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Lutheran Life 7 Vocation and witnessing are connected. Vocation, or calling, is a term used to describe the work God has put in front of us to do for the benefit of our neighbor in ev- ery station and place we find ourselves throughout our lives. One way we love our neighbors is by telling them about Jesus! This includes both our Christian and non-Chris- tian neighbors. Have you ever considered witnessing to those who al- ready know Jesus? It might sound funny, but remember, witnessing is simply giving a testimony of who Jesus is and what He has done in your life. This is an excellent way to encourage your brothers and sisters in their own faith. Typically, however, the focus of our witness is rightly aimed toward our family members, friends, co-workers, and others who do not believe that Jesus Christ is Lord. Just as relationships are central to directing your voca- tional responsibilities, so they are central when consid- ering who we witness to and how. While the Holy Spirit can work through witness given to a random bystander, our witness is much more effec- tive when it's done within an established relationship, because the key to such witness is establishing a level of care for the person, along with listening to his or her story. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to witness- ing. Rather, we seek to witness by creating a point of connection that fits the specific person and situation. We present our Christian witness in a way that speaks to each person's story. This is difficult to do when speaking to a stranger whom we know nothing about. With that in mind, let's consider how to deepen our re- lationships with the people on our list and look for ways to make meaningful connections. St. Paul shared how he became "all things to all people," taking on characteristics or lifestyle traits of the people he was trying to reach—all while remaining under the law and convictions of Christ. (Witnessing does not in- volve doing anything against conscience or Christian faith.) Paul became weak to the weak and strong to the strong. He took on customs and traditions of the Jews while he lived among Jews. He took on customs and tra- ditions of Gentiles while among Gentiles. The purpose behind his approach was to make a compelling witness to the Gospel to each person or group of people, de- pending on who they were (see 1 Corinthians 9:19–23). What about you? What would it look like for you to be- come "all things to all people" in order that you might win some for Christ? Think about people you seek to share your Christian witness with. Consider how you could establish a point of meaningful connection in that relationship. Is there a team you could start to follow, a fitness group you could join, or a certain restaurant you could frequent in order to build a relationship in the hopes of gaining an opportunity to share about Jesus? How might you position yourself to have those oppor- tunities? w Scripture: ESV ® There is no one-size-fits- all approach to witnessing Millennials are the least-churched generation in our nation's history. The problem is not just that they continue to leave the church. It is that they aren't coming back. This book contains ideas on how to build strong intergenerational relationships to engage a generation that is generally apathetic and disinterested in the church. Find this title and others from this magazine at cph.org/llresources. MYTH OF THE MILLENNIAL: CONNECTING GENERATIONS IN THE CHURCH

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