Pt 2. Greg Stewart + Weaving in Faith @ Work

[00:00:00] Welcome to the Ask About My Faith Podcast, where our hope is to inspire everyday faith conversations.

[00:00:09] I'm Jess and I'm Abby. Welcome back to Part 2 of our chat with Greg Stewart.

[00:00:15] Greg is an art director and animator at a motion design studio in Vancouver, British Columbia.

[00:00:20] And we're going to hear about his new job in the move to Portland soon,

[00:00:24] with his wife, their two kids and two golden retrievers.

[00:00:27] Greg is going to spill the beans on how he seamlessly weaves his faith into the work scene,

[00:00:33] whether it's over pizza at a quirky space at 2 a.m., or while speaking with students and answering the question,

[00:00:39] how did you get this job?

[00:00:41] Greg is going to end with some golden advice for us all.

[00:00:44] You'll have to listen all the way to the end.

[00:00:46] To be honest, we don't know Greg outside of this conversation, but I can tell he's not just talking the talk.

[00:00:52] He walks the walk by modeling Jesus every day and I hope you feel inspired to do the same.

[00:00:58] Let's jump in.

[00:01:03] Greg, I'm curious if you've had any conversations that even come to mind now where you recall how you weaved in a little bit of your faith.

[00:01:11] Yeah.

[00:01:13] Yeah, definitely.

[00:01:14] I am in March of 2020, so right before everything happened, yeah.

[00:01:21] Don't need to go and know how that but everyone knows what I'm thinking about.

[00:01:25] I got to go to a conference in South Carolina at SCAD, which is the Savannah College of Art and Design,

[00:01:33] which is like one of the top design programs in the country.

[00:01:40] There was a student run conference and so as part of that, I was representing my company and I had all these 15-minute slots with students who would come and present me some of their work.

[00:01:51] I would give them feedback and they would basically everybody would ask, how did you end up working at the company that you work at?

[00:01:58] Because my boss is legendary in, again, this small nerdy pond.

[00:02:06] He's like a very big fish and he wouldn't say that.

[00:02:08] But he's been in inspiration with a ton of people.

[00:02:12] And so I kind of had these students stuck with me for 15-20 minutes and any time they'd ask, well, how did you end up there?

[00:02:20] So okay, well, you've asked me a question, so now you're going to listen to what I have to say.

[00:02:25] And I'm not going to go back to Genesis 1 but I am going to say, I actually didn't go to design school.

[00:02:32] I was in Bible college, I studied theology and Greek and Spanish.

[00:02:37] I thought I was going to do Bible translation.

[00:02:39] I saw a video of a tribe in New Guinea having the New Testament delivered to them in their own language.

[00:02:45] It was really inspiring and it made me want to make that kind of thing.

[00:02:48] And from there, I got into film which got me into post-production, which got me into animation.

[00:02:54] And I really fell in love with that and now I work at this company.

[00:02:57] And so maybe I would shorten some of that a little bit.

[00:03:01] But it's very natural for me to explain how I got to where I am and involve faith in that because that is literally what was like a big motivating factor.

[00:03:13] It was super easy for me, I just sort of got a kick out of like, well, you've asked me the question, you're going to listen to what I say.

[00:03:21] I'm not going to be able to do that without being maybe too heavy-handed.

[00:03:26] Maybe that's sort of like 10% past what I could avoid bringing faith in but I'm going to do it in a way that is not too well.

[00:03:36] Now that you've asked, here's a sledgehammer.

[00:03:39] But yeah, I'm going to push this in a little bit.

[00:03:43] And so it was just very natural and easy to talk about.

[00:03:48] The thing that was interesting for me to get into this industry, it was something I connected with my boss over and some of my co-workers, their believers.

[00:03:56] And so that's why I chose to want to work with them over some other companies.

[00:04:02] And so it was just very easy to talk about what I believed and how it had impacted the choices I had made and the motivations I'd had.

[00:04:12] And then it's like, well, clearly there's something working about that because I work at this great company.

