Our collective team’s game plan, the Great Commission declaration given by Jesus himself in Matthew 28:19 to make disciples, is a call on the lives of ALL believers and not a just special activity exclusively reserved for those with the spiritual gift of evangelism. In other words, disciple-making is not a spectator sport. We ALL need to get in the game and be in the ring (of our own homes), on the field (of our neighborhood streets), on the court (of our communities), and anywhere and everywhere as the Lord leads! 

Perhaps you are still considering if you will host a watch party for Victory Beyond the Cup (VBTC) or help someone who already is. Or maybe you, like me and my family, are already excited about getting to shower love upon our neighbors and community with the gospel through this opportunity. Whichever of these apply, if you desire to meaningfully engage with your neighbors before, during, or after the World Cup, then perhaps you will find these ideas below helpful. 

If we picture the referee coin toss as the beginning of the game, I believe that evangelism and discipleship can be thought of as two sides of the same token.  For our purposes, I’ll simply define evangelism (heads) as the means and practice of guiding others who don’t already know Christ to pursue Him in a spiritual journey. Discipleship (tails) then, is a journey of growing closer to Jesus while learning to follow his ways. 

As families, our own homes are our closest mission field and a place that the entire family can grow and be involved in evangelism and discipleship. Nonetheless, in the busyness of our culture and everyday lives, it’s helpful to have simple and practical ways to develop growth in these areas. So let’s call a time-out to stop and consider some strategies. What I propose is not an exhaustive list, but a few things that have been helpful and transformational for me and my family as we grow in this journey together.

Prayer Walk

We are called to pray for all people (1 Timothy 2:1-3), and prayer walking is a fantastic way to do it as a family. Walk around your neighborhood and community — then pray for your neighbors with your family. Slowly observe who and what you see as you walk. The Holy Spirit may impress upon your family some details or needs that you would not have noticed otherwise. In some cases, my family and I have even gotten the chance to pray with neighbors as we explained to them what we were doing. After the prayer walk, continue to pray and debrief with each other about how God may use your family in your particular community to meet some practical needs and share the good news of Jesus, too.

Be intentional

Take note of who is around you in your different settings. This doesn’t have to be something that is an add-on to your already busy schedule. In fact, it can happen where you already live, work, and play. Intentionality allows us to make the most of the opportunities we are gifted (Ephesians 5:15-17). So look for places of natural overlap with the schedules of others. Perhaps they are people who God has in your life for a reason. 

Who are the people you see regularly as you work, run errands, or go about in your daily life rhythms? Who is walking their dog on the sidewalk in front of your home every day? How can you start engaging with them more or even inviting them along to things you are already doing? It may mean inviting them to hang out with you as you do chores inside your home — or perhaps playing games or grilling food with your friends outside in the front yard. (Outdoor activities provide increased visibility that allows space and room for others to join in). 

Be Hospitable

Jesus graciously models hospitality for us in many ways throughout the Bible, but He also expects it from us as a gesture of loving our neighbor (Hebrews 13:2). Are your children involved with sports, dance, or other extracurricular activities that give you a chance to get to know others as you are waiting for the activity to end? Do you have new neighbors that you could bring a welcome gift to (that the whole family can be involved in arranging or baking)? Are there people you see often that you could invite over for family dinner? Nothing speaks hospitality like welcoming people into your home and sharing a meal (or even tea/coffee). Has someone just experienced a loss? Bringing them flowers or even a simple card and letting them know you are praying for them can open doors for relationships that were previously sealed shut. Sometimes, I bake sourdough and make extra to share with other neighbors just to be friendly. You don't always need a reason; simply showing you care can be really impactful. Even this opportunity to host a watch party with Victory Beyond the Cup is a fantastic way to exercise our hospitality muscles with our entire family. Will you join us? 

Model it

Another great way to involve your entire family and engage others with the gospel is to model it yourself (Proverbs 22:6). Even our youngest children are always watching us, and the lessons they learn from us include what is spoken in addition to what is unspoken. We won't ever do everything perfectly, so don't worry about making mistakes. We learn as we go, and we aren't left to do this alone. The Holy Spirit will be with us and guide us.  

As long as we keep in mind that each of the people that we engage with are beings created in the image of God (and not projects to be conquered), then our families can humbly and lovingly interact with them as opportunities arise. So let’s go out together and get in the game! Your family, neighborhood, community, and the world awaits!