Oct 14th 2025
How to Start a Witnessing Conversation
People need to hear the Gospel—to hear that God loves them, Christ died for them and that they can have eternal life.
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” — Romans 10:13–14
However, sometimes fear can cripple us when it comes to sharing our faith. You don't want to offend anyone, or seem like a Jesus freak, or be rejected. Maybe you’re afraid to share your faith because you don’t know what to say.
"God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind." — 2 Timothy 1:7
How do I Overcome this Fear?
You can overcome this fear by 3 things:
- Praying
- Studying
- Practicing
1. First, pray and ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit and to help you overcome this fear of man.
2. Study the Bible. Read and memorize Scripture.
"...and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" — 1 Peter 3:15
3. Put it into practice. Start witnessing on a regular basis. Get a friend to join you and go out together to share your faith.
How do I start the conversation?
When you are ready, start the conversation by simply smiling and giving a friendly greeting like, “Hello” or “Good morning.”
If they seem open and receptive, you can naturally move into spiritual conversation by:
- Asking, “Do you go to church around here?” or “Have you had a Christian background?”
- Offering prayer: “Can I pray for you? Is there anything I can bring to the Lord for you right now?”
- Handing them a cross penny or a gospel tract and saying, “Did you get one of these?”
If they respond well, you can share the Gospel based on their reaction.
If you’ve never shared your faith with cross pennies, why not try them?
I used to be afraid to start conversations with strangers about my faith. It became easier when I realized offering a small, unique gift breaks the ice—most people like gifts.
Now I carry cross pennies and use them as a witness tool daily. They’re portable and definitely a conversation starter.
I don’t “force” my beliefs on anyone—I simply ask, “Did you get one of these?” and hand them a cross penny. If they ask questions (and they will), it opens the door to share my faith.
Get cross pennies and do your part in the Great Commission. Find them on our website: Cross Pennies. They’re so compelling that people will ask for more.
How do you start a witnessing conversation?
We’d love to hear your stories! Let us know in the comments below.