When God is at work in starting a new gathering of believers, he often lays the foundation within a “person of peace.” They are a bridge person who brings the message of Jesus into their own community. This person can be the first domino in a chain reaction among a pocket of people. A person of peace is typically:
•Responsive to the message you bring
•Relationally connected to all in the pocket of people
•Renowned in reputation.
Luke 10:6-7 – “If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him. If not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.”
Cornelius is an example of a person of peace who had a reputation of “good” character (Acts 10:1-34). The Gerasene Demoniac is an example of a person of peace who had a “bad” reputation (Mark 5:1-20). Both were used in a profound way to reach people in their own oikos.
Look around your community, your spheres of influence, the people you know. Pray and reflect. Who might be a person of peace?
Note: This blog entry is part of a series based on Beyond Church Planting (coauthored with Neil Cole) that explores the process of evangelism and coming to faith.