Missionary Tools That Build The Future: Identifying Spiritual Curiosity & Discovering People of Peace

One helpful missionary tool for identifying potential People of Peace in your life is to look for spiritual curiosity or interest in someone’s life. This little piece really speeds up the search as it quickly lets you know if God might be at work in their lives. There is a reason they are drawn to you and it might be their spiritual curiosity at work.

Listen for how they might talk about spirituality in their own lives or those of others they talk about. Sometimes it is very subtle as they mention meditation, healing, or an important passage of literature that feeds their soul.

Resist the temptation to correct them or to walk away because they may believe something outside of what the Christian faith may believe or practice. Let them share what they have found and are thinking about. There will be appropriate times to make whatever adjustments need to be made. Trust the Holy Spirit to guide them and you.

Ask them non-defensive questions about their belief or experience or search … let them explore it with you. Try not to ask yes and no type questions; we want to hear what they are thinking about. Resist questions which back them in a corner and force a particular response. Encourage them to search for spiritual life, and in their exploration for God He will find them and may use you to help them see where He can be found. You may be God’s answer to their prayer or search.

Wait for the Holy Spirit to provide you an opportunity to share what you believe. Look for ways they may have picked up on something true and gently reinforce it. If there is something they believe or do similar to something you do, share how you can relate because it’s like this part of your spiritual life. You might find they are asking questions you once thought about; share your experience.

Sometimes we close the door to spiritually curious people because they don’t embrace the doctrine or practices of the Christian faith. It isn’t that all faiths lead to the same place. We know this is not true and are not advocating such an idea. Rather, we are building the relationship and showing interest in their pursuit, encouraging them where we can. It is making ourselves available to help them in this search should they want to enlist us in the journey.

Keep in mind the spiritually curious are often a bit playful with what they are thinking. Sometimes they have decided to actually place their belief in an idea or practice while at other times they are giving it a test-ride to see how it goes. Be playful with them and help them continue to explore the search for deeper spirituality and ultimately, God. Provide some markers along the way to faith in Jesus Christ.

Generally, the spiritually curious will open the door for you to share about what you have found or are considering. Once trust is established, and they are convinced you genuinely care for them and maybe their ideas, they will open the door and invite you to share your journey… asking questions only the spiritually curious would ask. There is a good chance they are a Person of Peace … if so, they will want to continue on the path to spiritual awakening with you.

Have fun walking with these people and see if they become People of Peace. Such individuals are those you may have, in previous times, missed all together or dismissed way too quickly. Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and let Him guide you as He disciples you along the way in the work of disciple-making.