Evangelism is like Scuba diving

My wife and I are novice divers and novice evangelists.

We’ve been doing both of them for a while now, but always feel that there is a lot more to learn in both areas. And, as it turns out, I’ve noticed some similarities between diving and evangelism.

For a start, both push you into a foreign environment. They can be disorientating at times. Both are potentially dangerous. Also, people generally recommend doing both of them in pairs!

But the key similarity I’ve noticed is this: the way you get better is by doing.

There is value in starting out with some ‘theory’ in the classroom. So you do your Advanced Open Learning online modules, or sign up for the Two Ways to Live training course. But the best way to get better at them is to dive in and try stuff out, encounter problems that make you think of the best response, and deal with challenges that show your weaknesses and the areas you need to work on.

We could talk all day long about how to dive well or how to do evangelism well. But the way we really grow our skills and capacities is by the messy business of practice and having a go in the ‘live environment’.

We can be worried about ‘messing it up’ if we do, but the great thing about our God is that he is sovereign over all things and can use even our botched jobs and pathetic attempts to bring glory to himself and people into his kingdom.

So don’t hold back. After some initial training, pray, and then dive in.