I think just about everyone who has ever read an obituary has seen a variation of “in lieu of flowers.” Usually, the ask is to donate to a charity in memory of the recently deceased. But something I saw recently in an obituary for a beloved Memphis pastor, Dr. Steve Gaines, caught my eye.

It said, “In lieu of flowers, Steve asked that you pay for someone’s meal and share with them about Jesus.”

That’s my favorite.

I’m sure that whoever preaches at Dr. Gaines’ funeral will share the gospel. I’m confident that many of his friends and colleagues will share the gospel from pulpits around the country in his memory. But to pay for someone’s meal and initiate a gospel conversation? That’s where the real transformation happens.

I imagine that if you did a survey of people and how they came to faith in Christ, the majority would probably say that it was a friend or a relative who loved them enough to share the gospel with them. True, some do get saved on Sunday in a church setting. Many get saved at large-scale revivals. But for most people, it’s the one-on-one gospel conversations that win them over.

Of course, in 100% of the cases the Holy Spirit is the one who draws and saves. But the best way to fulfill the Great Commission is through genuine relationships and sharing meals together, just like Jesus did so often during His earthly ministry.

Thank you, Steve, for a legacy of faithfulness to the gospel. I pray that because of your last request, there will be many people in heaven thanks to a good meal and a gospel conversation.