What would you say if you were asked to give a brief summary of your faith. St. Peter wrote, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have." (1 Peter 3:15)

Say you only had thirty seconds - what would you say? The head of chaplains for the army in the first World War used to interview prospective chaplains with the question, "What would you say to a soldier who is mortally wounded and has only one minute to live?" He could tell whether they had gifts he was looking for by their answer.

Rick Warren asked the presidential candidates what being a Christian meant to them. Their answers were revealing and to the point. Senator Obama said: "I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins, and that I am redeemed through him. That is a source of strength and sustenance on a daily basis. I know that I don't walk alone." Senator McCain said: "It means I'm saved and forgiven."

How would you answer Rick Warren's question: "What does it mean to you to trust in Christ? What does that mean on a daily basis?" How would you answer an unchurched friend who asked you about your faith?

Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Church in Barrington, Illinois has four warnings about sharing your faith story.

First: Don't be Long-Winded. Get to the point. "The vast majority of faith stories I hear are way too long. Not to be cruel, but when I sign on to listen to what ought to be a three minute story I expect my clothing to still be in style when you finish. Pay attention to the other person's body language while you tell your story. Are their eyes darting? Are they slowly crossing their arms and inhaling deeply as you drone on? Keep your story brief and allow your listener the chance to ask a few follow-up questions. Leave them wanting more, and trust God to open up a dialogue if you are meant to say anything further about your journey."(Just Walk Across the Room, p.120)

Second: Fuzziness. Hybels says that the only thing worse than a long story is a long story that is incoherent. People tend to quote speakers they have heard, books they have read, and supernatural situations they have experienced years ago. Instead keep your story simple with a clear plot line.

Third: Religionese. Inwords like 'saved', 'born-again', and the like mean very little to the unchurched. Don't use church code, or spiritual jargon. Explain your experience in terms they can understand.

Fourth: Superiority. A condescending recital of biblical truths can convey the impression that the speaker is judging his hearer as ignorant and blind. They assume that they know everything and you know nothing. They are above contradiction. Be humble and loving instead of pious and supercilious. If you cared for your hearers then you would respect and love them for who they are.

If you are going to be able to share your faith in thirty seconds you need to think through the single key concept that has influenced you to follow Christ. What does it mean to you?

Bob Buford, author of Halftime, and Finishing Well, gives this reason for the hope that is in him: "I was nothing more than a bored rich guy. And then I met Christ. He has moved me from mere success to significance. In my relationship with Christ, I am finally discovering a purpose for my life."

What would you say that describes who you were before you became a Christian, how you came into a faith relationship with Christ, and the key word or concept that describes who you are after walking with Christ for a time?

Try writing that out in a hundred words or less. Hear are some examples:

"I was angry and depressed all my life, thinking that the world revolved around me and I wasn't getting my due. I was cynical and isolated. After finding Christ though, I felt an amazing love and acceptance for the first time. I began to be liked for who I was by the people around me, and my whole life changed. I came to know the joy of relating authentically with people - opening up with honesty and truthfulness about my life."

"I used to struggle under the burdens of a challenging career, marriage, and growing family. I tried to meet those obligations with my own efforts and sufficiency. As a result, I was stressedout-overworked-frustrated-angry-fearful-insecure-anxious-competitive-and-exhausted....all the time! The challenges still exist, but Jesus eases my burdens and is sufficient where I am deficient. Now I focus on what matters to God and he takes care of what matters to me. I face life calmly and confidently while enjoying God's wisdom and his undeserved blessings." (Hybels p.128)

Here is my attempt to give an answer to what it means to me to follow Christ.

"I tried hard to measure up to unconscious expectations in order to be accepted by God and others. When I admitted my failures I asked Jesus to come into my heart and live out his life through me. He gave me a reason for living beyond myself, and a promise of a fulfilling life that is everlasting. As a result he gives me the resources to cope with anxiety, fear, and other forms of suffering. Life is richer and more valuable. Relationships are more authentic and genuine. Love is more than a word. It is seen in the life of Christ and his Cross. Death is defeated. There is more to come."

It is worth working on your answer so that you get it right. Think it through. Distill your faith into one hundred words or less. Keep it brief, stay focused, make it easy to understand, and communicate it with a humble and honest heart. It may help someone.

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