During a conference that I attended several years ago, Tony Campolo recounted one of the witnessing strategies he had used while on a commercial flight. He had simply closed his eyes and focused on the passenger beside him. Before long a conversation opened up in which he was able to share the gospel.

Last summer, as I flew home from Toronto, I decided to try out this technique for myself. My fellow traveler, a young man of about 30, sat awkwardly beside me. I closed my eyes and focused. "Lord, help me say the right thing," I prayed. I opened my eyes and waited.

Nothing.

Tentatively, I eased into a generic discussion about the flight, the city, and so on. Encouraged by his polite attention, I sprang into witnessing mode. "So, do you go to church at all?" I asked.

"No," he said, and began listing off several offenses committed by churches in general. I nodded sagely, all the while backpedaling beyond the speed limit.

"Oh, I agree that organized churches have quite often failed," I said. "But it's really your own faith that counts."

"Yeah, that's what I mean," he said.

I decided to go for the gusto. "If you were to die tonight and God were to say to you, 'Why should I let you into heaven?' what would your answer be?"

Without missing a beat he heatedly replied, "I'd say, 'If You don't want to let me into heaven, then I don't want to be there. I'd rather just go down to hell."

I looked up the aisle, wondering if it was possible to be deplaned, mid-flight, for disturbing the peace. In a moment or two we resumed a stilted, safer topic of discussion, after which I opened a magazine and pretended to read.

This was just one of my bungled attempts to witness when traveling last summer. The previous week my son had loaded my luggage onto a train headed for London, Ontario, where I would be visiting my sister. He placed my overstuffed suitcase on one seat, while I sat opposite, next to a middle-aged gentleman. When the train pulled out we began a polite conversation about modes of transportation, our families and so forth. I learned that he was a businessman from Cleveland, Ohio, who preferred trains to planes.

In a few minutes the porter arrived and informed me that my suitcase was a hazard. It would need to be moved to a "safety cage" at the far end of the car. Without hesitating, my traveling companion lifted it down and pulled it to the designated area.

We continued our visit when he returned, but though I tried to find ways to plant a gospel seed, I couldn't seem to work it into the conversation. The New Testament that I had with me seemed to be boring a hole through my carry-on case, but I couldn't very well spring it on him out of the blue.

At the end of the trip he carried my suitcase to the platform. A light bulb went off in my head. "Just a second," I said, and rifled frantically through my carryon. "You've been so kind, I'd like to give you something." I stuffed the Bible into his hand and added, "Just consider it a gift from Canada." He looked a bit startled, but accepted it graciously.

Later, when I told the story to my sister, she agreed that, yes, he probably did think I was crazy.

The trip back was no better. This time I was across from a man (where were all the women travelers?) who sat in stony silence for at least an hour. I was beginning to feel thirsty and pulled out a bottle of what I mistakenly thought to be cranberry-flavored water. When I unscrewed the top, however, the carbonated contents spewed, geyser-like, covering my white purse and sweater.

At least that broke the proverbial ice. My companion and I visited in friendly fashion for the remainder of the trip. Once again, though, I found no open door to interject my faith.

Looking back, I've wondered whether these attempts to witness were a complete waste of time or if there was something I could gain from them. Perhaps other "wobbly witnesses," like myself, can benefit from my conclusions.

1. Be real. It's important to be yourself. What works for one person won't automatically work for you. Stick to your own script.

2. Don't equate churchgoing to salvation. Avoid giving the impression that weekly church attendance equals Christianity. It's much more effective (though harder) to relate your own personal experience without bringing up church at all. That way you won't have to deal with the old "church hypocrite" objection, and the message you relate will be from the heart.

3. Don't force the conversation. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you. In the drama leading to someone's salvation, your part may be the introduction, the climax, or somewhere in between. But remember, it's God who ultimately closes the deal (1 Cor. 3:7-9). Though I wasn't able to clearly share the gospel with any of my fellow passengers, perhaps my attempts, though ungainly, will play a part in their final decision to follow Christ.

4. Prepare in advance. The Scripture says that we must be ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within us (1 Pet. 3:15). If need be, write out a plan and adjust it to your situation.

5. See the person, not a witnessing target. Don't regard your fellow travelers as projects to be checked off once the witnessing job is complete. Ask them questions about themselves. Listen to their comments with genuine interest. Don't jump in with your "agenda" the moment they stop for breath.

6. Keep on witnessing. A whole new season is upon us, bringing more opportunities to share Christ with people in need. We don't know what God is doing in the heart of the person sitting next to us. But we do know that Jesus is still saying to us today, "You shall be My witnesses" (Acts 1:8).