What's the best way to get someone to listen to you? Not a trick question, I swear. One of the most effective ways of inspiring someone to hear you - I mean really hear you - is to start by listening. Become a skilled listener. Acquire a love of asking questions. Be curious about others. These are all foundational tips of evangelism.

And why is that? These tips have nothing to do with sharing the Gospel. True. But they have everything to do with loving. And loving is the core of Jesus-styled evangelism.

I'm a huge proponent of relationship building when it comes to revealing the hope I've found. I can talk with the drama of a reality TV star and the spit-fire peppering of a speed dater, but nothing will sink in if I haven't first made a connection. All of my words will slide off. Slide like rain droplets off a duck's back. My message won't soak in.

Some of the best tools of evangelism I've encountered in my faith revolve around the three C's.

• Commitment: Your friend(s) needs to understand you are committed to the relationship, both your relationship with God and with them.

• Conversation: Your friend(s) longs to feel safe, free to say anything that comes to mind. Remember that no question is stupid. In fact, many questions lead us closer to God. Exchanging dialogue void of judgment is an essential.

• Change: As human creatures, we're famous for our hypocrisy. Saying one thing - doing another. How is someone to believe you when you tell them of all the hope you have in God unless you're living out change in your life? Unless your life begins to look dramatically different from the time before you understood God's gift of salvation? Fruit. Without knowing it, that's what non-Christians are looking for. They want to see faith evidenced in the lives of believers.

You only have one story. A remarkable story. Your story. And God has called you to share it. But before you run and tug the sleeve of every Joe Schmo, it's worth it to listen. Listen first to God. Who is God prompting you to interact with? Who has a story to share with you? Then hone in on the three C's. Commit to living out a loyal friendship. Start a dialogue about what it has meant to have God in your life. Finally, when you tell your story give the details about how your life is now permanently changed.

The lost want to believe there's a way to be found. You're proof there's a way. The way. The truth. And the life.

Wendy Miller’s work has been published in inspirational books, online magazines and on numerous websites. She is passionate about encouraging women through writing and speaking, and currently Wendy leads a small group of seniors from her church. Raising her three little girls, writing novels, creating craft projects, and hiking are other ways she enjoys spending her time. Feel free to visit her blog to peek inside the window of her thoughts as she actively pursues what it means to follow the Lord. Wendy's Website