by: Jason Williams
I am not a politician or athlete, but I am friends with both.
Every year about this time, youth pastors and pastors will call me and ask for advice on how to start a political outreach or sports outreach. They see the pictures of our church on social media or hear through the grapevine about different events we have, so they call seeking advice, but most leave unhappy with what I tell them.
Herein lies the problem. I don’t have any advice. I honestly cannot point to one exact thing that we do differently than anyone else, and yet our outreach ministry is growing. This year we had professional athletes and politicians attend our church and speak at events like never before, and I wish I could tell those who ask that I am some wise person who has all the answers, but that is simply not true.
If I could give any advice, I guess I would some it up in three statements.
1. I don’t have the answers, but Jesus does.
To often we want to give advice on what we are doing right. I wish I had enough wisdom to give that advice, but I don’t. Since I don’t, I constantly have to go to Jesus for answers. Romans 11:33 says, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” My advice to you would be to go to Jesus and get His advice on how to reach these groups of people.
2. Be friendly to everyone you meet.
A lot of people want to be nice to those who they want something from or somebody they admire. I have a lot of friends. Some are famous, some are not. Some are professional athletes and some don’t even like sports. Some are involved in politics, some hate politics. Some are considered to be “righteous,” and some are considered to be “sinners.” I don’t worry about their title or name; instead, I just try to be friends with anyone and everyone. I leave it to God to bless.
3. Work really hard at building relationships.
For some this is tough, but do whatever it takes to build every relationship you have every day. This will cost a lot of money and time (Starbucks), but there is no price tag on a good friend. Remember Proverbs 18:24, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”
I know it’s not much, but it’s all I have!
Hope it helps.
Jason Williams
Assistant Pastor
High Street Baptist Church
Columbus, OH
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