I guess when you get older you lose some of your inhibitions. Or it may be that God is working a deeper sanctification in my life. Whatever it is, I find that I love taking a Lyft, taxi, or Uber to and from the airport. Why? Because I get to meet immigrants, and I love listening to their stories. Every driver I’ve had in the past seven years, save one, was an immigrant from Eastern Europe, North Africa, or Latin America/Caribbean. Last week, one was from Nepal.

So I always try to enter the vehicle rested, prayerful, and ready to talk.

Most of my conversations have been “early evangelism” or pre-evangelism. I ask where the driver is from, what their religious background is, and if they practice their religion today. Often, we talk about prayer (“Who do you pray to?”) or the life of Jesus. “I know you are Muslim, but Jesus is considered a prophet in Islam. Have you read his words before from the Christian Bible? Do you know where to find Jesus’ words?” Virtually all of the drivers are willing to talk, and I have never had a driver who was rude or disrespectful when I spoke about such things. It may be they are motivated by tips and so they are especially polite. Even so, this is where the free-market economy paves the way for evangelism!

My last trip to an airport was different. It is only the second time my driver has been a committed Christian. She is from a country in Latin America but from the time she was young, had always wanted to come to the United States. With little prodding, she told her story which I summarize here:

My family, like most of my country, was a mixture of religions: Roman Catholic, witchcraft, some Buddhism from immigrants, but belief in God is in all religions. When I was almost 20, I migrated to L.A., but got involved in drugs, alcohol, and sexual activity. I became a Christian when I came to a Christian drug rehab ministry in L.A. Jesus saved my life through that community. So, I learned to read the Bible and follow Jesus. However, my parents now live in Massachusetts, and they still follow witchcraft and still believe that God is in everything and in all beliefs: no boundaries, no laws, nothing forbidden. I am living with them now, but I am going back to L.A. to help out at the rehab center. My younger brother, who is only 17, lives with my parents, but he attends a Latin American church and has an active faith. We have many arguments at home about what my parents call the “helpers of God,” their name for the spirits. I think they are demons. I live in a house of spiritual conflict.

“Wow,” I thought to myself. So, in the thirty minutes that remained on the drive, I talked about demons and deliverance. I gave her my card and wrote down “Deliverance YouTube”[1] referring to the Gordon-Conwell panel discussion. I read to her the recent blog post titled “Extreme,”[2] and that was an encouragement for her. And when we came to the airport she said, “I am so thankful you were my rider today.” I told her I was thankful too, sensing that my five-hour flight delay and later ride to the airport had been for a divine reason.

I was thankful to be of some help, or better, to be a paraclete—a comforter—to come alongside and encourage and give some guidance. It is a great Greek word that describes the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of Jesus Christ: the paraclete exemplar for us, to come alongside, and also to be a comfort and a guide.

Going through security, it occurred to me that, to be a Christian today, a Jesus follower who accepts the joy of being a witness, we need to think of ourselves as “coming alongside” people. An evangelist is less a proclaimer from on high or from a distance but more, should be a companion and guide. When we come alongside people on the road of life, we listen carefully to what they are saying, which reflects where they are as a person. What are their ideas about life and God? What are their fears and anxieties? What do they need from me to guide them closer to Jesus and to be aware of the Kingdom of God? What scripture or resource will help them on their way to a life fully “in Christ” (en Christo: ‘ἐν Χριστῷ’)?

This driver needed support, guidance, and prayer.

When we arrived at the airport, we prayed that the demons would be cast out of her parents’ home and that she and her brother would be strong in their witness and express the love and forgiveness of Christ. Then we prayed boldly that, before she returned to L.A., her parents would give their lives to Christ.

[1] Spiritual Warfare and Deliverance: A Panel Discussion.
[2] Attentiveness, “Extreme.”

Dr. Scott W. Sunquist, president of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, is author of the “Attentiveness” blog. He welcomes comments, responses, and good ideas.