When I served at the North American Mission Board, one of my responsibilities was World Changers, a ministry that mobilized thousands of students each summer to help rehab substandard housing for residents in a hundred different cities. The projects gave students and their adult leaders many opportunities to interact with the residents they were serving, to connect them and their neighbors to local partner churches, and to have a positive impact on the entire community.
One of the challenges we faced, though, was translating our acts of service into opportunities to share the gospel. Some students were natural evangelists who would walk the neighborhoods during breaks and have conversations with the neighbors. Many, however, felt nervous, unprepared, or afraid to share their faith, as we all sometimes do.
To help everyone get involved, we created a pocket-sized tool the size of a business card, folded in half. You could use it in conversation, or leave it on a restaurant table, or share it with anyone who dropped by the work site. The front panel of the card simply said, “Why We’re Here” in large type, followed by the sentence, “Often people ask what brought us here, and why we’re doing what we’re doing. There are three simple reasons I came to serve others this week…”
The inside panel of the card then shared those three reasons:
1. I met God one day, and he has changed my life.
2. I want you to see God’s love in my service.
3. I hope you will want to know more about how to have a personal relationship with God.
That third reason also referenced John 3:16, perhaps the most familiar verse in the Bible, and one that almost every student knew by memory. It read, “John 3:16 is just one verse in the Bible, but it explains a great deal about God and his plan for you. If you have a few minutes, I’d be happy to talk with you about knowing God personally through Jesus.”
The remaining two panels then broke John 3:16 into four main points of a gospel presentation, and provided a sample prayer to accept Christ. Contact information for a local church and for NAMB were included.
This simple tool, and this simple plan to present the gospel using the best-known verse of the Bible, was not only powerful, but it effectively engaged many otherwise reluctant Christians, students and adults alike, in sharing their faith.
Now fast forward to 2025. This year, March 16 or 3/16 falls on a Sunday. The last time that happened was 2014, and the next time will be 2031. Once again, we have a unique opportunity to use the widespread familiarity with John 3:16, and the gospel-presenting power of that verse, to help get everyone involved in sharing the good news about Jesus.
Along with our friends at the North American Mission Board, IBSA is urging churches to take advantage of “3:16 on 3/16” and plan a John 3:16 message on March 16. Challenge your church members to pray for and invite their friends to church that week. Continue praying and inviting them all the way through Easter Sunday, just four weeks later.
IBSA has resources at IBSA.org/316 that include a brief video, prayer tools, promotional materials, sermon starter outlines, and more. These can help your church use John 3:16 on 3/16 to get everyone involved in praying, inviting, and sharing the good news. Feel free to e-mail IBSA’s gifted Evangelism Director at ScottHarris@IBSA.org if you would like some personal help.
Let’s not miss the opportunity this year to make 3/16 about the message of 3:16. It’s why we’re here!
Nate Adams is executive director of the Illinois Baptist State Association. Respond at IllinoisBaptist@IBSA.org.