I know that many people are looking for practical ways to be missional in their daily lives. It is often difficult to begin a spiritual conversation with people whom we come into contact with. One of the best ways that I have found to both impact people and open up conversations is to find simple ways to bless their lives.

I try to frequent the same spots to get to know unchurched people. One of my spots is Starbucks. While I have 4 different Starbucks that I go to at various times, the primary one that I frequent is at 380 and 75 in McKinney. It is very close to the church and has a lot of space.

One of the many workers that I have gotten to know at this Starbucks is a girl named Christine. She quickly learned my name, and she always likes to talk.

Earlier this week, while meeting a friend out at the Starbucks on 380 and El Dorado, I ran into Christine. She had been out jogging and dropped into this other Starbucks. So we chatted for a bit.

She told me that she had been going to a church in Denton before she moved here, but that she had not yet found a church here. She said that she did not feel like she was losing her faith, however. Clearly, she was open, but not all that interested in church right now. She seems to be in a sorting out time of her life.

One of the weekly practices that I try to have, and that we incorporate into the Story of Redemption, is to bless (at least!) three people's lives each week--one a Christian, one a non-Christian or unchurched person, and the third can be either. As I was thinking about what unchurched person I could bless, I thought of Christine. (If I did not spend time in places like Starbucks, I would not have this opportunity. We have to be in close enough proximity to people to bless them.)

So I went and bought her a copy of Blue Like Jazz. It is a book on Christian spirituality that is popular with young adults. Donald Miller, the author, recently spoke out at the ACU lectureship. I thought that it was a book that would probably resonate with her and might open up doors of conversation. And then I wrote a little note (see above), thanking her for the way that she serves everyone with a smile. I'll plan on giving it to her the next time I see her.

I have found that little things like this can have a tremendous impact. It is a lonely world, and to have anyone think of us or go out of their way to do something nice for us is so rare. Like Christ, we should want to bless people's lives. And just as Christ healed people and then shared the gospel, by blessing others, we have an opportunity to share a message about Christ or invite someone to Bible study, worship, prayer, or service with us.

What are some simple ways that we can blessed non-Christians or the unchurched that can have a powerful impact?