Christians get busy socializing and miss opportunities God gives to reach a lost & dying world & make a difference in people's lives through evangelistic outreach. Do we really care?

Who will help him?

Do I Really Care About JT?

Many people who come into Christian chat rooms are looking for answers, but they won't share unless we offer them hospitality. Too often I've visited Christian chat rooms where the conversation went something like this:

*** Joins: JT16
<Go4God> hello JT
<JT16> hello
<Go4God> how are you?
<JT16> fine thanks
<Go4God> that's good
<Go4God> hey fire have you seen lk tonight?
<^Spiritfire^> sure havent
<^Spiritfire> was wondering bout her myself
<Good_heart> lk is cool
<^Spiritfire^> did you hear what happened to markus?
<Go4God> yeah he wrecked his car :(
<Good_heart> is markus ok?
<^Spiritfire^> yeah mark is ok but car was damaged pretty bad
<pastorD> was anyone else involved spirit?
<^Spiritfire^> no he hit a guard rail and ran into a ditch
<Good_heart> I wish lk would get here
<^Spiritfire^> me too gh
<Good_heart> I cant wait to hear what happened last night
*** Parts: JT16
<Go4God> hmmm...guess he didn't want to talk
<^Spiritfire^> guess not. They been coming in and out like flies tonight, lol
<pastorD> hehe, folks just dont know what they're missing without the Lord

Now watch what can happen when Go4God makes a real effort to bring JT16 into the conversation and ^Spiritfire^ helps to squelch the distracting conversation at just the right time:

*** Joins: JT16
<Go4God> hello JT
<JT16> hello
<Go4God> how are you?
<JT16> fine thanks
<Go4God> that's good
<Go4God> We're glad you stopped by JT
<Go4God> I work in fast food JT...what do you do?
<Go4God> hey fire have you seen lk tonight?
<^Spiritfire^> sure havent
<^Spiritfire> was wondering bout her myself
<JT16> right now I'm between jobs
<Good_heart> lk is cool
<Go4God> oh...tough place to be JT
<^Spiritfire> did you hear what happened to markus?
<Go4God> yeah he wrecked his car :(
<Go4God> I've been there JT
<JT16> yeah
<^Spiritfire> what kind of work are you looking for JT?
<Good_heart> is markus ok?
<^Spiritfire> yeah mark is ok but car was damaged pretty bad
<JT16> anything that will pay me enough to make a living
<Go4God> sounds like you're going through some tough times JT
<JT16> yeah been kinda rough
<Go4God> God is the only one that can get us through those tough times JT
<Go4God> Do you have a personal relationship with God?
<pastorD> was anyone else involved spirit?
<^Spiritfire> no pastor
<JT16> I'm not sure
<JT16> I mean I believe in God and all that but things just go wrong
<Go4God> JT sometimes God allows the tough times so we will turn to him for help
<Go4God> may I share with you how you can have a real and personal relationship with God...
<Good_heart> I wish lk would get here
<Go4God> one in which he will always be there for you in the tough times?
<JT16> sure
<JT16> I 've been reading the bible some but it doesnt make sense
<Go4God> let me show you some verses from the Bible and we will talk about what they mean JT
<Good_heart> I cant wait to hear what happened last night
<^Spiritfire^> I think go4 is getting ready to share something really special with us tonite, goodheart
<^Spiritfire^> please continue go4

Another challenge, almost as critical sometimes, is to keep the conversation going when a new person enters the room. Notice how those in the example above continued their conversation when JT entered yet managed to draw him into the conversation as well. People are drawn to a lively room. They are often intimidated when the conversation suddenly stops the moment they enter the room. Consider the following conversation:

<Go4God> hey fire have you seen lk tonight?
<^Spiritfire^> sure havent
<^Spiritfire> was wondering bout her myself
*** Joins: JT16
<Go4God> hello JT
<JT16> hello
<Go4God> how are you?
<JT16> fine thanks
<Go4God> that's good
<Go4God> We're glad you stopped by JT
<Go4God> I work in fast food JT...what do you do?
<JT16> right now I'm between jobs
<Go4God> not a good thing
<Go4God> hope you find one soon

[long pause]

<JT16> so whats the topic of discussion here?
<^Spiritfire> hmm well you got a topic you want to talk about JT
<JT16> not really

[another pause]

<pastorD> sure is quiet in here
<^Spiritfire^> yeah sure is, hehe
*** Parts: JT16

NOTE: The above scenarios as well as the nicknames are fictional, but I have seen many conversations in Christian chat rooms that are almost identical to these. Those who would go into chat room ministry must first ask themselves a critical question: Do I really care about JT?