Dear Trekker,

Generally, I talk about specific Christian organizations very seldom; likewise, individual people who have walked with me along the Way are seldom named. The reason is simple…our faith is about Jesus; he is the centerpiece of the faith. Not theology, not philosophy, not divine intervention! Jesus, Jesus, Jesus only!

But one organization has led me to Christ (beginning at Wheaton College), as no other, as some of you know. That organization, approaching 80 years of life, is known today as Young Life. It originally was Young Life Campaign. Campaign was dropped along the way, wisely, in my opinion. It is known for its five “C’s” of ministry to win teens to Christ…contact work, clubs (evangelization), campaigners (small group discipling and growth), camps (more intense evangelization) and church (directing teens into local worshipping fellowship). As some of you know, I met  my wife Barbara in Young Life. I was a Young Life leader (leadership-wise) in disguise for 30 years in the U.S. Army, and some of us YLers started a YL oriented youth ministry about 40 years ago called Military Community Youth Ministries/Club Beyond to specifically share the “Good News” with military teens.

“Contact work,” a phrase I learned in Young Life, is at the heart of any effective, relational outreach to people, young or old. And would you believe, it is the form of outreach most natural to the earthly, redemptive ministry of Jesus. Jesus is the Founder of “contact work.” It all started the Sunday afternoon when Jesus suddenly “joined” two Jewish potential followers on the road to Emmaus outside of Jerusalem. You must read the fascinating story before we discuss the steps of contact work initiated by the Savior. Go to Luke 24:13-35 and read it before we examine the “contact steps” Jesus left for us.

I see seven (the perfect number) steps or principles Jesus establishes which are as true method events as are the facts of death and resurrection that first Easter weekend. I truly believe Jesus was giving us a pattern to tell the Good News, as well as He lived the Good News!!

CW Principle #1 – He joined people (the men of Emmaus) on the daily walk of life, wherever they were or might happen to be. We are to do likewise! God is there; he always “shows up.” We are to “show up” naturally in people’s lives. We invite them into our homes. We join others at work and at play and prayer. We are “there” during grief, disappointment and denial. We are to join people. We are a friend of Jesus; we make friends of others for Jesus’ sake. We are to become “Jesus with skin on” to anyone we meet. Today, Jesus “shows up” often because we are there!

CW Principle #2 – Jesus entered their dialogue by listening! We are to do likewise! Let me be blunt! Many Christians (I am sure I’ve been guilty) are too anxious to “set someone straight” with the facts of the Gospel before they have won the right to the heard by building a relationship, which begins by listening to the other chap’s story. Oh, the need to be a good listener! I’ve written this before. We can never do good “contact work” if we will not first listen, and to become a listener like Jesus should be one of our all-time earthly goals! The bridge to authentic sharing is built on the solid pillars of good listening habits.

CW Principle #3 – Jesus entered the conversation after listening to their lament by asking a question, “What are you talking about?” We are to do likewise! The answer to Jesus could have been a put down to anyone but Jesus! “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem that doesn’t know what is going on this weekend (My paraphrase.) People love to talk and tell how they feel. We need to keep them talking. We learn by listening, not by telling what we know. Yes, fools do rush in where angels fear to tread! What a conversation axiom!

CW Principle #4 – At the appropriate time, Jesus entered the conversation with Truth. He began where people were (are), and explained the whole truth of Scripture more completely, so that they “got the message” without feeling “put down” or “put off.” We are to do likewise today! Only Jesus, as the central figure of history, can make sense and can tie any cultural history together. But we, too, must make Jesus the pivotal point, the epicenter of  all history. We must know Jesus, live Jesus, and speak Jesus as we enter the lives of other people and establish dialogue with them.

CW Principle #5 – Since hanging out with others is the start-point and the essence of sharing Jesus, we change our plans as he did when asked to “stay with us” (v 29). Jesus “changed” His plans. So do we, for the sake of others. Fellowship develops as we hold Jesus in common. Trekker, we simply are “there” for others! We change our plans because His plan for us is spelled p-e-o-p-l-e! We are to love one another! And to love one another, to be together is required. Simply put, are we focused on others or self?

CW Principle #6 – While changing His plans and staying with them in “breaking of bread” and fellowship, this act of Jesus is when the Spirit opened their eyes and hearts. We do our part, and the Spirit moves people, gives them understanding and the desire to believe the Savior’s work for us. We need to do “common things” with people. They need to see we are genuine. An ordinary meal, an ordinary   loaf of bread, an ordinary house… and men recognized Jesus. Awesome!

CW Principle #7 – These men of Emmaus excitedly returned to Jerusalem and witnessed automatically to their newfound faith. The cycle was complete! Changed people desire to see change in other’s lives. The process is to be repeated over and over again “as we walk in wisdom toward those that are without” to quote the apostle Paul in his letter to the church in Colossae. “Let the redeemed of the Lord, say so,” and they do!

Easter’s greatest truths are events/facts to be believed. The same day He rose from the dead, Jesus shows us how to love people by our actions and words. He gave us a “forever” blueprint by His life, and then demonstrated how we are to approach others with the Good News! The things Jesus did and said are the bedrock of our faith and how we are to live it. We join Him in love for others. And we become Jesus with skin on as we allow the Spirit to lead us in “contact work” with others.

Both before his death (remember the woman at the well, John 4) and resurrection, and afterward, Jesus demonstrated the divine, accepting approach to people. Let’s do likewise. For sure, by His grace, this method will accomplish miracles for eternity!

Seeking to be Jesus to others, and follow Him, while winning at “contact work.”

Jim Meredith