Moms Are Evangelists Too

Verity and I on the ball fields

I used to argue that I was not given the gift of evangelism. I would marvel at my friends that could just quickly convert someone to the faith through a single conversation. That never happened to me, and so I wrongly assumed that evangelism was just not my calling.

Then I read this section of scripture and began to reevaluate what I considered evangelism to be.

Colossians 4:2-6
“Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude. Don’t forget to pray for us, that God will open doors for telling the mystery of Christ, even while I’m locked up in this jail. Pray that every time I open my mouth I’ll be able to make Christ plain as day to them. Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don’t miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.”

Even though Paul the Apostle wrote these words from a prison cell almost 2000 years ago, I find them extremely applicable as a mom. Parenting is my greatest evangelistic work…and it can be yours too! Even if you don’t have the spiritual gift of evangelism…let me explain how.

As a mom, we teach our children about Jesus. We give them all the hope and joy that is wrapped up in the Gospel:

God created you.

Jesus loves you.

Mommy and Daddy train you in right from wrong, but God doesn’t remember your sins and He has incredible things He will do through your life!

You have an awesome purpose, darling!

You are favored and loved by the King of the Universe!

Jesus’ death on the cross for your sins means you are righteous in the sight of God! No condemnation, no guilt! No shame! Move forward in boldness!

When the world sees this child who has been taught these things, the light and life in their eyes, the joy on their face– they can’t help but ask HOW? Give us this Hope your family has inside! Tell us more please!

And then that’s when we as mothers must be gracious in speaking with our neighbors and friends– anyone that God brings in our path that asks us for the hope we have. We must make the most of every opportunity on the ball fields, in the car pick up line at school, in the PTA and girl scout meetings!

We pray diligently, expecting He wants to do a great work in our lives as we just go about raising the babies into adults…expecting He wants to reach our neighbors and co-workers with the same hope and joy! Pray that every time we open our mouth, we make Christ known to them by our loving hearts, encouraging words and wisdom the Holy Spirit supplies.

Pray diligently.

Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude.

Pray that every time we open our mouths we’ll be able to make Christ plain as day to them.

Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders.

Don’t miss a trick.

Make the most of every opportunity.

Be gracious in your speech.

The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.

And that, my ladies, is how we change the world. One ball field, one Dunkin Donuts worker, one second grade teacher, one dry cleaner and hair dresser at a time.