Luke 10:25-37, Matthew 10:5-10

Steve Gambill shares his heart on The Doorstep Challenge

Steve Gambill

When you have a free hour in your day how do you spend it? Decisions about how to spend free time affect each of us nearly every day. Recently, I was faced with just such a decision when I was in the brilliant city of Belfast, Northern Ireland, home to one of our Life Church Campuses.

Over a coffee at the breakfast table of my friends Owen and Ann, we were debating about what we should do after the Sunday morning Service. With a full day ahead consisting of three services and a flight to return home to the evening service in Bradford, there wasn't much free time in the day. However we did have a free hour over lunch. So the conversation was about what we do with that 'free hour'. With all that the beautiful city of Belfast has on offer there were plenty of choices for us to consider. Two logical choices came to mind - lunch, or sightseeing. Belfast has some great restaurants, and some beautiful scenery. As we chatted about what to do, suddenly a third option sprung to mind. What if we did something entirely different? Something challenging. Something significant. Something that could make a difference.

Recently, my wife Charlotte and I were teaching a series called, 'Love Your Neighbour', based on the teachings of Jesus from Luke 10:25-37. So this third option was, "what if we spend a free hour actually loving our neighbour instead of just talking about it - mostly with Christians on a Sunday morning?"

Owen replied, "Sure that sounds good, let's give it a try. Suddenly what started out as a routine breakfast suddenly transformed into an imaginary map of Belfast, with the salt and peppershakers and a ketchup bottle representing key strategic areas. I realise that most people's view of knocking on a door, consists of something that more resembles verbal gbh (grievous bodily harm) but years ago I learned a much more effective way. Owen you see had never been what was traditionally called 'door-knocking', but traditional 'door-knocking' has long ceased being my approach. So I told my friends the story that forever changed how I share my faith, and I share that with you now.

When I first moved from the USA to the Midlands in England to attend a Christian Leadership programme, one aspect of the programme was an afternoon once a week to do 'evangelism'. At the appointed time 30+ students would be crammed into various vehicles with the instructions to win people from the local neighbourhood to Jesus by the end of the afternoon.

At the very first outing the neighbourhood was very quiet, partly due to harsh weather and that most people seemed to be at work. After knocking on a few doors, I was beginning to think I would not talk to a single soul all afternoon, when suddenly a door sprung open, and out popped a sprightly, tall elderly gentleman. He was curious as to why anyone would be so foolish as to be outside on such a cold, rainy afternoon. I must admit at that moment, I was asking myself the same thing.

After introducing myself I asked if he would like to chat. He introduced himself as "Chivers" and he wanted to know what fool would stand on his doorstep in such foul weather. After ten minutes or so of conveying my story of how I had left my music world to help people, Chivers turned his head and with a mischievous grin, invited me in for a cup of tea, out of the cold. The moment Chivers opened his door, was the moment that he found a special place in my heart.

As I entered his home, Chivers disappeared, and came bounding into the lounge with a nice hot cup of tea and even biscuits. He began to tell me his adventures in life. Of how he fought valiantly in World War Two; of his thriving business and children. He had even been awarded an MBE by the Queen. I realised that I could learn a lot from this sharp-witted, sprightly gentlemen.

I'm sure I must have mentioned Jesus at some point that afternoon, but I remember simply feeling overwhelmed with the love of God for this amazing chap. Honestly, I had the best time and made a great friend that afternoon. After two cups of tea and numerous biscuits I suddenly remembered that my "Evangelism Class" had long since finished and that my colleagues would surely be waiting for me. Slightly embarrassed that I had lost track of time, I thanked Chivers, and he insisted that I must come see him again soon.

Hurriedly I ran out into the downpour and headed to the rendezvous point to meet my colleagues. They all looked like half drowned water rats, and were rather miserable. I felt slightly guilty, still warm from my cups of tea. They wanted to know where I had been for over two hours and why was I dry! I told them my story of Chivers, which made them all quite jealous. "Did he get saved?" they asked. "Did he accept Jesus?" I told them to give Chivers a break, I had only just met him. At that point I had to endure a lecture about how to win someone to Christ in less than 30 seconds. I realise that people may come to Christ seemingly instantaneously, but I have learned that there is always a process to people accepting Jesus.

When it came time for evangelism class the next week, I was determined to visit my new friend. This time Chivers didn't make me wait ten minutes on his doorstep. He invited me in straight away for another cup. What followed was reminiscent of the week before, yet gradually through the conversation, he wanted to know what was motivating me to come see him. By this time I realised that Chivers, as brilliant as he was, was lonely. With his wife having died and his children busy with their work, he was often alone. It wasn't long before my time was up and I needed to leave, so I thanked him again and he invited me to keep coming to see him. Well you can imagine what happened next as I met my colleagues. "Was he a Christian yet they asked?" "No", I answered, "Not yet, but he had become a friend". "A friend they asked?" "Shouldn't we be making converts not friends?" It was then that I realised why I was invited in while they were left out on the cold doorsteps. My colleagues were trying to be like Billy Graham, and was just trying to make a friend.

Over the next few months, every Wednesday I would go to visit Chivers. It wasn't long before we began to have vigorous chats about the meaning of life and his spiritual interest deepened. His sharp intellect and quick wit lead to lively discussions and I could see that he was very interested in Jesus. Near the end of term, the inevitable happened. The director of the Evangelism programme decided it was time he joined me to discover where I disappeared to every Wednesday afternoon. As usual, Chivers invited me in thinking that we would pick up the conversation where we finished last week. Instead the Director dominated the conversation. After a half hour of his non-stop talking, he demanded Chivers accept Jesus. Chivers replied that he wasn't ready. Frustrated the director started up again and talked incessantly for another half hour. When he realised that Chivers was not going to accept Jesus, the director stood up and walked out of the room.

Immediately, Chivers turned to me and said something I will never forget. "Steve if you want to be my friend, I have all the time in the world for you. But if you want me to be your latest convert on your gospel gun so that you could make a little notch on the handle like your friend then I'm not interested."

I was stunned by the strength of Chivers statement. It was an epiphany moment for me and I heard myself saying, "Chivers, I am your friend". He simply replied, "Great see you next week" and he left me to go chase after the Director.