Space does not permit me here to teach you a basic evangelism course. I recommend you go through a good course like Evangelism Explosion, then use what I teach here to adapt the presentation for a Hindu audience. Furthermore, if you would like ideas on outreach strategies for your area, please contact me.

Skill #1: Ability to listen and ask non-threatening, perceptive questions

Does it surprise you that the first skill should be to listen, not talk? Aren’t we the ones with the message they need to hear?

Yes, but who likes one-sided monologs? I once talked with a Muslim for about 20 minutes casually after a class we were taking. He would say something about what he believed in, then I would summarize by repeating, “So you are saying that….” Three times in that brief conversation he interrupted himself to say, “You’re actually listening to me! All my other Christian friends just get mad and tell me I’m going to hell.” And he was not doing all the talking, either. He too listened politely while I shared my spiritual experiences and beliefs.

You know you have listened to someone when you can repeat back in summary form what they said and they agree that you got it right. Here are some good ways to summarize: “What I hear you saying is…” or “So you believe that…” or “I guess you feel like….”

Are you afraid that such listening will only encourage the other person to talk more, and you won’t get a word in edgewise? On the contrary, it will encourage them to respect and listen to you, when you step in at the right moment to share your view.

Sometimes Christians raise questions or issues which leave the non-Christian feeling threatened: *Accusations about bad behavior of Hindus, such as persecuting Christians
*Insinuations about their gods or ways of worship
*Pointing out the poverty in India, oppression, casteism, or other negative Hindu customs AVOID THESE!

What are some good types of questions, which can lead to mutual respect and sharing of views? *Tell me how you pray
*May I know your opinion about God?
*Why do you choose this path to God, what do you like about it?
*Is your belief/philosophy satisfying to you?
Remember, tone of voice has a lot to do with communicating respect or disdain.

Once I really got cornered by a Hindu temple leader, when a Christian began raising threatening, accusative issues. I had been teaching a Hindu evangelism seminar in a church and took the group on a field trip to a local temple, where a Hindu lady gave us a guided tour. Defying my clear instructions, the Christian challenged, “If Hinduism is so good, why is India in such a mess?” After some exasperated exchange, the guide turned to me, knowing I was the leader, and posed her own challenge: “Okay, so just tell me why I am going to hell?” Although I could calmly sidestep this affront and answer her gently, we don’t want to get into this kind of situation. Asking good questions and respectful listening will gain you respect and the invitation to share in return.

Skill #2: Ability to express gospel truths avoiding Christian jargon

Okay, so you’ve asked your friend some good questions, listened to his/her answers, and now you’re ready to give them the gospel. They need to know that Jesus died for their sins and rose from the dead / resurrected, and they need to believe in God, be born again, get saved, convert to Christianity, accept the Lord, and be redeemed. Right? Wrong!

All of the above standard Christian phrases will not communicate properly to a Hindu. They will likely produce confusion or even anger. A teenage Hindu girl wrinkled her whole face when I said “Jesus rose from the dead.” With a look of total bewilderment she said, “Rose from the dead, rose from the dead – what’s that?” I once asked my Hindi teacher the word for resurrection. He didn’t know! Resurrection is obviously a concept Hindus don’t think about even in their own language. Nowadays I say, “Three days after being killed, Jesus got up alive in the same body. That’s what ‘resurrection’ means, the same person coming back to life in the same body.” Longer, but that’s what it takes to communicate the meaning. What’s the point of settling for the handy term when it doesn’t do the job?

Keep “Christianity” out of your witnessing as much as possible. Jesus is the issue, not religion. Instead of saying “Christianity teaches,” I say “Jesus teaches” or “The Bible says.” Don’t just offhandedly refer to “the Lord.” Always specify “the Lord Jesus.” Even “God” has to be clarified! What is your Hindu friend’s concept of “god”? Is it an impersonal force, just a term of convenience (some Hindus have told me that). Is god just an inner state to be realized by the individual? Is it the monistic concept that god is everything, one with creation? Saying “God loves you” will not make much sense if that is their concept of god.