[00:04:16] And so now those students walk away and they have to chew on that a little bit.

[00:04:21] Well, and obviously anytime someone asks about our even work history or light history, what an opportunity to just weave the Lord in to why you're there?

[00:04:32] Because as Christians, Christ is like the center of everything that we do.

[00:04:36] And so it's like, why am I a realtor?

[00:04:39] And you can kind of dig into, I feel like the Lord led me here and I get to have amazing conversations with my clients, things like that.

[00:04:47] So yeah, I think that's a really beautiful story and such a good point for our listeners too is maybe while you're driving and listening to this,

[00:04:57] think about how do we've got into those conversations in a way that's not like writing out Roman's Rome, but it's like, hey, this was my life before and then God entered and this is how it's changed.

[00:05:11] Yeah, absolutely. And I think like, you know, believing in a God who is sovereign, like there's, there's a reason that I am in the job I am.

[00:05:21] There's many reasons I may be aware of two out of a billion of them.

[00:05:25] Obviously, there's like, hey, this is how I hope like provide for my family, but because I work where I do specifically, there's opportunities that come with that.

[00:05:34] And you know, I think of second Corinthians, maybe it isn't quite the right like application, but it talks about how I am blessed to be the God of all comfort because he's given us comfort with which we then like comfort others.

[00:05:47] And so, you know, I think that doesn't necessarily just apply with like comfort and hard times, but the Lord has given me this job.

[00:05:54] And that, you know, there's a purpose in that not just for me, but also to be a blessing to other people.

[00:06:00] And so getting to weave faith into, you know, I feel like I have the best job in the world and I see that as a blessing.

[00:06:08] I see that as, you know, something I've been like gifted with that I don't feel like I deserve.

[00:06:14] And you know, I get to them looking courage other people with that as well.

[00:06:17] That's so good.

[00:06:18] What a great way to share your faith just by sharing the story of how you've seen God at work and wow these people, you happen to know can relate to wanting to push their career forward and get that awesome dream job.

[00:06:33] And you could say, actually here's how it happened and it was totally God.

[00:06:39] Essentially one of the first questions you asked someone would need them.

[00:06:42] Here's what you do for your career.

[00:06:44] Well, the interesting thing I was thinking about stories is like I used to think of myself as not being a very good storyteller.

[00:06:50] Then I realized that's not very helpful.

[00:06:52] And when I hear people tell stories, it's because they're really good at it and they're good at it because they practiced it.

[00:07:00] And this isn't the first time we're hearing your story for example, right?

[00:07:05] Or this is the most of your time in your story.

[00:07:07] Yeah.

[00:07:08] And so you might feel weird sharing your story but it might also just be because you haven't shared it before.

[00:07:13] So do it.

[00:07:14] Totally.

[00:07:15] And do it again and again and eventually you'll feel like, oh, I got that down.

[00:07:19] Let me show that some more.

[00:07:20] Yeah.

[00:07:21] It becomes natural the more you do it.

[00:07:23] And I think the other great thing about stories is that I think they tend to come across as less preachy.

[00:07:28] Yeah.

[00:07:29] Someone can't, you know, I'm not necessarily telling that story and then finishing with now you need to do XYZ with your life.

[00:07:37] It's like this is how I have seen the Lord work in my life.

[00:07:40] Right.

[00:07:41] And someone else can't really like argue they might question whether or not it was God but they can't argue with my experience of that.

[00:07:48] Right.

[00:07:50] So I think that's like kind of a bonus of just like being able to weave the Lord into, you know, yeah.

[00:07:55] Because he has we've done self into our stories.

[00:07:59] Being able to be able to do that I think just is a little can be really natural.

[00:08:03] Well, like you said, it's your experience.

[00:08:05] They can't argue with that.

[00:08:06] They might like you said they might they might have more questions about well how do you know it was God?

[00:08:12] And yeah, great.

[00:08:14] They ask more questions.

[00:08:16] Yes, let's go.

[00:08:17] Yeah, and I can answer that too because I literally remember like being here in Canada family reunion.

