Evangelism Stories

"And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles." Acts 14:27 (ESV)

"...they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers." Acts 15:3 (ESV)

The stories below share what God has done and the door of faith He opened for us for the sharing of the gospel. By sharing our stories, we hope to bring great joy to you.

  • The Shoes by the Door

    As he stepped outside, he noticed her shoes sitting by the door. They were right where she had left them, ready for another ordinary day. Once, those shoes had carried her into the yard, through familiar stores, and across the doorsteps of people she loved.


    Now she lay bedridden inside, and he knew she would never wear them again. He stopped. His eyes filled with tears. How could something as simple as a pair of shoes hold so many memories? He could almost hear her coming down the hallway, almost picture her slipping them on and asking him to wait.


    But beneath his grief was a question he could no longer set aside: Had she put her trust in Jesus?

    He loved her deeply, and yearned for her salvation, so he called a friend.

    “Would you pray for her?” he asked, his voice breaking. “I don’t know if she knows the Lord.”

    “I will,” his friend said. “And I can come over.”


    The next day, the friend pulled a chair beside her bed. There was no pulpit, no church service, no carefully arranged occasion. Just a quiet room, a woman who was loved, and someone willing to tell her about Jesus. He spoke gently. He told her that God knew her and loved her. That Jesus had come to save sinners, giving His life on the cross for our sins and rising again. He shared that forgiveness and eternal life were gifts of grace—received by trusting Him, never earned by being good enough.


    “You can trust Him right here,” he told her.


    She listened. Then, in the strength she had, she said she believed. She placed her trust in Jesus.

    The man beside her was comforted. Through the sorrow, there was joy. They could finally speak together about the Savior in whom she had placed her hope.


    Outside the room, her shoes still sat by the door. He paused beside them later. They still hurt to look at. Faith had not erased his grief or made her illness less real. But now those shoes would also remind him of the day he made a phone call—and a friend came to sit beside her.

    She could no longer walk out of her home, but she was not beyond the reach of God’s love.


    She was seen, loved, and wanted. The Savior who came to seek the lost had been proclaimed at her bedside, and she had trusted Him.


    We sometimes wait for the perfect moment to share the gospel. That day, the opportunity began with tears, a phone call, and a chair pulled close. God loves. He chooses to draw near in places we might overlook. He pursues people through ordinary acts of love—and invites us to take part.


    Even in a quiet bedroom.

    Even through a trembling voice.

    Even today.


    “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
    — Luke 19:10

    And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
    — Acts 16:31

     

  • They Stopped to Listen

    He was sharing the gospel with two young men when another group came walking by. They had a tougher appearance, the kind that might make someone hesitate before starting a conversation. But they kept looking over, so he called them over.


    “Do you know where you’re going when you die—heaven, hell, or are you not sure?”

    Their answer came plainly. “Hell.”


    It was a heavy word to hear from young men with so much life still ahead of them. But he had good news to share with them. Right there, in the middle of an ordinary day, he told them about the gospel of Jesus—judgement, sin, the cross, forgiveness, repentance…grace.


    Although one walked away, the other young men listened attentively about the Savior. Then they wanted prayer. Young men who had answered “hell” were now willing to receive prayer. And he prayed for them. There was something deeply tender about that moment. A passing glance had become a conversation about eternity


    Only God knows if they placed their trust in Jesus that afternoon. Listening and receiving prayer are meaningful, but only God knows what was happening in their hearts. So he continues to trust the Lord to awaken them—to bring the truth they heard back to mind, draw them to Jesus, and give them faith. Their story is still unfolding.


    Be encouraged. We might share the gospel and never see what happens next. We might remember someone’s face long after a brief conversation and wonder whether the words took root. We can bring those people before God again. His love reaches beyond what we can see. His choosing is gracious, and His pursuit isn’t limited to the few minutes we spend with someone. We can faithfully speak of Jesus and entrust the hidden work of the heart to Him.


    That day, there was no scheduled gathering and no church service. There were simply young men walking by, someone who noticed them, and an opportunity to share the good news. Sometimes our part begins with a simple invitation to come closer. And sometimes we leave with a prayer still rising in our hearts:


    Lord, let the truth they heard take root. Help them know how deeply they are loved. Open their hearts to Jesus.


    “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” 1 Corinthians 3:6

    “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” John 6:44, first sentence

  • Turn to Christ Today

    She recently had a heartfelt conversation with one of her relatives. She gently reminded her that they were getting older and that many members of their family had already passed away. "One day, it will be our turn," she said. "Tomorrow isn't promised."


    She encouraged her relative to forgive someone who had deeply hurt her. Her relative replied, "I have forgiven that person, but even though I've forgiven them, I still need time to get over the hurt."


    The woman acknowledged her pain but lovingly responded, "Healing may take time, but we can't put off being right with God. None of us knows if we'll have tomorrow."


    That conversation became an opportunity to share the hope of the gospel and the importance of turning to Christ today, while there is still time.


    The Bible says, “yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes" (James 4:14) and "Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).  

  • Anytime, Anywhere

    One day at work, she was sitting in the office when she overheard her boss and another supervisor talking about religion. They were saying that all religions lead to the same place. As she listened, she felt the Lord prompting her heart. She knew this wasn’t just another conversation—it was an opportunity to speak about Christ.


    Instead of jumping into an argument, she simply asked, “Can I ask you something? What do you believe about God? Who is Jesus to you?”


    They shared what they believed, and eventually the conversation turned to the afterlife. They said they didn’t believe there was anything after death—that when life is over, that’s simply the end.


    She listened carefully, then gently replied, “If I’m wrong, I haven’t really lost anything. But if what the Bible says is true, and you’re wrong, the consequences are eternal.” She wasn’t trying to win a debate; she was speaking because she genuinely cared about them. She loved them enough to tell them the truth.


    She then asked, “Would you mind if I shared what I believe?” They said yes.


    With a gospel tract similar to the Romans Road in her hands, she began at the beginning. One verse at a time, she explained God’s holiness, mankind’s sin, Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, His resurrection, and the free gift of eternal life that is found only through faith in Jesus Christ.

    What started as an ordinary conversation in the workplace became a beautiful reminder that God opens doors for the gospel in the places we least expect. She didn’t know how they would respond, but she left the results in God’s hands. Her responsibility was simply to be faithful—to love enough to speak and trust the Lord to do what only He can do.


    This experience reminds us that evangelism doesn’t always happen from a pulpit. Sometimes it begins with a listening ear, a caring question, and the courage to say, “May I share with you the hope I have in Christ?”


     “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Colossians 4:5–6 (ESV)


     “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? … As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” Romans 10:14–15 (ESV)