Unsaved family members

I thought it may be a helpful and positive discussion to start a thread focusing on reaching unsaved family members.

Does anyone have any experiences to share?

Any suggestions to share?

Relevant scriptures?


This topic is something that is on my heart lately. I would love to get others thoughts and opinions!

From my experience, a "prophet has no honor in his own country". My family looks at me as if I'm still a child and how can a child teach their elders anything? sigh. They know me as the "extreme Christian Bible thumper" (and love me) but nothing I say changes anything. So, I don't really have any positive experiences to share. I pray, though. And when the opportunities come up, I'll say something.

I'm especially concerned for my step-dad, who thinks the Bible is just a book of fables. And my grandma. Both are hard to talk to and don't want to hear it from me.

Wow we are living such similar situations it is amazing!

My step dad is the exact same way, and my Grandma as well!

Thank you for your response! I am currently approaching this with the exact same thoughts as you as well... Prayer, and waiting for the right time and opportunity!

My family looks at me like I'm a ittle kid too and one of my brothers always says "Oh, you little Christian you." just to try and tease me to make me mad at him. Then he kisses the top of my head, says he loves me and goes back to his party lifestyle. I pray for my siblings, I talk to them about God and I talk about my church family, study, solid friends I've made etc, but I'm still the same person. i just happen to be the only Christian out of our million siblings. IDK what to do except take the opportunity to witness when you can and be patient.

I stopped talking about faith as everyone is more interested in sports and beer. I visit but leave early. The women talk and have depth. The men get crass after a few beers.
Give me coffee and a good novel

One approach a famous speaker has is to confess everyday, my (children, mother/father, neighbors, relatives, etc) are lovers of Christ, They are saved and want to follow His ways.
They said now, presently, each one of them are believers. This did take years in a few of their cases but eventually they turned around. "Call things that be not as thought they are' Rom 4:17.

Well, acting according your best consience and knowledge. And let it in the Hand of the Lord. I came to the Lord in age of 25. And for my family I was a stranger.
Meanwhile are 27 years marriaged, 4 children, which as children turned to Christ. But yet living without Him. Praying and trusting that the Lord changes their heart. This is the hope we have. This is easy to write down, but sometimes difficult to realize. Without the Lord impossible.

My younger sis is an unsaved family member who I feel partially responsible for being unsaved. I'm the one who let her start dating her ex bf and that was a very hard time for us that drove her away from being saved

I'll let God determine who is saved or unsaved and leave it a mystery until He shares his insight. Can we really know with certainty that difference in the heart of others?

Those that appear strong may become weak, those that appear weak may become strong. It can appear almost cruel to try to play the game of categorizing saved vs. unsaved. The squeaky wheel gets the oil, but sometimes it's the ones that are closest and appear the strongest that might need the most help from a brother in Christ.

I saw the Case for Christ movie, I dont know if you read the books by Lee Strobel, well first he was unsaved but his wife got saved and he was very anti-christ and rather mean to her about it. But then he started investigating whether Jesus was real and his wife was praying this scripture all the time about his heart of stone being replaced by a heart of flesh.

He did get to know truth although I think anyone seeking will find Him.

The problem with unsaved family members is though many are just NOT seeking. So not sure what to do to get them to the point where they are really hungering and thirsting for righteousness.

My heart used to hurt every time I used to share the word of God with my unsaved relatives and look at me like am talking stories of the wise whites, but later the Lord taught me that I can be the Bible to them I talk about,when I started praying for some of them and see results,a few started seeing sense in what I used to tell them,today my mother and grandma are saved, I continue to trust God for the rest not getting tired of praying for their salvation every day.The challenge is our Christianity is just verbal and there’s nothing more we can show of it than just talking,I used to think I would have them saved when I get money,but when money seemed a bit far,something was close-taking authority as a child of God, Some had money but would be disturbed by evil spirits and illnesses,this was a fertile ground for me to start,they saw results and some of them though not saved have testimony God can turn lives around!!

What worked with my family is have fellow Christians around my parents age visit often to have friendly discussions with them.
At first they discussed non-religious things with them. Overtime built a relationship and did things together that they had in common like flea markets. After an year or two discussed current events that were non-controvertible. Gradually discussed religious topics being polite and listening. My Parents eventually asked him questions about Jesus. They were adults who worked with kids like sports couches. Encourage those you know around their age at church to volunteer as coaches or anything working with kids.