The Speak Life Podcast Tom Schmidt, using Meetup in Evangelism – SLP166
Meetup is a networking app that enables you to find specific interest groups in your local area. Tom Schmidt uses it to draw local people to discuss things regarding Christianity. Tom is a church planter and met up with Glen Scrivener at the ‘Story’ Mission at St Mary’s Church, Wootten.
Tom grew up in the Lutheran Church, but says he didn’t really understand the gospel. When he went to college, he met some Christians from Campus Crusade for Christ, and they told him about having a personal relationship with Jesus. He read Josh McDowells book ‘More than a Carpenter’, and after that, became a Christian. Then he worked with Campus Crusade for Christ for a time, and then did a year long mission trip in Scotland, and really felt a calling to do it full time. He also met his wife in Scotland!
He now has planted and leads “The Cross of Christ Fellowship“
One of their outreaches is at a booth at the Last Fling Festival, where they invite people to answer questions such as:
- What’s the Purpose in Life?
- What’s wrong with the world?
- Who is Jesus?
- What happens to you after you die?
A could of years ago, Tim started a group in Naperville using the Meetup app, to discuss questions similar to the above, meeting in a Barns and Noble bookshop twice a month, they often have new people every time.
After initiating a discussion, everyone is invited to share their name, beliefs, and why they came. Then the discussion on the particular topic is lead through asking questions.
The majority of the 15-20 people who come are non-Christians, almost all from the app, and they tell their friends. There are 600 people are interested in the meetup group, and a waiting list of would be chatters!