Mess it Up Show 448 - VolitionMess it Up Show 448 - Volition
Mess It Up Podcast
Bev and the Bow Tie Guy are joined in studio by I…
31:13•3 Nov 2026
Volition, Skate Ramps and Small Talk: Finding Your Own Way to Connect
Episode Overview
- Engaging people is essential for ministry: if no connection is made, the message is unlikely to land.
- Personality differences are a strength; extroverts and introverts can both engage in ways that feel natural to them.
- Humour, shared interests and light banter can open doors, but harsh sarcasm often shuts people down.
- Simple listening and meeting practical interests, like building a skate park, can draw people into deeper conversations about faith.
- Engaging doesn’t require long, heavy talks; small gestures like a smile, a nod or a short chat can still be meaningful.
“If we can't engage people how are we going to get them to listen to us.”
Curious about how others handle talking to people about faith, recovery, and life without making it weird? This episode of Mess It Up circles around that very question, with Bev, the Bow Tie Guy and Intern Dave unpacking what it means to engage people of their own volition. Kicking off with election day chat and the word of the week, "volition" (the power to make conscious choices), the conversation soon shifts to how everyday interactions can become moments of ministry.
Paul shares how he chats up strangers in airports using sports jerseys and funny T-shirts as icebreakers, while Bev admits she’s more of a quiet smiler and nodder, reminding anyone who’s introverted that engagement doesn’t have to look loud to be real.
One of the standout sections comes when Paul reflects, "If we can't engage people how are we going to get them to listen to us," tying humour, sports banter and even awkward encounters (like a flat-earther air traffic controller) back to purposeful connection. Bev contrasts his style with her own gentler approach, and together they point out that sarcasm and harshness might win an argument but lose a heart.
Intern Dave then steps in with a personal story about how a skate ramp, rock music and free youth nights drew him into church life. His pastor simply asked local kids what they wanted, built a skate park, listened more than he preached, and let genuine relationship do the heavy lifting. Threaded through is the reminder that God is always approachable, especially highlighted in their song of the week, "He Will" by Francesca Battistelli.
By the end, the message is simple: different personalities, same mission—find your way to connect and let your authentic self meet people where they are. So what small, simple step could you take this week to genuinely connect with someone new?
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