You’ve probably been there—sitting next to someone on a plane, standing in line at the coffee shop, waiting somewhere with a stranger right beside you—sensing you should say something and maybe talk about Jesus, wondering if you actually will. Wondering if it might change the life of this person you may never see again.
Here’s what years of those conversations have taught me: those moments matter more than we know, and God puts people in our path for a reason. Sharing the Gospel with a stranger comes down to two things: slowing down enough to actually see the person next to you and caring enough about them to not let the moment pass.
The tools and questions I’m going to share are just that—tools. They help you have deep, meaningful conversations with strangers. These tools only work when they come from genuine love for the actual person in front of you. People know the difference. And when the love is real, it’s amazing what can happen—even in 30 minutes on a plane.
Bridge Building
I think of conversations like building a bridge. The goal is to meet in the middle. If either side stops building, the conversation is over. With a stranger you’re starting that bridge from scratch and you may never get a second chance, so the early moments matter. You build the bridge one genuine question at a time. Let’s look at where these conversations happen, how to start, and how to finish well even when the person walks away.
Where You Meet Strangers
Most Gospel conversations with strangers don’t happen at a planned event. They happen in the in-between moments of an ordinary day: a seat on a plane, the back of a rideshare, a line at the checkout, a waiting room, the table next to you at a coffee shop. You and another person are briefly sharing the same space with a little unhurried time.
The hard part isn’t usually the talking; it’s slowing down enough to notice the person is even there. Most of us move through these moments on autopilot and almost don’t notice the people around us. Ask God to open your eyes, and you’ll be amazed how many people He puts in your path every day who simply need someone to see them.
How to Start
In all honesty, starting is the hardest step with someone you’ve never met. The secret is real interest in their life and maybe knowing some “useless trivia.”
One man on a flight told me he owned a company that turned garbage into gasoline. I was genuinely fascinated, so I asked him to draw out the hydrocarbon chain so I could see how it worked, and he was amazed I even knew what that was. We laughed. I actually wanted to hear about his work, and he could tell. When he asked what I did for a living, he actually wanted to hear my answer too. I told him I’m an evangelist. About 30 minutes later, he prayed to receive Christ.
That’s the whole idea behind what I call “worthless trivia”—knowing a little about a lot of things so you can take genuine interest in anyone. It’s a way of honoring someone by being curious about their world. If you show real interest in someone and what they do, they’ll be far more open to hearing what matters to you. For more openers and ways to turn an everyday conversation toward the Gospel, this post walks through five methods of sharing the Gospel in detail.
Move Toward the Gospel
In most situations with strangers, time is short, and you may never have a second conversation. So don’t let fear keep you quiet. You don’t want them to walk away without ever hearing the best news there is.
A gentle way to move from small talk to deeper things is the FIRE acrostic: ask about their Family or friends, their Interests, a Religious question (“Where do you go to church?”), and then a couple of Exploratory questions like, “If you were standing before God and He asked, ‘Why should I let you into heaven?’—what would you say?”
You’re asking because you genuinely want to know where someone is. So, listen—really listen—to the answer. If what they share isn’t the heart of the Gospel, gently ask if they’d like to hear what the Bible says. Most people, even strangers, will say yes when they can tell the question came from a place of genuine care.
Helping Someone Meet Jesus
When the Holy Spirit nudges you to invite someone to make a decision—whether they look ready or you just sense it while they’re still processing—go ahead and ask. You don’t need a stage, an altar, or another visit. The plane seat or the coffee shop is enough.
I’ll ask, “Would you like to pray and give your life to Jesus right now?” Then I wait. Some people answer right away. Others need a long quiet moment to think it through. Don’t rush the silence. If they say yes, I help them pray in their own words—that they’re sorry for their sin, that they believe Jesus died on the cross and rose again to save them, and that they’re giving Him their life. Romans 10:9 is the heart of it: “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9, CSB). What matters is the heart behind the words.
When they finish, celebrate with them. Something real just happened, and the angels in heaven are rejoicing over it (Luke 15:10).
Make the Handoff Count
With family or friends, you’ll be there for the follow-up. With a stranger, you usually won’t, so the handoff matters more. If someone surrenders their life to Christ, help them understand they’re secure: no one can snatch them out of God’s hand.
Then point them somewhere. Before you part ways, talk about the importance of studying the Word of God and finding a great church. I send people to growth and next-step resources like those at ForgeForward.org/NEXT, so the moment you shared doesn’t end when the plane lands or the coffee’s gone.
Handling Rejection from Someone You’ll Never See Again
Here’s the part nobody likes to talk about: sometimes a stranger says no. They change the subject, put in their earbuds, or politely shut it down. With a coworker or family member, that stings because you’ll see them tomorrow. With a stranger, it can feel like the whole encounter was wasted.
It wasn’t. Two truths set you free here.
First, your job is to love the person and build the bridge—not to force anyone across it. Some plant, some water, but God gives the increase. A kind, honest word about Jesus, offered out of real care, is never wasted, even if you never learn what it did in their heart.
Second, the fact that you’ll likely never see them again is actually a gift. The social stakes are low. There’s no relationship to protect, no awkwardness at the next family dinner. Let that freedom make you bolder. Say the true thing kindly, respect their no when it comes, and trust God with the rest. Seeing someone clearly also means honoring their no.
>> You may only get two minutes with a stranger—make them count. How to Write Your Testimony is a free guide that helps you shape your God-Story into a short, honest account you can share anywhere, any time.
Ready, Set, Pray!
Sharing the Gospel with a stranger really comes down to this: slow down, see the person, take genuine interest in their life, and care enough not to let the moment pass. Then trust God with the outcome.
Spend a few moments in prayer right now. Ask God to open your eyes to the people all around you. Ask Him to bring those who need to know Him across your path. Ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit so you can meet every stranger with the hope—and the love—of Jesus.
Ready, Set, Go!
Download the Full Infographic!