How to tell people you are a Christian

So you’ve unpacked your boxes and got the first few awkward ‘hello’s with flatmates out of the way.

Now you’re wondering how to get the ‘and I’m a Christian’ part out there. Write it on a post-it note and leave it on the fridge, maybe? Or blast out some worship music for the whole corridor to hear?

Be confident

Telling people you are a Christian shouldn’t be a big deal but something that leads to great conversations and opportunities to share God – so be confident! Plenty of people believe in Jesus, so having faith isn’t something that will automatically shun you from society. Your faith in God forms a big part of who you are, so don’t be afraid to be yourself by sharing that with others.

There’s a time and place

It’s easy to feel you have to jump straight into telling people about your faith, but announcing you’re a ‘believer and follower of Jesus Christ’ the first time you meet someone isn’t necessarily the best way. I found this out the hard way in Fresher’s Week. I felt so pressured to tell the girls in my flat I was a Christian I blurted it out while we were watching TV one night – a bit of a conversation killer! Don’t be afraid to build friendships with people first and then it will be easier to introduce them to your faith. But make sure you don’t let too much time pass or you could miss some great conversations about God, why you believe in him and what he means to you.

Talk about it

When you’ve had a chance to tell someone, don’t breathe a sigh of relief and vow never to speak of it again. Being able to talk about your belief in Jesus is really important for helping others get to know him, so always be open about your Christian life. Tell your friends what is going on at church and CU, and even share your struggles with them at times. It will show that being a Christian isn’t just a label you give yourself, but a massive part of your life. Also, invite your friends to church and CU events and assure them they can ask questions about God at any time.

Pray

Most importantly – hand it over to God. He already knows who you are going to meet at university, so pray he’ll show you the best way to tell them you follow him. Ask him to show you the right time to talk about your faith and pray it will lead to great conversations about Jesus. Remember; “The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God,” Philippians 4: 5&6.

Naomi Wilson is a student at Southampton University