Host Luke Stehr is joined by college minister Connor Toreallaba and Dr. Gary Stidham for a conversation about the gospel movements happening on college campuses across Texas and the country, and what every believer can learn from them. Gary has spent more than two decades in collegiate ministry, including 20 years leading the Baptist Student Ministry at UTA. Connor leads First Baptist Arlington’s college ministry. Together they talk about why students are more open to faith than they were a decade ago, how “reps” build confidence in sharing your faith, and a simple step-by-step way to start a gospel conversation with anyone.

In this episode

• A great time for college ministry. Gary says he knows of at least 10 campus ministries that have each seen more than 100 students profess faith in Christ in a single year. Ten years ago, he knew of none.
• Evangelize or fossilize. As culture becomes more post-Christian, churches and campus ministries are recovering a sense of urgency about sharing the gospel.
• Why reps matter. Contact evangelism means going out in pairs and talking with strangers. It gives students dozens of practice conversations in one semester, and that confidence carries over into conversations with roommates, coworkers, and family.
• Getting reps outside of college. Ideas include reviving “visitation”-style follow-up, gospel appointments over coffee, neighborhood cookouts, kids’ activities, and community events. Luke also suggests a simple prayer to pray everywhere you go: “God, what are you doing here, and how do I join in?”
• What counts as sharing the gospel? A spiritual conversation is valuable, but sharing the gospel means communicating the message of Jesus: he lived, died, rose again, and offers salvation, usually with an invitation to respond.
• Your story in one sentence. Have a full testimony, a 20-second version, and a one-sentence version, built on “Then… but God… now.”
• The holy relay race. One plants, another waters, and God gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6). You have a part to play, but not the whole thing.
• The thresholds of faith. Most people come to Christ through a series of steps. For many, the first step is simply knowing one Christian they trust. That’s a good reason to “fly the Jesus flag early.”
• Building a witnessing culture. Connor’s approach is to lead by example, pray boldly, set clear expectations, talk about it often, and share stories.

The SALTY method

Gary’s step-by-step framework for gospel conversations:

• Start a conversation. A good opener is “What’s your spiritual background?”
• Ask questions, with permission, moving from general to personal.
• Listen to answers with genuine curiosity.
• Tell the good news, using a gospel summary you know well, such as Three Circles, the Romans Road, or the Bridge to Life.
• Yes or no: invite a response.

Resources mentioned

• Free SALTY ebook at garystidham.com
• I Once Was Lost by Doug Schaupp and Don Everts (InterVarsity Press), the source of the “five thresholds” framework
• 1 Peter 3:15, on sharing your hope with gentleness and respect
• First Baptist Arlington’s equipping brunches

Take a step this week

Pray for opportunities. Write your one-sentence testimony. Ask one person, “What’s your spiritual background?”

Learn more about First Baptist Arlington at fbca.org.