[00:08:23] And I was unsure if I should be doing animation and I have written in my journal from July 2018.

[00:08:29] I can pull it up right now of like, you know, Lord, if this is where you want me working.

[00:08:33] Give me and I was just like what's like the craziest thing I could possibly ask for so that I would know that this is the Lord.

[00:08:40] Right.

[00:08:41] I said, you know, give me a job either with Jorge who's now currently my boss or this other company in Vancouver called giant and both of those are like making it.

[00:08:51] And a month later I essentially had the option of working at either place and I picked for it.

[00:08:56] But it's like, you know, I can say with whole full confidence that like that was a Lord.

[00:09:02] And I have it written down so I can go back and read it if I ever, you know, question that.

[00:09:08] So yeah, I think just I don't know.

[00:09:10] Obviously it takes a certain amount of like being aware of the Lord's work and you're like to be able to weave that in without being fake about it.

[00:09:17] But yeah, I have like come back to that so many times when I've questioned things like well, I have among others like this one really great example of like the Lord answering a kind of crazy request in a super specific way.

[00:09:31] That even outside, you know, people of faith like they would have to admit that's kind of crazy.

[00:09:38] So yeah, no, it's just it's great.

[00:09:41] So Greg, one of the other things when it comes to work and weaving in your faith, one of the ways you do that is through a co-working space, is that right?

[00:09:51] Yeah, so for a while in the year where I was waiting to become a US citizen to move to Canada, I was working in a co-working space.

[00:10:00] Yeah, just a little studio in Northeast Minneapolis.

[00:10:05] And so in that space I was working with a bunch like younger guys who are also kind of been related industries and so I was working on a ton of like Christian stuff.

[00:10:16] So there would often be like the word Jesus or a big cross like on my screen.

[00:10:22] And you know, the great thing about a co-working space is people walk by and they see what you're working on.

[00:10:27] So just like kind of very naturally that prompted a lot of conversations.

[00:10:32] And I don't know if it was because I was a little bit older, I felt maybe felt like a little bit of like a response.

[00:10:38] Like I was like, they're dead or anything like that. But I just sort of felt like hey there's, I maybe have a little more life experience than some of these younger guys.

[00:10:46] And you know outside of like just having like a cool job.

[00:10:51] There's maybe like, you know something else I have to offer.

[00:10:54] And at that point like I was just in a really, really fortunate position.

[00:10:58] I was living in a house that I co-owned with a friend and so we made enough from like renting out one of the rooms on Airbnb and having a couple tenants that like I was not paying rent.

[00:11:08] I had paid off my student loans and I was, like I was having like a killer time freelancing.

[00:11:16] And so you know it was the single man's dream.

[00:11:23] But yeah that was before I was married.

[00:11:26] And then you know I was working with these like younger guys who are kind of like maybe struggling a little bit more trying to figure some stuff out.

[00:11:32] And so again that sort of like you know backing up the words you speak with the way that you live your life.

[00:11:38] Not only do we have like tons of conversations about you know the stuff I was working on and why I was working on it.

[00:11:44] But when we go out to lunch like as much as I could without being like weird, I would just like offer to pay for things or you know bring snacks into the office and those sorts of things.

[00:11:55] Again just trying to show like hey it's like you know I may be doing really well in this season of life.

[00:12:02] It doesn't mean I will be like in a month or whatever but like as I have like been blessed like I want to bless others with like the things I have.

[00:12:10] So we had like tons of conversations about things from like dating to Jesus to you know one of the guys didn't even believe Jesus existed which was like such a...

[00:12:21] I feel like usually you can at least you know you can have a conversation about like was he you know the Lord lunatic or liar or whatever the C.S. Lewis thing.

[00:12:29] But you know when someone doesn't even like believe he existed then it's like okay well maybe we should talk about the reliability of scripture and how you know there's like thousands of copies of the New Testament within a few hundred years of being written which like blows the next you know comparable ancient text out of the water.

