Jennifer Macleod is a former high school teacher and chaplain. She is currently the interim pastor at Stoke Baptist Church.
Imagine a movement that is genuinely effective in talking to others about Jesus.
Justice, mercy and humility form the framework for a new initiative at National Hui (6–9 Nov) this year: Gospel Impact Labs. Delegates can participate in one of ten labs to develop a tool which local Baptist churches can use for gospel renewal. See all Gospel Impact Labs at the end of this article. In this one with Jennifer, we’re creating a tool that equips Baptist people to share their faith confidently and naturally in their everyday lives.
Effective faith sharing
Many Christians find it challenging to know how to share their faith. We wish to avoid the ‘disasters’ of faith sharing that come across as obnoxious or even arrogant, but we can feel that all we’re left with is sincerity, awkwardness, and uncertainty.
What we’ll do
In this Gospel Impact Lab, we will discuss barriers to sharing our faith, the interconnection between what we share and how we share it, and the place of prayer. Then we’ll get creative! There are many metaphors for salvation in scripture: changing allegiance (Rom 6:15-18), dying and being reborn (Rom 6:3-11), putting on a new set of clothes (Eph 4:22-24), being adopted into a family (Gal 4:5-7), being remade in the image of Christ (Gal 4:19) …
Let’s dive into these passages and reimagine them in our current cultural contexts. Then, let’s develop a pathway for others to grow in sharing their faith in a manner that is gracious, faithful and confident.
Why it matters
As a high school teacher and a chaplain, I have spent a lot of time in contexts that involve Christian engagement with secular society. I am confident that we can share our faith with authenticity and respect. We can bring to the Great Commission the fruit of the Spirit, the very best of our interpersonal skills, and a willingness to walk with the Lord in prayer. After all, we are ambassadors of the gospel of peace! (2Cor 5:20, Eph 6:15)
Image: Jennifer Macleod
Gospel Impact Labs
Faith sharing
Political engagement
