Fruits of Connection and Friendship

posted by Navigators on April 21st, 2026 in Blog | Community | Evangelism

By Levi Swartzentruber, Canberra Labouring Community

We met Alex at Market Day last year and invited him to join our group. Though he had no interest in Jesus, he was keen to make some friends and soon became part of our community. As an exchange student for one year from the UK, Alex was involved in a lot of groups and events, wanting to make the most of this international experience, yet we were glad to see that he would come along to our Monday nights when he was free.

Alex (in the dark jumper) sitting next to JT at our Easter lunch.

JT, together with a couple of the student guys, struck up a friendship with Alex and invited him along to their regular games nights, bouldering and other fun events. Over the semester, we watched with growing excitement the change happening in Alex as his relationship with JT grew and as he engaged with the Scriptures in our Bible discussions. He no longer disregarded Christianity but had a growing openness and interest in investigating the Jesus of the Bible.

Alex spent most of the summer holidays traveling Australia. When we reconnected at the start of this semester, it was clear his Bible had come with him on those journeys, and he had been thinking about what he was reading. JT wasted no time in setting up a date to chat more later that week. Wanting to pin down more specifically where Alex was in his spiritual journey, JT drew out the Bridge Illustration for him and followed that up with these questions: ‘Do you admit that you are a sinner in need of a saviour and have you asked God to forgive you and help you turn from your sin? Do you believe Jesus died for you and rose again? Will you commit your life to following Him?’

JT was beaming as he shared with me how Alex answered ‘yes!’ to all those questions. Praise God for drawing Alex to Himself and for using JT in that process! And please pray for JT as he continues to establish Alex in his new faith before he returns to the UK in June, that he would grow in his faith and bear much fruit as a lifelong labourer for Jesus.

Levi and his family reside in Canberra and work among the students at the local university. For more information about their ministry and to prayerfully consider supporting their work, visit their Staff Profile Page and click on the links to other stories they’ve shared.

Pictures of Alex and ANU apprentices supplied.