[00:12:48] And so we just had like you know and we're like working until like one or two in the morning sometimes yeah which I feel like you know really loosens people up to be willing to talk about whatever.

[00:13:00] And so I mean I keep saying the word natural and I think like in any of those things you can always choose to be like oh I'm just doing this you know you can still choose out of things even when there's like opportunities being put in front of you but I think I just felt like in that season of my life.

[00:13:17] Like because you know maybe there's like the little bit of like I'm a little a few years older there's also like some respect that they had for me because who I was working with and the work I was doing like I don't want to manipulate that but like I want to leverage that because like they care about what I think and what I have to say.

[00:13:36] And they see how I'm living my life and so every chance I get you know I was like working on a promo video for a missions conference and it's like hey this is actually like something that I really care about a lot because I grew up reading mission or your biographies where I spent six months living in Mexico and South America after high school.

[00:13:55] You know other sorts of things just like making it really personal and trying to take advantage of like what opportunities I could to share about Jesus with my words and with my actions.

[00:14:09] Yeah and it does it sounds like it just all came up so like you said naturally in conversation it's not like this is what I used to launch into the faith conversation it's just like day to day who Greg is

[00:14:24] he loves the Lord and he talks about it.

[00:14:29] Yeah I and again I think I it is like I think there's a lot of opportunities that can come up like naturally that you can sort of choose to back out of everything.

[00:14:41] I don't know that I've ever regretted like choosing into those things it can get awkward and especially when you're kind of like oh you you don't believe Jesus existed I'm not.

[00:14:52] I'm not really sure to say I'm just sort of like haven't haven't dealt with that in a while let me try and remember the case for Christ or whatever you know youth group we had on the reliability of the Bible but I'm just sort of like fumbling your way through things but I think like it's just.

[00:15:10] I just I'm even like getting like happy my pen how can I run into someone to cover that again sometimes because that actually was like sort of cool to have that conversation and you make a good point.

[00:15:21] I mean it's it's allowing ourselves to be in community with people who might have different perspectives or might not have been exposed to what you know and choosing to go there I think we're probably have opportunities every day ones that are really easy.

[00:15:39] They're super easy obvious into a conversation or others that it might be a little bit more of a got to ask another question or two to get there yeah totally have the choice to go there or not and what if God saying hey I want you to love these people by being willing to engage in those conversations today.

[00:16:00] Yeah, instead of being in a hurry or yeah your image or what it might be totally and you also never know like I might be the only Christian in like these people's lives or some of them might have I mean one of the guys had had a friend who.

[00:16:18] Then like a similar missions like program that I'd done and had like a super negative experience so I was able to like engage in some of those conversations and talk about you know yeah like that is that is a horrible experience like.

[00:16:31] You know I don't need to get but yeah it's like I I as a Christian like I'm sort of offended by like what your friend experience and I don't think like that should be normal or that you know you maybe need to think of that as like what everybody's like yeah yeah Greg can you tell us about when you did do more of a.

[00:16:47] Direct pitch if you will with a coworker.

[00:16:52] Yeah so one of those guys that I was sort of in this co working space you know at that point we'd had like months and months of you know these late night conversations and stuff and I think it was one of these ones or it's like 130 in the morning and we both been like working on stuff like all day.

[00:17:07] And I think you know we're taking like a snack breaker we'd ordered in pizza or you know something like that it's just so funny to think about these things these are situations I would like never be in now.

[00:17:19] I hit like nine or 10 then I'm ready to go to bed but yeah I think we were just sort of in the middle like one of these kind of deeper faith conversations and I just sort of asked like well can I kind of just give you like the not sort of like i'm not trying to share my faith with you but let me share as if I was but I'm not sure what I was.

[00:17:36] As if I was but that actually didn't that sentence didn't make sense.

[00:17:41] How would I phrase that more just like yeah no I think I was just like can I can I give you sort of like the pitch like if I was you know really going to share this directly with you and I'm about to here it is and sort of you know like here's what I believe about God here's what I believe about like you know how he's like created here's what I believe about the Bible like this is what I believe about Jesus.

