Sharing the Gospel in Collective Communities

When I reflect on my time living overseas, some of my fondest memories are of my apartment being full of students. I also remember fondly the many trips to students’ villages to meet their family and friends. Many of those times, the Lord was gracious to allow me the opportunity to share the gospel with them while we sat around enjoying a meal or tea. Everything was done in community. Though I had a few opportunities to share the gospel one-on-one with people that I had met, most of my gospel conversations were within a group setting.

A culture that places more importance on the group as a whole and on who you are as an individual based on your place in the group is called a collective society or culture. This means that the group is more important than the individual. The individual makes decisions based on how it will affect the group, and the individual is only as important as their place in the group. Many of the countries found in South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia belong to collective societies. Of course, due to globalization and assimilation, there can be nuances to all cultures, but this understanding of cultures can help us when we try to engage them with the gospel.

The Bible and Collective Societies

There are many examples in the New Testament where people shared the gospel with groups of people. All throughout his ministry, Jesus shared about the kingdom with groups of people. The groups were sometimes small, as when he was teaching his disciples. And the groups were sometimes large, as when he taught the Sermon on the Mount or fed the five thousand. The invitation to follow him was directed individually to the heart of each person, but he did a lot of his teaching within a group.

After Christ’s ascension, Peter begins his ministry sharing with groups of people about the saving grace of Jesus. He begins sharing in the temple, but in Acts 10, God sends him to the gentile Cornelius’ home. When he arrived, Cornelius had gathered his entire household together, which included relatives and close friends. Scripture states that after Peter shares the gospel, Cornelius and his household believe, and they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Everywhere Paul traveled, he would begin his preaching in the synagogues among the Jews. Then he would share among the Gentiles. In Acts 16, Paul shares the gospel with Lydia and her household. They believed and were baptized. Then Paul is thrown in prison, and because of his singing and praising God in his circumstances, the Philippian jailer and his household are converted. They were also baptized. The gospel was shared within community.

Seek to Share within Community

There are many more examples within Scripture where groups of people hear and receive the gospel. Ultimately, we know that it is the Holy Spirit who convicts the individual’s heart of sin. And each individual who hears the gospel must respond either with rejection or with repentance and faith. However, in a globalized world where we are encountering more people who live in collective societies, maybe we need to practice more communal gospel sharing. So how can we practice gospel sharing within community?

Seek opportunities to have groups of people in your home. Those from collective societies expect and appreciate invitations to enter your home. Hospitality is part of their culture, and they anticipate and expect an invitation from new friends. My husband recently met three men from South Asia. He has interacted with them on a few occasions, and they are always together. When my husband sees them, he talks to all of them collectively, getting to know them as individuals within their group. In his few encounters with them, he has extended an invitation to all three to come to our home for a meal. They were excited at the opportunity for relationship and even offered to cook the meal.

If you are a student on a campus, find international students to befriend. Many of them hang out together. Get to know the group by spending time with them in a coffee shop or at a restaurant. Some International students do come alone and are eager to get to know you and your friends just as much as you are eager to know them. Invite them into your group of friends from school or church. Even in a group setting, the Lord will give you opportunities to share the gospel and have meaningful gospel conversations.

If your family enjoys going to parks to play or ride bikes, seek out diaspora families who do the same. Children tend to make friends easily. Let your children be the ones to play with other children at the park. Don’t be afraid to show them where you live and help them know they are welcome at your home anytime. This can lead to great friendships, with many playdates and meals scheduled for the future, which will again open up many opportunities to communicate the gospel to the entire family.

Be intentional with all your relationships. But, as we understand that the world is more globalized than ever, let us seek out communal relationships with those who live in a collective society. This will allow us to share with several people at one time. Do not neglect all the opportunities that the Lord gives you to share the gospel, whether that be with individuals or with groups. Let us be obedient at all times to share the gospel. But may we recognize the unique opportunity to reach the nations with the gospel by sharing the gospel in community.