I wondered if there was hidden sin in my life! It was the only logical reason I could think of for what I was experiencing.

\Christmas was approaching, and I was putting together my first swing set for my children. Being a typical male, I saw no logical reason for reading the instructions. I had set out with great enthusiasm, dedication and focus to have the task done in record time. But with this particular bolt, I had tried everything. I had tried to push it in. When that didn't work, I tried to screw it in. Failing at that, I tried to pound it in. I had even talked to it trying to coax it in (all in the cleanest of language, naturally). I had even tried jumping up and down on it to (calmly) put it in place.

When all those failed, I decided to read the instructions as a last resort. It was then I found that the screws and bolts were of different sizes. In addition, this particular bolt had a thread that was opposite to the others in the kit. No wonder it hadn't worked when I tried to get it into place with the proper nut attached. Through all my Herculean efforts, the only thing I had accomplished was to strip the threads.

I wonder how often we do that in the Christian community. We want to treat all Christians as if they are exactly the same mass reproductions of a singular design. We have developed a "one size fits all" mentality. But let me ask you: when was the last time you experienced a perfect fit on any piece of clothing that carried the label "one size fits all?" That's why the scripture goes to great length to tell us in 1 Corinthians 12 that God makes each one of us unique and special. We are not simply reproduced copies with the same temperaments, abilities, skills or gifts.

In view of that reality, it is essential that we in the Christian community grow to understand that every Christian who desires to be on mission will not do so in exactly the same way. Christ left no doubt that the heartbeat of our mission was to be identical with His.

He left no question as to His focus when He said, the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10, NASB). Our heartbeat as Christians should resonate with an evangelistic passion to see others come to know Him Who has changed, and continues to change, our lives. But the method- ology will take many forms.

How exciting it will be when the Christian community attempts to empower its people not only to find their spiritual gifts but to exer- cise them in ways that "fit" their temperaments, lifestyles and gifts. While I was raised in an environment in which the "proper" way to be on mission was to do door-to-door (cold calling) evangelism, I have come to see that God uses a cornucopia of methods to get the job done. Let me share with you just a few of the liberated on mission Christians I have come to know and see in action …

• Each Christmas Mike and Linda hold a party based on the film It's a Wonderful Life. They invite neighbors into their home and show the Christmas classic. Before the movie begins Mike quickly shares what has given him and Linda such a wonderful life, the life-changing transformation of Jesus Christ. Following the movie he tells their guests to have a great time, enjoy the food and, if anyone wants to follow up, to just let them know. They have regularly seen this event build relational bridges that lead to further discussions about Christ.
• Mary began to walk through her neighborhood and pray for the people in each house using the neighborhood association directory. After she had prayed for some time she began to go door to door knocking and introducing herself and saying she had been walking the neighborhood for weeks praying for each individual home.She then asked if there were any- thing she could pray for regarding that particular home. The response was amazing, as were the requests that were shared with her. In the ensuing months, she was able to lead a number of people in the neighborhood to faith in Jesus Christ.
• Chuck was trained in a personal evangelism methodology that he began to use weekly in equipping others to share their faith as well as using himself everywhere he went. Over a period of years, Chuck personally led hundreds to Jesus Christ on regular church visitation and as a lifestyle in his direct evangelism approach.
• Campbell was an insurance salesman who learned how to share his faith. He decided to put it into practice with his business. When he finished writing an insurance policy for a customer, he would end by saying, "Now that I have dealt with your financial needs, I would like to talk to you about your spiritual needs. Have you come to a place in your life where you know for certain that if you were to die tonight you would go to heaven?" Through that simple transition Campbell saw numerous clients come to know Jesus Christ.
• Jim was an optometrist who constantly used an eye chart for his patients. Learning that God had called him to find active, creative, on mission ways to share the gospel, he decided to change from the normal eye chart that optometrists use to a specially designed eye chart that had the gospel for patients to read. He saw many come to Christ by getting their eyes checked--as well as their hearts.
• Thomas and Kerri decided to hold a block party for their neighborhood. They invited the people who lived around them with a "get to know your neighbor" theme. In the ensuing months of having simply shared a testimony and a prayer at the block party, they saw their entire cul-de-sac come to know Jesus Christ as Savior.

These few examples remind us all that "one size does not fit all!" It is not the intent of the church to produce "cookie-cutter Christians," but instead maturing, committed Christians who are looking to find their "fit" in ways to effectively share the gospel.

Do you know your fit? God wants to use you and the unique way He has made you to make a difference for Him in your world.

Ask God to show you where you fit in His on mission family.

Bob Reccord is president and CEO, North American Mission Board, SBC.