[00:18:05] This is what I believe that means in my life and how that's looked in my life how that's impacted the choices I've made and you know when I've been.

[00:18:14] Faced with like picking one direction or the other yeah and so like this is what I would say that means for you that like you know if you this.

[00:18:23] I believe that like God wants you he is like a plan for you he wants you to be a relationship with him wow and yeah I think you just kind of like oh you know that makes sense that like you think that.

[00:18:34] And that was just sort of you know yeah but it he didn't like make like we didn't pray a prayer together or anything like that but we were still friends and I think you know it maybe even better friends because like I had been vulnerable in being like hey like.

[00:18:53] You know I think it was like pen Gillette like this famous like magician who sort of said like he's an atheist but he said like how much do you have to hate somebody if you think that they're destined for hell and you don't you know yeah but if you don't try and do something to save them or you know it's like you know someone's about to get hit by a truck and you don't try and push them like the way like how much you have to hate someone yeah.

[00:19:15] And so I think he could see that you know you know his words were something to defective like it makes sense that you think that like if that is what I believe like of course I would want you you know not because.

[00:19:28] I'm judging the way you're living your life where I think that you're being some sort of like he then whatever it's like I care about you enough that I'm willing to like risk this kind of awkward conversation because I don't just care about.

[00:19:43] You know you're who you're sleeping with or whatever like that I care about your eternity and I care about you enough to have this awkward conversation.

[00:19:51] Okay. I'm just trying to like paint the picture so it's like 130 in the morning yeah you've been working all day you ordered pizza you guys are having like a conversation kind of around faith maybe like lifestyle things and then you're like can I just give you my pitch on why I don't eat.

[00:20:09] Basically Jesus and he was like yeah yeah. Yeah sure I love that so like you literally couldn't be more direct and it's like let me just explain to you why I believe what I believe and he's your body he's like sure before it.

[00:20:24] And then it's like at least foundational he gets it he understands it is like such a beautiful seed planted and watered and maybe the next person who waters is going to see like a little blue.

[00:20:36] But yeah just need to like have that and push you the awkwardness I think is so cool great job great yeah one at that point I knew I was moving into Canada and so it was like I you know I'm probably only going to be able to keep in touch with a limited number of people.

[00:20:53] When I move and you know so I would I would regret moving away and not having at least like felt like I gave it my best shot to like really you know give him the pitch.

[00:21:08] Hey maybe this is what you can do with your upstairs tenant too yeah I know there we go yeah yeah there we go motivation so cool okay so you just started a new job and I'm I've accepted a new job.

[00:21:22] I did by the starting post I think you'll okay when do you start.

[00:21:26] I'll be a month from starting by the time this book okay got it but everyone knows so that's not a secret.

[00:21:32] But great is starting at the Bible project that was my sound effect for being excited.

[00:21:40] Yeah yeah as of a few weeks ago I've accepted an offer from Bible project to join as the lead animator there so wow yeah.

[00:21:51] The Bible project is unbelievable I just downloaded the apple couple weeks ago there is so much content and reading through Jeremiah this week I was like I can't I can't read another rant.

[00:22:04] And then I watched the Bible study project and was like oh now I get like the full picture.

[00:22:09] I am such a fan of the work that the Bible project does are you excited about the new role.

[00:22:17] I am it's definitely like incredibly bittersweet I think it's like so we're going to be moving from Vancouver to Portland which is not a city I would have ever

[00:22:32] particularly desired to live in I'd like we don't have any family there it's not yeah really like a place that I would have.

[00:22:40] Oh I would love to live there but I think for you know for a while now my wife and I've been having some conversations about you know like work and how I've always just like really had this desire to work on things that are going to last beyond me and are going to point people to Jesus

[00:22:58] and I 100% believe that you can do that without working on like quote unquote Christian things.

[00:23:05] You know the way that you do your work can bring glory to God but a couple times I said if I was ever going to work anywhere else like I think it would be like Bible projects.

