Have you ever wondered how Compassion, an openly evangelical organization, is able to work in Muslim or Hindu countries where evangelism is illegal? I have.

The other day I had an opportunity to spend an hour with a couple of our field staff, Mathew from India and Kevin from Bangladesh, and I asked them this question: How can Compassion work in India or Bangladesh or Indonesia?

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In this brief post, Becky Tschamler suggests that evangelism is the natural result of building relationships. She further suggests that relationship building should be our focus through caring. Not only would it be more effective, but it would take less time.

Two key words are "take-aways" for me: care and relationship.

Righteousness is about being rightly related and on the right track. Faith comes through encounter. The kingdom of God is a web of relationships centered on an individual's relationship with God and transforming every human relationship. There are several ways we meet people, one is through one of the parties taking the initiative and the other is through introduction by a common friend. We must know each other, at least casually, before I can introduce you to my friend, Jesus.

You and I may need to meet first. You may or may not want to know me. Some of that is a personality issue, but it may also be one of character. Am I authentic? Am I easy to converse with? Do I respect you? Do I listen? Do I care? Do I live what I profess? Do I genuinely want to be your friend or am I selling something? Do I see you as a person or a prospect?

Christian caring requires that I care without an agenda. It moves me to do what I do out of the overflow of who I am in Christ. If I behave as I do because of my relationship with Jesus and out of real love, I can be honest about that without being "preachy." Then others can trust me not to be manipulative, coercive, or judgmental.

Becky implies that in places where Compassion works, people are willing to allow their witness to what they believe because of how they behave. There are no inconsistencies and there is no agenda other than to serve in the name of Jesus.