Warming up the punters seems to be the main stumbling block. "How do you get started?" wonders Julie Feldman from Denver, Colorado, a Christian who, with her husband, Joel, is about to travel to Israel for Easter. "Do you say, 'Hi, can I buy you a beer and chat about Jesus?'"
Here's my thought: it's not about going to a particular place where people are; it's about really having a relationship with them. Julie (in the article) is right; it's awkward to walk up to someone and say, "Hi, can I buy you a beer and chat about Jesus?" However, when our lifestyle intentionally includes being friends with non-believers and being with them in their turf, so to speak, they are much more willing to talk with you with what (hopefully) matters most to you: your relationship with Jesus.
So how do we get students to understand this? Do we tirelessly plan great outreach events that turn our to be more awkward than anything else, because we've forgotten to equip students to naturally introduce their friends to Jesus?
Hat Tip: Stand Firm