[00:23:18] And so in the fall my boss actually forwarded me a job description from Bible projects and like hey these are some friends of ours like we're just trying to think of anyone that we could like pass along to them and the second I opened that link is just like.

[00:23:33] Oh I think that I am excited about this and I don't particularly want to be excited about this because I know what that would all mean.

[00:23:43] And I just I think I kind of knew right away if I like choose to go for this I think that like the Lord is going to open that door and so it took quite a bit of wrestling to even like be open to applying because you know I wasn't assuming that I would get offered the job I knew that there would be tons of people applying and there's lots of people who want to work it by the project but.

[00:24:06] I felt like I had to be okay with the possibility of if I apply and that means that I get an interview and a second interview and a third interview and an offer like I don't want to be caught off guard at the end of that process and get well I haven't really thought about what happens yeah.

[00:24:23] And so yeah there's like I think like the Lord is just like showed up in a lot of like really small nudges throughout that process like there wasn't necessarily like a you know a sledgehammer moment or the sky is parting it was just you know this seems like something that I would be qualified for and like really excited about.

[00:24:41] And then my wife was also like you have to at least apply and my parents you know so I have all these like people in my life who know me yeah who love me who know Jesus who love Jesus very trustworthy people yeah.

[00:24:52] And um and it just as like connected with a lot of things I'm passionate about so I get to help.

[00:24:59] You know from why I understand at least like I'll be sort of like a team captain and helping like kind of elevate like the production quality of the animation if I will project also in a way that's like efficient and.

[00:25:11] You know healthy for the team yeah so not you know working till 130 and ordering in pizza though it can be a great conversation starter.

[00:25:22] But I think just like what excites me is that like you know this stuff is going to be online for long after I'm gone and the work is being translated into currently 55 languages growing.

[00:25:36] And so you know as someone who is like seriously at points in my life like considered being a missionary you know moving somewhere to translate the Bible into new language.

[00:25:46] Wow you know like I just think and what's kind of what kind of got me into this whole thing of like media from the beginning was like maybe way more people will go do that sort of thing if I stay here and make these videos.

[00:26:01] Yeah.

[00:26:02] When if I go and so like the net positive for the kingdom is like way higher if I don't actually go do the thing I'm excited about and I do something else.

[00:26:12] And so I'm really excited but it does also mean leaving like the best job I've ever had with like the best people I've ever worked with.

[00:26:22] When I started this job I was single and since then I have been married and had become a dad and become a dog dad.

[00:26:33] But it's important got a couple dogs and we've got another kid coming and so like this job has really you know my co-workers have been like a family.

[00:26:43] And I also think this job has been like a big part of my identity like I've not necessarily in a bad way I think I've really enjoyed sort of like some of these conversations where like you know people ask like how did you get enough there and it's like boom Jesus.

[00:26:57] And I think as I think about like starting this new job a lot of those people are going to think I'm some sort of idiot for leaving you know one of like the best studios in the world to go work for some religious organization.

[00:27:11] And so I'm cautiously excited about how that will be a natural way of like well yeah I can see how you know it would seem crazy but let me tell you about how this actually makes like a ton of sense because you know I'm not just living for my career in this life.

[00:27:28] I'm trying to think about how I can use like the skills that I've been blessed with and developed and the opportunities that the words put in front of me to impact people all over the world and long after I'm gone.

[00:27:44] And so from that perspective I think it is crystal clear that it makes sense.

[00:27:48] Yeah even though it's a big change and it's hard and I'm you know also thinking about how it's going to impact our son who's almost too to be moving and all sorts of other things but I think we feel like quite confidence for the words calling us and yeah.

[00:28:04] And I'm excited to see what he does with all this.

[00:28:07] I can't wait to hear how this story you know it started you have kind of the first part of the story about how you got to where you are now and your job and how you've shared that story with you know students who are on just starting their path.

[00:28:21] And now you have you built that story out even more and you're going to be sharing this story not just to students are starting out in their career but yeah other guys other older adult.

[00:28:35] Animators who are saying wait what tell me about this why yeah and you get to share an incredible story of faith and how.

