This story from Chris at Calvary Baptist of Warren, Maine is an inspirational reminder of the wisdom of relational evangelism.
Mike & Chris had met Jim & Donna through a political connection. Since they had no family in the area, Mike & Chris invited them to share Christmas dinner. Sharing Thanksgiving and Christmas together became a tradition and continued for several years. Eventually Donna was diagnosed with cancer & Chris’ burden for her salvation intensified.
After The Exchange training event in Warren, Chris put Jim & Donna on her Find Five List. “My hope was to be able to do the Exchange Bible study with both of them and my husband. (Chris & her husband Michael are the bookends on the above photo.) I had been praying about getting together with Donna just to see how she was doing, but she and I both kept going away for one reason or another. Finally, I just prayed that God would work it out if this was something He wanted to happen. One evening as we were finishing up dinner Donna called. We chatted for a while and then she said, “Chris, really the reason I wanted to call was because I was wondering if you knew of anyone doing a Bible study. I really want to learn more about the Bible.” I was shocked! Of course I offered to do the Exchange with her.”