“Born again,” like “resurrected,” conveys the meaning of “reincarnated” to the Hindu – implying Jesus came back later to be incarnated in another body. “Saved” or “salvation” as a Hindu concept is quite different from the biblical meaning. “Redeemed” will draw a blank. Don’t mention “convert” unless you’re prepared for a fight. Heaven and hell tend to be treated by the Hindu as mythological concepts useful for keeping children in line but not for adults. Or worse, as emotional blackmail for devious missionaries to frighten naïve people into converting.

Work at replacing these handy terms that don’t work with longer, yet simple explanations. Try telling it all as a personal narrative (your testimony – no, your “faith journey”) rather than as a theological treatise. Emphasize the person of Jesus Christ rather than your involvement in church or religious activities. Emphasize themes like power over sin, healing (emotional and physical), experiencing God’s love, discipleship to a living Guru. These are themes that appeal to many Hindus.

Skill #3: Familiarity with Hindu Apologetics

“Apologetics” means a reasoned defense of the Christian faith. Hindu apologetics means addressing the objections and misunderstandings that Hindus typically raise. Since this is a very large topic, I cannot cover it properly in this brief space. I can only hint at the answers and urge you to do more study. Some good websites aimed at Hindu or general apologetics are:
www.Yeshusamaj.org
www.karma2grace.org
www.sakshitimes.com
http://www.indiago.org/index.php?action=websiteview&WebSiteID=38&WebPageID=550

Here are the common issues that I have found among Hindus, and the barest hint of an answer. I could write pages about each.

Christians are intolerant. Some things shouldn’t be tolerated. Jesus preached something much harder to follow – love.

Christians are arrogant. Not if our source of truth is outside ourselves. We didn’t invent it, we only believe it.

Christians should not convert other people. That statement itself is trying to “convert” or persuade us to a point of view.

Christians have done a lot of evil in the world. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Christians, no throwing stones back, now! Define a Christian as a follower of Christ, i.e. one who does what He does. Condemn any bad behavior, regardless of who did it.

There are many paths to God. Only if God is reachable by our effort. But the Bible says he is not, and that he alone provided the way by sending Jesus from heaven to earth.

All religions teach the same thing. No, they don’t. But the point of proving they don’t is not to create division between us but so that we can all seek for reality and truth.

Christians should not eat meat, that is a sin of violence. All the vegetarianism in the world cannot save the life of one animal. Adding rules that no one can keep doesn’t help to save us from our sins.

Jesus went to the Himalayas to learn from Hindu ascetics and eventually died there and his tomb is in Kashmir. Researching this produces no credible historical evidence. What would the creator of the world need to learn from people who are searching for truth themselves?

I want to follow Jesus, but my family members are opposed. Advice can depend on age; in general, for an adult, eliminate unnecessary offenses like “converting to Christianity,” reduce faith in Christ to its bare absolutes, and prepare to count the cost.

I am following Jesus; now what shall I do about observing Hindu holidays? Similar to above, think of how to keep peace with family while maintaining the absolutes.

I am a Hindu; can I marry a Christian (and vice versa)? Please don’t. (Nobody ever likes this answer). Those who ask this are already in love; an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Jesus and Krishna are really the same. Hardly. The superficial similarities in some claims are overshadowed by the far more numerous differences. Besides, one is blue and the other is brown. DON’T say that to a Hindu!

Internet Evangelism to Reach Hindus

Naya Jeevan offers a unique way for Christians like you to witness to seekers – internet evangelism. Take a look at our evangelistic website, www.nayajeevan.org. It is designed to help South Asian immigrants adjust to life in North America, and introduce them to Jesus Christ. Trained volunteers, called “e-mentors,” respond to seekers who visit the website and write in with their questions and needs. Volunteers can be located anywhere in North America.

In addition to the Naya Jeevan website, Campus Crusade has other evangelistic websites which draw seekers from all over the world, including India. I lead a team of internet volunteers who specialize in responding to seekers from India. We witness, lead them to Christ, and help them grow in faith – all by email and chat! We need more e-mentors and also other volunteers to write testimonies and articles for Naya Jeevan website, to help build it up and make it better. We’d love to have a section for 2nd generation youth, too.

If you’re interested in becoming an e-mentor, fill in the online application form at https://www.responsecenters.org/signup.php?community=.IN.OTHER.NAYAJEEVAN. (You should be at least 21 and have one spiritual reference). If you’d like to write your testimony, immigration story, or any article for Naya Jeevan website, email me for more details at cathyasha@gmail.com.