Who am I? Why am I here? Does my life really matter? And what happens when the answers we’ve relied on no longer seem enough?
Some of the best opportunities for evangelism begin not with having all the answers, but with being willing to explore the questions people are already asking. In this episode of The Win Win Evangelism Podcast, Tina Waldrom speaks with author, entrepreneur and speaker Ian Reilly about his book Encounter – a gripping true story written primarily for non – Christians that explores identity, purpose, meaning and faith through Ian’s extraordinary experiences living in Samoa.
From surviving a devastating cyclone to confronting cultural differences, hardship and the feeling that his best efforts were achieving nothing, Ian discovered himself wrestling with some of life’s biggest questions. He shares why honest stories can sometimes reach people in ways traditional Christian books cannot, and how Encounter is already helping Christians begin natural conversations about Jesus with non-Christian friends and family. This episode will encourage you to think differently about evangelism – not simply asking, “What should I tell someone about Jesus?” but also, “What story could help them start asking questions?”
IN THIS EPISODE
- Ian Reilly’s Samoa experience and its impact on faith
- The role of storytelling in spiritual conversations
- Big questions of identity, purpose, and meaning
- Challenges of living in a different culture
- How hardship shapes understanding of justice and evil
- Using personal stories to introduce Jesus
- The importance of story in biblical teaching
- Practical ways to share faith through books
EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00 – Introduction
02:14 – The cyclone and its aftermath
05:12 – The impact of the Samoa experience on faith
10:07 – Big questions faced during hardship
12:09 – Cultural perspectives on discipline and justice
14:14 – The role of story in sharing faith
16:09 – How the book opens conversations about Jesus
WATCH THE EPISODE
Video Episode – Watch now
Am I Significant? – Watch the short video
MEET IAN REILLY
Ian Reilly is an Australian author, artist, innovator and entrepreneur whose life has taken him from remote Pacific villages to international boardrooms. His book, Encounter – A Journey into Chaos, Culture and Compassion, draws on his life-changing experience living and teaching in Samoa to explore questions of identity, purpose, justice and faith. A lifelong Christian, Ian is passionate about using honest storytelling to help people wrestle with life’s big questions and discover deeper meaning.
Connect with Ian:
Ian Reilly Website
Ian Reilly Substack
Ian Reilly Instagram
Ian Reilly LinkedIn
GO DEEPER
Discussion Questions
1. Are we listening for the questions people are already asking?
What big questions about life do you hear your non-Christian friends asking?
Read: Acts 17:22-28; 1 Peter 3:15
2. Do we feel pressure to answer every question immediately?
Why can Christians feel pressure to provide an immediate answer whenever someone asks a question about faith?
Read: John 4:7-26; James 1:19
3. Could your story help someone explore faith?
What experiences in your own life have shaped your faith in Jesus?
Read: Mark 5:18-20; Psalm 66:16
4. How could questions about purpose and significance open a door for evangelism?
How could you explain the Christian understanding of human worth to someone who doesn’t yet believe in God?
Read: Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 139:13-16
5. Are we willing to be honest about the difficult parts of our faith journey?
Do we sometimes make our Christian stories sound too neat when talking with non-Christians? How might appropriate honesty about your struggles make conversations about faith more genuine?
Read: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Psalm 13:1-6
6. Are we underestimating the power of story in evangelism?
Why do you think Jesus so often used stories?
Read: Luke 15:1-32; Matthew 13:34-35
7. What could you place in someone’s hands to help start a conversation about Jesus?
Could a book, podcast episode, testimony or other resource help you begin a conversation you’ve struggled to start yourself?
Read: Colossians 4:5-6; 1 Corinthians 3:6-7
OTHER EPISODES YOU MAY ENJOY
Mike Stevens: Step In to the Mission of God – Stories of Ordinary People Living on Mission
Step In to the Mission with Mike Stevens
Near-Death Experiences and the Christian Witness
Dying To Be Alive – Sharing Death Encounters
GO FURTHER WITH EVANGELISM
FREE Trial Share Jesus Membership:
https://www.sharejesus.com.au/
Free Sample On Mission with God @Home: https://evangelisminaustralia.com/freesample/
On Mission with God @Home Full Course Details: https://courses.evangelisminaustralia.com/courses/on-mission-with-god-4modules-flagship-course
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