WINNING SOULS
Nathan White, a Jesus Fellowship leader in Northampton, shares his vision for evangelism.

“Friday night. Electric bright lights, traffic, music, sirens. We move through the town centre, our eyes scanning everything. Two lads sitting on the pavement - looks like they're skinning up: our kind of boys. We're out of the car in a flash."

"All right boys, Jesus Army. What's going on?" The conversation grows; we're invited back to a flat with all their crew.

Game on!

The following night, we're at a fairly notorious estate with a rep for hostile youth. We roll in, not sure what to expect. I lock my phone in the car (it's a good one!) It's cold, foggy; eerie orange neon lights glowing. We pick a direction, swing left through the houses. Then we hear voices; we look at each other and head out into the darkness. Close enough now to make out the lads' figures, we call out "Safe boys, what's happenin'?"

They make a ring around us. My heart's thumping. What next?

"Jesus Army, man, come to see you boys." Gradually they chill and the questions start. Then we ask about the estate, where the poor families are, explaining our mission. We end up praying for them. My mate got their numbers (he was braver than me and took his mobile with him).

Jesus is only as real, as challenging, as loving to these guys, as we are to them. Where the darkness is most deepest - that's where the light has got to shine. If I don't feel that surge of purpose as I engage with pushing back the darkness then I'm only half alive. We sing and talk about "soul winning" - but I'm only kidding myself, if when the opportunity comes to get out, meet and win people, I find reasons why not to.

When so many old values and structures (including old-style Christianity) are disintegrating, the culture is truly up for grabs. Look at Bridgend: young people committing suicide one after the other, symbolic of the gnawing hopelessness in the hearts of a generation.

Where's the Jesus Army in all this? Raised up for this time, for 21C. You could be destined to have a role to play in it. We're well-positioned to win people for Jesus: we've actually got a new society, a family, to bring people into. But - will we bring them in?

If only the Jesus Army was in Bridgend! Could we turn it around enough for the message to get out (over MySpace or whatever) that there are some Christian dudes in town who just love, love, and love people?

"They'll sit up with you all night, do anything for you, they've got something in them that makes you just want to be with them, makes you feel different about yourself. They seem to love life and it's infectious."

What would you do in Bridgend? How would you connect with the need? How would you start? Yet, the truth is you don't have to go there. Every estate in this country needs the Jesus Army. What are you doing where you are?

It's the same everywhere. Gangs hanging out cos they can't get into places, getting into trouble, whatever; but at least they are visible. Ganging up for friendship and excitement, looking for something to do: and there's our opportunity!

Everyone in the church can win the heart and friendship of other people. And young people should be at the forefront of this. They're simply everywhere, wanting to be taken hold of. I can't walk down the street without seeing the potential, the possible future, in these listless young figures. But all too often church people don't put themselves forward, don't believe in themselves enough. If only they realised how many people would love to know them - if they only knew their heart.

One thing is sure: this isn't a "part-time" endeavour. It's something that must take over our lives, our whole mindset: thinking about them, praying about their situations, aware of what's going on almost minute by minute - and this is easily possible in our communications-rich culture. Texting! Phoning! Emailing! (And spending loads of time with them too.)

I drive around with a list of names on my windscreen (not quite literally); I'm training my mind to take these people everywhere with me.

Forget the opposite sex, entertainment, social stuff: this has got to become our obsession if we want to see it work. Jesus said he'd come to "seek and save the lost". That's got to be us. Not to "seek and save" money, or a family, or our own fulfilment.

When you get together with your Christian friends ask them, "What's your vision for people? Who do you love? What you gonna make happen?"

If only we got half as determined as the people who are out chasing their careers or sex or whatever.

Why get an early night or just chill with your friends on a Friday night when the people you say you want to win are all out and about? Don't you want to see people who've known nothing but disappointment, bullying, porn, family pain - waking up inside, becoming your brother, your sister?

It'll happen by being with people, letting them do their thing while you do yours. Being different, throbbing with love, your eyes sparkling. You won't have to say much: you've got it and you know it. They know it, too. Don't worry about how to present yourself; your technique will come later.

Of course, meeting people and beginning a friendship is just 5 per cent of actually winning a soul. Next comes the patience of being a spiritual "dad" or "mum": hanging onto them for dear life; breaking your fears as well as theirs as you help them talk to Jesus, learn to worship, open up - and let them invade your private space and take over your life. Then you've really begun!

You'll start to feel the heart throb of the New Testament: "I make myself a slave to all that I might win the more". You find yourself saying "yes" to opportunities. Like back in the summer when I put an 'I am a Christian' CD in the hand of a promising-looking skateboarder. We started hooking up and helped him out (sorted him a new board when some chavs broke his). He stays over with us a lot these days. And his sister who lives just down the road on the same estate is now coming along and wants to get her daughter dedicated to Jesus.

One time I was looking for my skateboarder mate at the house I'd last dropped him off at, only to find the immigrant family he'd been staying with needed to move all their stuff out. They needed help. It took me two days. As a result they're now also part of the scene and getting built in. And they brought their Chinese cousins round. Then these girls bring their friends round to our place one Saturday night. They get blown away by a word of knowledge someone has for them - and find Jesus. It's all friendship "circles", everyone's linked up.

So what about it? Could it be you walking up to the lads in that estate, chatting about Jesus at a bus stop, flipping burgers with love in your clubbing district - whatever! Anything to show that this Jesus is the most surprising, exciting and "more-ish" force this planet can deal with. And He wants to build His Church through you - if only you'll let Him.