOVAH'S Witnesses]," the young man said as he returned from the door. "You can't tell them anything. I tried to interest them in studying the truth, but all they wanted to do was push their own stuff. You will never get them to study the Bible. I tried, and they just made some crack about how I don't go door-to-door like they do."

Not too long after that, someone invited me to go Ingathering with a small group. "Ingathering? Nobody does that anymore. We just bring an extra offering to church to meet our goal." But these die-hards were still doing the embarrassing, outmoded thing-going door-to-door asking total strangers to contribute money to our church. So I went along.

Just before quitting time, a middle-aged woman invited me into her home. She was in the middle of moving. Packing boxes filled her living room. She was busy, but she invited me to sit down and tell her about my church. I gave the little speech, and then she asked more questions. After talking for a while, she asked if there was some kind of organized study she could take with her on her move. I pointed her to the Bible study application on the back of the Ingathering brochure.

She tucked the brochure away in her purse and said, "I'm one of Jehovah's Witnesses. It's funny, but the other day when I was witnessing, a young man invited me to study your religion. I told him I would study with him when he found me the same way I had found him-by caring enough to go door-to-door witnessing. Now you come along and you've actually done it. I'll be sending for these studies."

Where to Begin
No matter how casual God's people have become about letting Him down, He still has plans for us to get serious-serious in caring about souls one-to-one, face-to-face, the embarrassing, old-fashioned way. Souls aren't won by our bringing a quota of cash to church once a year. They aren't nurtured in the gospel by flashy one-time-only events. They don't behold the Lord's love through mass mailings. Souls are led to adore the beauty of Christ as they meet Christ's people one-on-one and experience our personal representation of Him.
What do our offerings pay for? They pay for people just like you to meet souls face-to-face to represent Jesus' love to them. Camp counselors, doctors, relief workers, preachers, and teachers, all these people really have only one skill that matters-the skill of applying Christ's love personally to human souls one-on-one.

You have that skill too. Just ask God to prove it to you-then hold on! You'll be in for the ride of your life!

Try it out. Begin each day this week by asking God to send you one person to witness to. (Then remember to be alert for that chance. It's possible to miss the person God sends by forgetting what you offered to do.) Something will happen each day that you dedicate to the Lord this way.

How to Find Them
What will you have to do? Nothing difficult. Just be a real Christian. Here are some examples.

A word of prayer: Tim was in the break room at work when he noticed that another worker seemed depressed. When he asked if the man was OK, the man told Tim about his father, who was very ill. Tim offered, "I know this is kind of personal, but would it be OK for us to have a short prayer for your dad? There isn't anyone else here, and we could keep it low-key." His coworker said yes, and they shared a prayer.

Understanding: A young mother was having a difficult time with a crying baby and a toddler throwing a tantrum in the supermarket. Someone made a harsh comment about parents who don't discipline their kids. Marcy went over to the mom. "That wasn't very helpful, was it? She just doesn't get it, does she? Being a mom can be really tough work. Would you like me to walk with you and hold the baby while you fill up the cart?" As she helped the relieved mom, she shared the story of how Jesus made time to bless the little children of busy moms.
Kitchen comfort: When Sherry got home from work, she heard that a neighbor's sister had died that day. Even though she was tired, she got back in the car, drove to the store, and purchased a meal-salad, salad dressing, fresh rolls, margarine, and a main course from the deli. She bought disposable containers for the food and took it next door. The neighbors couldn't say enough about "that Adventist woman who brought us supper when Sis died."

Love on wheels: Janice was driving to work when she saw a car stalled at the side of the highway. A family was standing nearby-mom, dad, and two small girls. She knew that it was dangerous to stop for strangers, but this morning she had dedicated herself to witnessing for whatever soul God sent her, and she felt that God was leading her to stop and help. When she dropped the family off at the house of their relatives, the husband ran inside and came out again with a $20 bill for her. Janice replied, "No, that's OK. I didn't help for money. I helped because I love Jesus."

Story time: Barry was waiting for his bus when another man sat on the other end of the bus bench. They talked for a while, and then the other man mentioned his dislike for Christ because Christians were "all hypocrites who kick a man when he does wrong." Barry said that sounded just like the mess Jesus ran into when He was on earth. Then he told the story of the woman caught in adultery. "I figure it this way: if that was how Jesus acted, then that's still the way He is with us today when we goof up too."

The list of opportunities is endless-casual conversations with others in life's lines and waiting rooms, hugs for the downhearted, help for the overworked, understanding for people who are hurting, errands and chores done for the weary, sharing knowledge and skills from child-care to finances. With each act of love comes an opportunity to share a little bit about Jesus.

We shy off from that part. We can change a flat tire, but it's difficult to witness to the tire's owner. Often that's because we think we have to preach, say something that sounds stuffy, or give a deep Bible study. But really, these casual encounters would be ruined by a sermon. They need informal sharing. "I helped you because I love Jesus." "This reminds me of a story I heard about Jesus." "I found something that helps me when I'm down. Can we pray together?" "Sometimes it seems as if no one understands my troubles. But I've found Someone who does. That's the secret of how I cope. Let me share it with you."

How Does It End?
Maybe an encounter will lead to Bible studies, so by all means learn how to give them. But often God sends us people just for an introduction. We introduce them to Jesus. We show them a glimpse of what He is like or show them how to talk with Him. Our stories of how He has helped us give them courage to ask Him for help too. We may never meet them again, but the Savior we have introduced them to will stay with them.

One thing is for sure: there are a lot of people like that Jehovah's Witness woman who are holding a sign up for us. The sign says, "Please find me!"

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Julia Vernon is chaplain for Hospice of Bountiful, Utah.