Finding Courage & Faith: What It Means to Be a Bold Witness

What does it take to become the kind of person who multiplies disciples? Recently, I wrote about twelve important characteristics we must develop in our lives if we want to be multipliers and launch movements. Becoming the kind of person who is bold and faithful in their witness was #2 on my list. For some, this is incredibly obvious. For others, it’s uncomfortable and difficult.

Some years ago, I met with someone for a coaching call. They told me, “A brother I am working with is excited about DMMs and wants to train many others in this. The problem I see, though, is he rarely shares the gospel with those in his neighborhood or life.” Probing a bit further, I discovered a common problem. Many of us are better theorists than we are practitioners.

You may be more gifted in training or coaching than in evangelism. That would definitely be true of me! Anyone seeking to catalyze a movement, however, must intentionally work to develop a lifestyle of bold and faithful witness. We can not coach others in something not active in our own lives. This doesn’t mean this has to be your primary gift. You’ll be far more effective, though, if it becomes your regular practice.

When is the last time you shared a testimony (your story) or had a spiritual conversation with a non-believer? Who are you actively pursuing a relationship with who doesn’t know Jesus yet?

Feeling Challenged In This

It is easy to get busy with ministry and stop focusing on the lost. I’m very good at rationalizing why I haven’t made time to engage with lost people today, or this week, or even this month. As Dallas Willard wrote in his book Life Without Lack, “we, too, are masters of self-justification and deception.” Even though it is my heart to spend time with lost people, somehow it’s easy to drift away from prioritizing time for them.

This morning, I spent time praying about this.

Father, forgive me for saying one thing is important to me, but doing something else. Lord, renew my heart for the many lost people around me. Let me never be too busy with other ministry work to stop and notice them, to engage with them, to listen and encourage and step into opportunities to share about you. Fill me with your incredible love for those who don’t know You. And let that love compel me to action. No more excuses, Lord. No more self-justification. Give me the courage, faith, and will to live the lifestyle of a bold and faithful witness. Amen.

Did you pray that with me? If you did, let’s do one more thing, okay?

Let’s pray this scripture over one another as well. “And pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,” (Ephesians 6:19).

Let’s ask God how we can use the many political and global challenges we face in these days as a bridge question into conversations about the confidence we have in these times due to our trust in the goodness of God. What’s your strategy for growing as a bold and faithful witness in the coming months? Pause for a minute and ask God to show you one step forward you could take this week.

Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech…

2 Cor. 3:12

As we continue to think about this, it might be helpful to consider what those words bold and faithful actually mean.

What Does it Mean to be Bold and Faithful?

Let’s define these two words: bold and faithful.

Boldness is defined by Oxford’s dictionary as “a willingness to take risks and act innovatively; confidence or courage.”

Faithfulness is “to have the quality of being loyal and steadfast.”

How are you taking risks and innovating in disciple-making and sharing your faith?

One of my online course trainees took a risk and shared her faith with Muslim neighbors. It caused a backlash of rejection and isolation. I was so proud of her, though, for her efforts. It’s not easy to step out and take risks of faith. If I was pleased, how greatly delighted her Heavenly Father must have been! There are things to work on and changes she could make to be more effective (see the Bonus Course on Inviting Muslims to Follow Jesus that we offer free if you purchase the Getting Started in Disciple Making Movements Course). The fact that she is taking risks and stepping out into new things, though, makes me sure God will honor that effort with fruit one day.

Are you an evangelism innovator? When things don’t work, do you give up? Or think creatively of new approaches to try? God is raising Spirit-led innovators in this season to create new wineskins.

Faithfulness matters too. We can be bold and courageous in one season and then move on to other things. Some people seem addicted to the new and don’t know how to be faithful. We get excited about vision and new ideas, but when it becomes challenging, or we don’t see immediate results, our interest shifts.

Disciple multipliers and movement catalysts (those who help others start movements) are bold and faithful in their witness. They train everyone they disciple to be the same.

Would you once again pray another prayer with me?

“Father, I want to be a bold and faithful witness of your Kingdom message. The good news of your Kingdom is worth sharing with the world. Make me creative, and make me courageous. Build confidence in me to speak up about your goodness, and your desire to show that goodness to others. Help me be steadfast and faithful in my efforts to find people who are ready to listen and Persons of Peace in my community and oikos. Where I need to change, transform me until I become the kind of person you can use greatly for your purposes. Amen.”

Consider copying this prayer on a card or paper and praying it daily this week. God will answer the cry of your heart.

What new or creative way of sharing your faith have you discovered? What struggle do you face in being bold?

I’d love to hear about it! Please share in the comments below or in the DMMs Frontier Missions Facebook group.