One of the questions that often comes up in communities like mine is this: how do you reach out to people who are nothing like you? This is particularly hard when you live in a segregated community like ours. There is simply nowhere in the town where white and Asian people tend to hang out together. They don’t live in the same areas, go to the same places or typically do the same things.

One of the things we have found helpful is just being available. We do put stuff on at the church as a mean of welcoming people in and making ourselves available to the community that way. But we also try to find ways to be involved in the community and make ourselves available that way too. We also have to think about scheduling in opportunities to be available to people.

All this takes time and certain seasons of life might lend themselves to it more than others. For example, having children tends to mean you end up embedded in things around your kids. You will see people at the school gate and you will get to know people at the various clubs you might take them to. You may even involve yourself in various clubs and outreach activities around the town. But simply being at things, making yourself available in various ways, opens up doors to see people.

As I say, these things take time. But over time, you will begin to find you keep bumping into people in various different places. You will suddenly find you see them in town as you’re out shopping and may stop for a chat. You may see them round and about as you (and they) are about your business. In time, you may find that relationships deepen and you may have more opportunities to talk about Christ with them. You may even be able to invite them to church.

But sometimes, all that is needed is to make yourself available. And in being available, the Lord may just do something himself.