The 2014 Hayes Town Chapel ladies conference in February was on the subject of personal evangelism, with guest speaker Daphne Ross from Farnham Baptist Church.
Dividing the day into three parts, she talked about the preparation for evangelism, opening up conversations and handling difficult questions.
Basing her talk on being prepared to evangelise, she used 2 Corinthian 5.11-21, noting that all believers are called to be witnesses. The importance of prayer was emphasised and that there can never be too much prayer, and that God will use us wherever we are if we ask him to do so.
Daphne had good suggestions on how to open up conversations and how we need to understand people, their world view, and their situation in life. Her helpful guidelines were: be friendly; ask open-ended questions; share yourself; not to be afraid to raise the subject; take the shortest route to Jesus.
Turning conversations
There were many challenges throughout the day, including learning that conversations need to be consciously turned around to Jesus and matters of faith, so that the gospel can be shared – that it isn’t going to ‘just happen’.
