During
the high schoolers’ spring trip to Jamaica, they visited a home for troubled
teens who had run afoul of the law or whose families could not handle them.
This was
not a comfortable situation for the kids from either culture. What would they
say? How would they connect?
It didn’t
take long to find out. Minutes after they arrived, a soccer match began as a
number of the US students engaged some of the Jamaican teens in spirited
competition.
The soccer
match was a great icebreaker as the kids kicked the ball around and got to know
each other. After the game, conversation was easier and friendships were
established more quickly because of a common interest.
In Acts
17, the apostle Paul demonstrated how to break through barriers and establish
dialogue. He talked with the Athenians about something of common
interest—worship. In a similar way, we can use sports talk with a co-worker or
lawn conversation with a neighbor. The possibilities are endless.
To reach out to people who need to hear about God’s love, look for common language—and watch the barriers fall.
