Posted August 16, 2017 Winning Confidence

Ambassador of God is a Global Mission pioneer (who prefers to stay anonymous), planting a church in the city of Bangkok, Thailand.

“There are no shortcuts for this one! My practical tip: stay connected to people and share life with them. Confidence is built over time by being an intentional follower of Jesus who shares everyday life with people in the same ways Jesus did. You can’t force people to trust you. It happens over time as we rub shoulders authentically and consistently with people in everyday situations. We gain confidence by listening, meeting needs, keeping our word, walking our talk, and by being there for people in good times and in challenging times.”

Simon Martin is a pastor and church planter in Dunstable, England.

“What happens when we make purposeful relationships for the Kingdom? When we seek the best for people? When we demonstrate sympathy and serve people according to their needs? You’re right: we make friends. True friendships, though, only come as the direct result of trust. This was the way Jesus broke down barriers of rejection and prejudice. This is the only way we will truly be able to show God’s love for everyone.

“However, we should always remember the importance of authenticity in our relationships. In urban and postmodern contexts we cannot simply ‘forget’ people if they don’t respond according to our expectations. Trust is key! So, be authentic. Be real.”

Kleber Gonçalves is senior pastor of the Nova Semente Seventh-day Adventist Church in the heart of São Paulo, Brazil. He is also director of the Global Mission Center for Secular and Postmodern Studies.