Jason and Laura Swain recently ran the ‘Where can they meet Jesus?’ training course. Two attendees write about their experiences below.
Recently, I enrolled in a course titled ‘Where Can They Meet Jesus?’ led by Laura and Jason Swain. I joined because I wanted practical guidance on having meaningful spiritual conversations, particularly how to transition from casual dialogue to deeper discussions about God, Jesus, and faith. My usual approach is to mention attending church, hoping it sparks curiosity, but often the conversation stalls.
While some people speak about spiritual matters with ease, I’ve always found it challenging. Knowing Laura and Jason’s extensive outreach among international communities through language classes, iCaf, and other activities, I was eager to learn how they share the gospel across diverse cultures and languages.
One key question was: How do you explain the Good News simply? The Four Spiritual Laws offer a clear, concise way to present the gospel, a helpful tool for outlining its core message.
We also explored how faith is shared and sustained. John 6:44-46 reminds us that God draws people through his Word, relieving the pressure to “convert” others ourselves. Our role is to invite engagement with Scripture and prayer. Similarly, 2 Timothy 2:2 calls us to keep the Word in motion, entrusting the gospel to others who will pass it on. This is the essence of the Great Commission: disciples making disciples, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
The course emphasized integrating faith into daily life. The Shema, taken from Deuteronomy 6:4–6, calls us to hear, obey, and act, making God central in our words and actions.
My takeaway: Share the gospel actively through Scripture, prayer, relationships, and visible faith within your community. This approach shifts the focus from personal pressure to faithful obedience, trusting God’s Word to transform hearts. I left with fresh perspective and practical insight on how to approach things differently.
Wing Chan
How would you describe this diagram? Do you think you are part of this loop? If not, why do you think that is?
Perhaps you have thought:
- I do not really know how to love. Why do I have to do it?
- What if I do something wrong or give a bad impression to my family or friends?
- I am too busy and do not have time to make disciples.
- It is not really for me. I will let others do it.
But when we look at the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, we see that loving God, loving our neighbour and making disciples are not optional. They are essential for anyone who follows Jesus. It is our responsibility.
We are called to make these principles part of our daily lives by living them out openly, not just quietly through our lifestyle. Being openly spiritual sometimes means speaking and sharing. It is not about doing it perfectly, but about trusting God to work through us.
You might think, what if I say something wrong? Or perhaps, I have tried before and it did not work.
But is it not a bit proud to think we can do it all through our own ability? In truth, we are simply the bridge, the tool, or the vessel. It is not our responsibility to convert people; that belongs to God. Drawing people to Jesus is the Father’s work, so we do not need to carry that burden on our shoulders. That sounds much better, does it not?
So how can we act as a bridge? We can start by clearing away obstacles such as fear, cultural differences or personal barriers. When our hearts are open and those obstacles are cleared, it becomes much easier to reach out and build genuine connections with others.
A simple step is to begin a natural two-way conversation to get to know each other. It can be as easy as saying hello and following the flow of the chat, like a game of ping pong where the conversation stays light, enjoyable and continuous. We can also use statements that will gently open spiritual discussions. The aim is not to share the entire gospel straight away, but to say things that naturally lead towards it.
Here are a few examples:
- “Isn’t this a beautiful day that God created?”
- “That reminds me of something I read in the Bible recently.”
Another idea is to invite someone to read the Bible with us. Even a single verse can be powerful, revealing much about who God is and what human beings are like. It does not have to take long, perhaps just fifteen minutes.
Start by praying and asking God to teach us. Read the verse twice, restate it in your own words, and reflect on these questions:
- What do we learn about God?
- What do we learn about people or about ourselves?
- Can we make an “I will” statement based on what we have learnt?
The points above are only part of what I learnt from the ‘Where Can They Meet Jesus?’ workshop. There is so much more waiting for you to explore!
When I attended the workshop, I could only join three sessions. Through the discussions and the small steps we practised, I learnt a great deal. I felt it was a loss to have missed the other two sessions, so I later asked Laura if we could meet for coffee so that I could catch up. I would highly recommend attending all five sessions. You will definitely gain something valuable from them.
We never know what others may be going through. Perhaps a quick phone call, a caring message or a verse we share will speak to them in an unexpected way. In that moment, we could be the very person God chooses to bring his Word into their life. There is nothing to lose if someone says no, but what if, through our simple act, God changes or comforts their heart?
Portia Chan