How to Share Your Faith Using the Free Hugs Campaign
Juan Mann is a man with a mission. Determined to spread kindness and caring to the world around him, Australian Juan Mann launched the Free Hugs Campaign. Mann's big break for taking the campaign global came when his video documenting his Free Hugs efforts hit the popular list on YouTube, with views now totaling over 3.5 million.
The popular video shows Mann's efforts to give away hugs to total strangers by standing with a Free Hugs sign in Pitt Street Mall in Sydney, Australia. According to Mann, the 'rules' of the Free Hugs Campaign include no names, no phone numbers, and no dates - in other words - no ulterior motives and no strings attached. Just innocent, encouraging caring and sharing with others. And now his cause has been taken up by others around the world who are also inspired to show kindness and caring to others.
Does it surprise you that giving out hugs can strike such a powerful chord in both the strangers walking by and the viewers of the YouTube video? Simple kindness and caring are powerful tools for reaching out to others - both friends and strangers! And as followers of Jesus, simple kindness and caring should pour forth from who we are and from the power of God's grace and love overflowing in our lives. Our caring and sharing should come with no ulterior motives.
During Jesus time on earth, he repeatedly demonstrated his care and concern for the hurting people around him through healing the sick, feeding the hungry and humbly serving others - and all this from the King of the Universe! As his followers, we too can demonstrate God's love and concern to those around us with our simple acts of kindness, acts that can help bring people one step closer to understanding our God of mercy and grace.
As you have the opportunity to talk with your friends about the Free Hugs Campaign, look for ways to use it to talk about another important 'free' gift available to anyone in need - the gift of salvation. Here are some ideas to help you get the conversation moving in a spiritual direction.
- Are you surprised by the widespread interest in the Free Hugs Campaign? Why or why not?
- Do you think most people long for more kindness and caring in their world?
- Do you feel like your own personal world is a caring place or a lonely place?
- Is it harder for guys to accept free hugs than it is for girls? Why or why not? Do you think that influences guys' openness to accepting God's free gift of salvation?
- Ask your friends where they turn when they feel like they need a 'free hug' but there's no one around to give them one? Share about your relationship with God and how Jesus is an emotional and spiritual source of strength and encouragement in your life. As you share your faith, make it clear to your friends that you want something for them, not something from them.
- Consider inviting your unreached friends to visit your youth group so they can experience a kind and caring group of teens who are willing to reach out to others.
Just like Juan Mann, we have something free to share with those around us. Don't just share free hugs, share your faith! That's the ultimate gift of kindness and encouragement for an emotionally and spiritually needy world!
