Page 56 - Finding Jesus with Good News report A5 WEB

“ serious, lifelong commitment. It is worth paying

attention to the importance of this sacrament
and thinking through how we celebrate that well
with and for new believers and their families and
Six weeks ago, my
daughter walked into friends.
This mosaic of factors that people reported as
the house crying, and helpful also typically included opportunities for
was like, “Mum, I want ongoing discussion in various contexts, illustrating
to be like you.” I said, that while church leaders and sermons have a
“What?” She went, role to play, just talking with other believers and
“Mum, I just want Jesus having a sense of belonging to a faith community
in my life. I want to be carry considerable weight.
a Christian. How do I
do it?”… She said she’s Sharing faith
watched me and seen Although we didn’t ask about this in the survey,
the change in me and in the interviews we asked participants about
my sister, even in my their experiences of sharing their faith as new
mum.”
believers: the extent they had or hadn’t done so;
how they felt about doing that; and how people
had responded.

Levels of openness

The vast majority said they had been open about
their faith. Some say they “tell everyone”, whereas
others have been more selective about who they
speak to. Many have been proactive: intentionally
telling their friends and family, sharing on social
media, and engaging in evangelism on campuses,
in shops and at work. One participant said, “I’m
even talking to someone in the supermarket; I’m
talking to the fishmonger! I mean it. I am. I told
them to start praying.”
A few participants said that in some situations
they have been less open in talking about their
faith. This has mostly been down to fear of how
others might react to them, and also because
they are not quite sure how to answer questions
that might come up.

56 Finding Jesus