As children, my brothers and I used to play computer simulation games, like car-racing games (escape the cops!) and a flight simulator. These simulation games allow children to practice the skills needed for operating a vehicle or plane without any danger to themselves or the aircraft! Of course, if the simulator is not very realistic, it won’t be extremely helpful training for real-life.
Today in devotions, I attempted a different sort of flight simulator with my high school orchestra girls (our one boy is off at soccer finals – they made it into the final round and have probably already played the championship game!). When they walked into orchestra, I had them all sit down like normal. They figured we would be continuing our discussion on evangelism/witnessing/sharing faith. Then I told them, ‘We are all on a flight together. You’re all traveling together, and I’m a stranger in your row. Your goal is to share the Gospel with me before we land.’
We had some bumpiness and some awkward moments, but after a while they actually felt like they were talking to a stranger instead of Miss Musick. I took on the character of Mathilda Greene, which brought about some giggles and groans in our initial introductions. After asking what the purpose of my trip was (visiting Munich with some friends to get a European experience), they began to ask about my life (I was a student at a university in Chicago, studying for a business degree). One student began to probe more deeply into my goals for the future, eventually leading to questions of what I valued in life (money, but that’s kind of empty after I get everything I want). We ended up covering several topics, such as ‘Is there a Heaven or Hell?’ ‘If Heaven exists, does God exist?’ ‘Is God good?’ ‘Where did creation/people come from?’ Their questions would have been fodder for many good conversations for willing strangers.
After we stopped our simulation (The plane is about to land!), they had some follow-up questions for me. When ‘Mathilda’ had made certain statements, they wanted to know how I would respond. We talked about several good answers; it got me excited about the Bible and sharing my faith again! All of the students have quite a few arguments of their own in case someone attacks their faith (their parents and Bible teachers have been filling them with this knowledge), but there will always be those questions that arise in conversations that they don’t know the answer to. This was a very practical way for them to apply what we’ve been discussing and what they have been learning in Bible class. I hope that they are a little more prepared and emboldened to share their faith.
Just reading the manual isn’t enough. Even a flight simulator isn’t enough. It’s time for some test flights! These kids are ready to go out and share their faith with their friends and maybe even some strangers that God places next to them on the airplane as they head off to various parts of the world next week.
