Coffee Shop Evangelism
As I was sitting in Bold Bean Coffee Roasters this morning sipping my latte and skimming over my Facebook news feed, I got to talking with a woman who I see in there pretty regularly and have spoken with briefly in the past. The conversation started out as normal coffee shop small talk. Honestly, I was in a bad mood and was trying to avoid a conversation altogether. I certainly wasn't trying to engage this woman in a conversation about God or in any way feeling like presenting the gospel to anybody. As much as I was trying to avoid this conversation, I guess God had some other plans.
I don't know why I was in such a bad mood. My day had started out pretty good. My mood was fine when I arrived at the coffee shop an hour before, but when when I saw this woman enter I got a little annoyed and when she sat down at the bar next to me I got unexplainably aggravated. I barely know this woman other than to say "hi" or wave. I don't have anything against her. I have never had an argument with her or anything like that. There was just something about seeing her this morning that made me not want to talk to her.
I didn't want to be rude so I said "hello" when she sat down. We chatted for a few minutes before somehow (I honestly don't remember how.) the fact that I'm a Christian came up in the conversation. She seemed a little put off by this and expressed some of the resentments that she has toward the church. I told her I understand that and I used to feel exactly the same way. This opened up the opportunity for me to share my testimony with her. I was amazed at how interested she was in what I was saying.
I told her about my life. I told her about how I grew up in church, but pushed God away when I was old enough to start partying. I told her about all of the people I used and mistreated. I told her about all of the people I stole from and the people I sold drugs to. I told her about how my addiction to drugs had completely ruled my adult life. Then I told her about how God stepped in and completely took away my addiction. I told her how He healed my anxiety and depression. I told her how all of my shame is gone. I told her how He did these things for me because He loves me.
She was completely taken aback. She said that she had never believed in miracles until that moment. Something about hearing what God has done in my life opened her up to the idea that they might be real. She said that she had heard stories before, but never believed they were true. I told her not to worry, I never believed in miracles until they actually happened to me.
We talked a little longer. I had a chance to tell her about grace. I told her about how Jesus died on the cross so that we could be forgiven for our sins. I told her about how much God loves us. I was surprised at how receptive she was to the whole conversation. I could see that some of her preconceived ideas about Christianity were starting to melt away.
Part of me really wanted to "go in for the kill" and try to get this woman to pray a salvation prayer right there in the coffee shop. Maybe I should have, but it didn't feel right. I felt like God was telling me "Don't be too pushy. I can take it from here." I pray that she comes to know God's love the way I have. I have faith that she will.
I realized as I got up from the bar to leave that my bad mood was gone. I noticed that as I was talking to this woman I was reminded of all that Christ has done for me and I couldn't help but be happy. I think that the enemy darkened my mood when the woman walked into the coffee shop because he knew that God was going to use our conversation to affect both of our lives. Hopefully I will remember in the future that when I feel unexplainable contempt for somebody, maybe God wants to use me in that person's life and the devil is just trying to run interference. Thank You for taking the time to read my blog. Love Y'all!!!
