QUESTION
I heard that after bypass surgery, you led six nurses to Christ at the hospital’s fitness center. Should I join a gym so I can have some people to witness to? (It seems safer than having a heart attack.)
ANSWER
Actually, it was eight nurses, but I wouldn’t recommend open-heart surgery as an outreach tool! However, an exercise class or gym membership would provide an opportunity for you to meet all types of people. And, because people exercise to focus on their health and ways to have a long life, it opens the door to spiritual conversations about the afterlife.
Being a courageous witness might just surprise you as to how open people are to the truth. I’ve found that most people are looking for hope, peace, and assurance. Those are things the world can only offer on a temporary basis. Be ready to help others find the real thing in Christ Jesus (I Peter 3:15)!
QUESTION
Our church has small groups that meet in members’ homes. We have never found a solution to the issue of child care. Hire a sitter? Take turns babysitting in the basement? Or let the kids run wild? We’ve tried them all. Thoughts?
ANSWER
If you have college students nearby or mature high schoolers (ages 16-18) who would benefit from a small stipend, I’d see if you could coordinate a working schedule with them. Each person in the group could contribute a couple of dollars, or perhaps the church would be able to pay an hourly wage while the Bible study group is meeting.
Another option would be to enlist women from the community who would like to watch the children. But, you would need to do a background safety check on each one, and also arrange an agreed-upon payment.
One other idea, and you alluded to this in your question, would be for the families in the group to rotate watching the children each week.
Pat Pajak is IBSA’s associate executive director for evangelism. Send questions for Pat to IllinoisBaptist@IBSA.org.