By RTF Staff Writer Derek Hanisch

I looked at Brandon, my wingman.  “THEM?” I mouthed.  He nodded.  I gulped.  The “them” in question were an older man and women sitting on the beach of Panama City Beach, Florida, enjoying the rays of the wonderful day.  Doubts started to crawl around in my mind, thumping off the hollow walls.

Are you sure you want to interrupt their vacation?
What if they laugh at you?
What if they’re mean?
What if they think you’re an idiot?

It was this last concern that was really causing fear to grip at my heart.  “God, give me strength and wisdom…” I muttered under my breath as Brandon and I approached.

“Hi,” I began.  Oh how original.  “I’m Derek, and this is Brandon, and we’re from Campus Crusade for Christ.  We’re spending our spring break at a convention and right now we’re walking around doing surveys on spirituality.  Do you have a couple spare moment s of time?”

I was surprised.  Instead of pulling out the pitchfork I was sure they had hidden in the sand and driving us away they said okay.  Point one for Derek and Brandon!  I pulled out the trusty survey and began.  “What is the one thing you want to accomplish in your life if possible?”  I asked.

The older man (I saw older, but he was probably in his 40’s.  Yes, I know, I’m a young one) paused for a minute as he pondered the question.  “I want to go sky diving.”  (I later found out that this was the most popular answer among males.  Females generally answered with “I want to have a family and children.”)

From there I continued the survey.  The last question was one that made all the difference.  “On a scale of 1 -10, would you like to more know about Jesus?”  The man replied with a 7.  Perfect.  I pulled out our “Knowing God Personally” booklet and started to share about our sin, and Jesus’ grace to save us by dying on the cross.

This was the first time that I’d ever sat down with a stranger and told them about Christ.  I was scared out of my mind.  I had so many fears, so many doubts.  The biggest lesson I learned was that it is okay to be afraid.  What is not okay is to let that fear hinder us.  We should acknowledge the fear then hand it over to Jesus and trust that He is in control.

Sharing my faith with others is still an area I struggle with.  I like to love my neighbors as myself, and serve out of that love, but when it comes to sharing my faith to all people (Matthew 28:16-20) I have issues.

As I have learned to trust in God He has given me opportunities that I have not expected to share about His son, Jesus.  Does this mean that every person I talk to is going to turn from their old life and accept Christ?  Far from it!  But once I share God’s word with them my part is done.  The rest is up to God to work in their hearts.

I challenge you to trust in Jesus to give you opportunities to tell others about His sacrifice to set us free.  Take the fear that you’re going to have, recognize it, give it to Jesus, and trust that He has your back.