How Not to Share your Faith

On being a disciple and becoming a storyteller

When I was a teenager, I shared my faith with all the subtlety of a tambourine player in a quiet congregation—unwelcome, off-beat, and absolutely something no one had asked for.

In my early teens, I’d found this fresh, fiery passion for Jesus, and suddenly, everyone around me became a potential “mission field.” Zealous? Absolutely. Effective? Not so much. In my enthusiasm, I kind of missed the memo that God wants us to love people as actual human beings, not just see them as targets on some spiritual dartboard.

Take my poor friend who used to come around my house all the time. We were inseparable, bonded over epic video game sessions where we'd blast tunes from—you guessed it—cassette tapes. Remember those? They’re a generational sorting hat in disguise. The way you first listened to music says it all: are you a vinyl person, a cassette kid, a Walkman warrior, an iPod aficionado, or a Spotify streamer? Tell me your first playlist source, and I’ll tell you if you're Gen X, Y, or Z.

Anyway, one fateful day, I decided to sneak a little worship music into our gaming sessions. Picture this: as we got lost in rounds of Sonic the Hedgehog and ToeJam & Earl on the Sega Megadrive, I'd slowly turn up the volume on some early '90s praise tunes, hoping that they’d work their magic on his soul. When that subtle approach didn’t seem to be converting him on the spot, I levelled up to my next strategy: preaching tapes. Yes, tapes of youth sermons, cranked up like I was DJ-ing a revival. My friend didn’t stand a chance. I'd inch the volume higher and higher, convinced that if I just blasted the gospel loudly enough, he’d finally cave.

Shockingly, this didn’t go as planned. After a few weeks of these intense “sessions,” he ghosted me. Eventually, he called on my old dial-a-phone landline to say I was coming on a little strong—well, “manipulative and over the top” were his exact words. My lack of sensitivity had basically tanked his interest, not to mention our gaming nights.

In my attempt to turn up the volume of his faith, I’d actually cranked it down to zero by force-feeding him instead of genuinely caring about him or sharing the real reason I was excited in the first place.

So, is there a better way to share your faith? What if it’s less about arm-twisting and more about telling stories? Stories that show rather than shove, that invite people into something real rather than recruit them into something forced.

Telling Stories not Twisting Arms

My friend Marie Aitken tells this brilliant story about, well… telling stories. And it nails a better way to share about Jesus. The way she came to faith didn’t involve high-pressure tactics or ramped-up manipulation; it was simply the gentle, honest power of someone’s story.

For over four years, Marie was part of a church youth group, but she showed no signs of making a decision for Christ. At every event, leaders would give an altar call, with hopeful glances toward her usual spot. Each retreat or camp sparked new optimism—“This could be Marie’s year.” But every time, she’d stay put, unable to make that leap.

Then, one ordinary day, a friend from the youth group shared her story with no agenda. Just honesty. 

Here’s what she said to her:

"Marie, I can’t relate to what you’re going through. My family is still together, I’ve never been in trouble, and I haven’t felt the need to rebel. We go to church every Sunday, and I’m surrounded by people who love me. My life is honestly a bit boring, but it’s safe, and I know I’m loved by God. I just wish you knew how much God loves you too."

And that was it. No flashy moment, no dramatic altar call. Just a genuine story, shared in kindness that broke through. Marie tells me, “Her story—her experience of God’s goodness and faithfulness, wrapped up in her desire for me to know Him too—that’s what led me to Jesus.”

The Power of YOUR Story

Marie recalls: “We all have a story. Mine happens to be dramatic. By the time I was 18, I was struggling with addiction, had been through damaging relationships, and was carrying anger and sadness from things I couldn’t control. To be honest, I was broken, stubborn, and hard-hearted. Sharing the Gospel with me felt like talking to a wall. It wasn’t until someone shared their own undeniable account of God at work in their life that I was finally willing to listen.” For years, she had heard about God, sat through altar calls, and watched others make commitments, but nothing ever moved the dial.

This was like me cranking up the volume on those tapes, trying desperately to break through to my friend in my own strength, hoping that louder somehow meant clearer.

It was her friend’s simple story—one without pressure or performance—that finally broke through to Marie. “My friend’s story of a safe, loved life was one I wanted for myself. Being known by God was what I longed for,” Marie remembers. Her friend’s life wasn’t flashy or particularly remarkable; it was the genuine peace, security, and steady love of God she described that stood out.

Sometimes, who the storyteller is, speaks just as powerfully as the story itself.

What struck Marie the most was her friend’s confidence that “my future could look different from my present.” Her friend wasn’t trying to preach at her or convince her; she was simply offering the quiet assurance that God’s love could change things. And in that assurance, Marie found exactly what she’d been missing.

She finally ‘heard’ the message she needed to hear.

This experience has spurred Marie not only to become a storyteller herself but also to encourage every Christian to share their own faith story. Here’s her advice for sharing faith authentically:

“Too often, I hear people say, “I don’t have a story,” which breaks my heart. What they mean is, “I don’t have a dramatic story.” Because their past isn’t colourful, or marked by a radical encounter, they stay silent about their experience of His goodness and faithfulness. If that’s you—if you’ve known Jesus or known of Him every step of the way—that might be exactly what someone like my 18-year-old self needs to hear. You have a story to tell—an encounter with Jesus that changed your life. When you said “yes” to Jesus, you experienced a supernatural encounter with the Son of God, and it changed you forever. Now, you’re surrounded by people who need hope, and you have it. They need peace, and you know the Prince of Peace.”

I wish I’d heard this wisdom when I was a teenager. I can’t help but wonder—what would’ve happened if, instead of trying to force my friend to buy into all the “Christian packaging” I was so hyped about—the music, the intense preaching, all things he couldn’t connect with because he wasn’t part of my Christian bubble—what if I’d just shared my story?

What if someone else’s story begins because you’re brave enough to share yours?

 Keeping it Simple is Never Stupid

“Keep it Simple” is a new five-part video series exploring the story of the woman at the well and how she shared her experience of Jesus with her community. Through this series, my friend Marie addresses the common barriers that hinder us from sharing and provides a framework for telling our story with clarity.

As a gift for all my brilliant subscribers, Marie is offering FREE access to this series. Simply click the link below and sign up to Right Now Media, which also includes other series from teachers around the world.

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