“Honestly Abi, you won’t believe it until you have tried it, it’s a superior drinking experience” said my friend, as she thrust her viral water bottle into my hand for me to test out.
I would call that a warm sell, and it’s much preferable to the cold sell I’m sure we have all experienced – being approached by a man on the street asking if you’ve written your will, or whether you care about animals, or which energy supplier you use? I’m sure, no matter how holy you are, you too have felt irritated by someone who doesn’t know you trying to convince you of your need for their product or of the value of their charity.
But when a friend raves about their new favourite song, or a great new takeaway or even a new water bottle – I find those recommendations a lot easier to act on.
The Reach Mapping tool from Proximity helps us look
at sharing our faith with fresh eyes, and much less cringe.
When we think of evangelism, perhaps we picture the cold-caller, th e awkward attempts at persuasion or our own fumbled attempts at telling people that they are loved and have worth in the eyes of God. If we know the joy of a life with Jesus, of course we want that hope and life for other people too. The Reach Mapping tool from Proximity helps us look at sharing our faith with fresh eyes, and much less cringe.
Reach Mapping is a tool that is also known as Oikos Mapping. “Oikos” is a Greek word meaning household that appears over one hundred times in the New Testament. One example is in John 4, where we hear about the royal official whose son is healed by Jesus. When he discovers that his son became well at the exact moment Jesus spoke over him, not only does he believe in Jesus, but his whole household, his oikos, comes to faith as well.
Beth took part in an Reach Mapping session and she said she felt “moved” by the experience.
“Reach Mapping showed clearly and visually how many people could be
reached and saved by just spreading the gospel to the people closest to me”
“As a single mother of two small children, one of whom has additional needs, I have struggled with my purpose and who I am being called to be and what “professional” role God wants me in to serve his kingdom. Reach Mapping showed clearly and visually how many people could be reached and saved by just spreading the gospel to the people closest to me.”
For Beth the design was helpful, “the visual map helped me to see the bigger picture, and how what seems to me like a small group of people could have a massive impact … I honestly couldn’t believe how many names ended up on my map.”
Beth has gone on to share the map with one of her closest friends, explaining the gospel to her, and how God longs to move in her life. But more than that Beth was able to encourage her friend that she too can reach many people with good news.
As Tom Grant, head of Proximity says,
“The goal is simply to remind [people] that they are seen, valued, and deeply loved by God. My hope is that this tool will help you recognise the mission field God has placed around your life, and the potential your life has to impact those around you with the gospel.”
And Beth agrees,
“Reach Mapping showed me the importance of having faith that the Lord has each and every one of us exactly where we need to be, and the importance of having the courage to share the gospel with everyone.”
Maybe this tool can encourage us that evangelism isn’t meant to feel like a cold caller accosting you, but more like a friend pressing something life-giving into your hands and saying, “you have to try this.” Using the Reach Mapping resource can help us to see afresh the people around us who we love and want to bless. Because knowing Jesus really is a superior experience!
Get the resource
- You can download your reach map on this page or we can send you a copy.
- Take a look at our supporting video and download the map here.
- Maps are available to buy in packs of ten. Please visit our online shop to place an order.