Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, 'We have found the Messiah' (that is the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus (John 1:40-42, NIV).

One of the most potentially rewarding, and potentially challeng-ing, opportunities in a lifetime is to share Christ with those closest to us. Early in our marriage, Cheryl and I decided we needed to share Christ with a family member with whom we did not have regular, consistent communication.

On his birthday, we found a great card at a Christian bookstore. The front read, "This year we're going to give to you the best present anyone could possibly receive ..." As you opened it, it read, "we're going to pray for you!" We wrote a personal note inside and included a Four Spiritual Laws tract.

We just knew it would have great impact because, after all, we had prayed over the card before we sent it. Imagine the shock when the response to the card and tract was anything but positive! We were told that we were arrogant to convey that we felt the family member was "bad enough" that he needed our prayer. In no uncertain terms he made clear he didn't want to hear that kind of thing again. What we held as faith was not what he wanted.

We learned several lessons from the experience ...

• Match the approach to the person's temperament and personality.

• Try not to come across as "speaking down" to the person.

• Sharing Christ is always most effective with those close to us when based on a strong, positive relationship of interest and caring characterized by regular communication.

So having learned these lessons (maybe the hard way), how do we reach out to share the message of Christ with those closest to us? Some guidelines from the "owner's manual" (the Bible) may be helpful here.

First, take note of Jesus' mission statement. He very clearly stated the reason He came. The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost (Luke 19:10, NIV). In turn, He tells each of us, As the Father has sent me, I am sending you (John 20: 21, NIV).

Second, a base of prayer is critical before ever approaching someone we care about with the message of Christ. James reminds us that, the prayer of a righteous man [or woman] is powerful and effective (James 5:16, NIV). And God adds wonderful security when in Jeremiah 33:3 He says, Call to Me and I will answer you(NIV, emphasis added).

Be prepared to share specifically in a personal and warm manner the impact Jesus Christ has made in your life. Look for those "open moments" when it becomes clear that what you would share is appropriate and applicable to the person and situation.

Third, if God is working in your life, He is also working at the other end, in the life of the person with whom you will share. When Andrew went to Peter, God evidently had already been preparing Peter's heart to be receptive (John 1:40-42).

Be sure that your life is marked by a biblically consistent character in action and attitude, as well as a warm interest and love that is regularly spread to the one for whom you are praying for the opportunity to share Christ. None of us is perfect, but if our words say one thing, and our actions and attitudes say another, people will not "hear" our witness.

Also remember that we are not responsible for producing believers. It is our job simply to take the initiative to share Christ with the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives-and then leave the results in God's hands. Only God can change a life from the inside out. Be patient. God's timetable may not be ours. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 that God uses some people to plant the seed of the gospel, others to water it, but only God can make it grow.

Whatever role you play, be sure to celebrate the fact that God allowed you be a part of the changing of a life!

Bob Reccord is president of the North American Mission Board, SBC.