[00:28:46] It sounds like it's a pretty uncomfortable decision but you also know without a doubt that it's what God is asking you to do and yeah that story is going to touch more people and I can't wait to hear can't wait to hear how.

[00:29:02] Yeah yeah no I appreciate prayer for boldness in those conversations that I think it can be easy to start second guessing.

[00:29:11] You know in this moment as i'm talking about it's like of course this is just like absolutely what's and then you know as soon as someone asks like well why on earth would you do that wait this is right right.

[00:29:25] But yeah I'm excited to be challenged and there are people I'll be working with at Bible project who aren't believers from what I understand so there's still going to be opportunities to be like sitting next to people.

[00:29:35] To be sitting next to people and again like the way that I will be the lead animator will offer opportunities for like you know hey how can I instead of just being like why isn't your shot done how can I help you finish your shot rather some things that I can help troubleshoot and you know seeking to be Jesus and in how I work.

[00:29:54] Yeah and you are going to get some great coffee.

[00:29:59] That's a region in that region yes absolutely so that'll be helpful too.

[00:30:06] There is a pretty sick espresso machine at the Bible project that there is yes all right well Greg has been such a pleasure to hear your stories we would love to just wrap up if you have one piece of

[00:30:21] advice or encouragement to share with our listeners that you want to leave them with what might that be yeah this one.

[00:30:32] Yeah I think I mean there's that saying of like you know preach the gospel always if necessary use words and I get what it's saying but I I think it's always necessary to use words and but I think that the words are backed up by the life that you live in so.

[00:30:49] I think that it's not really a piece of advice.

[00:30:55] It is something I think we need to hear yeah.

[00:30:59] Yeah I think that it's it's not enough to like without diminishing the sovereignty of God it's not enough to just be a nice person and hope that someone will pick up on that and come to Jesus like I do think that in those moments you do need to step out a little bit

[00:31:17] and you know be push yourself you know 5% out of your comfort zone but just anything I think to ask that question or to share that story.

[00:31:28] And I think just like trusting in the Lord because it's not your job to make somebody who is dead alive in Christ only Jesus can do that and the spirit does that.

[00:31:42] So I think just not having all this pressure on yourself to like I have to go out and save people that's not your job that's not your call to.

[00:31:49] I think like the call is like to make disciples which involves like living life alongside other people that involves speaking to them and you know preaching to them in ways but I think yeah just that like seeking to build relationships with people and pass like the truth of the gospel through those relationships is I don't know I think like that's just how I've been.

[00:32:11] Encourage so much is by like people you know who are older than me being willing to like live their lives and invite me into their lives whether it was like mentors in college being like hey I want to do something nice for my wife.

[00:32:24] I'm going to go buy groceries why don't you come with me and we'll talk about you know whatever girls you're trying to date but you know I'm like they're modeling for me like I have that in the back of my head.

[00:32:35] So if I ever have a younger guy I'm going to do the same things that he sees what it's like to be you know the good husband hopefully.

[00:32:45] And so yeah I think just like that that balance of like speaking the gospel with words and you know not ignoring that not shying away from that but also backing that up with the actions of trying to be someone who models Jesus to the people in your life.

[00:33:00] It's great to have the words and and to be able to speak of Jesus and it's even better to be able to do that and to demonstrate his love and what that actually looks like because that I think is where people get a hunger.

[00:33:15] Wait a second that's really appealing yeah it's more than just religion that that actually means something to you and I see it and I like it and I want.

[00:33:25] Sometimes people when you try to live how Jesus lived like some people might be confused or offended too.

[00:33:31] People might not always be like reactors like that's like so amazing but I think either way it prompts another conversation right and which is another opportunity to share about Jesus and what he's done with your life.

[00:33:46] Thank you for listening to the Ask But My Faith podcast we love your supporting continuing to bring you encouraging and inspiring stories please subscribe rate interview wherever you're listening and you can learn more about us and donate at askbutmyfake.com

[00:34:06] God bless you this week as you go out and share your faith.