I recently preached the hardest sermon I’ve ever had to preach. Our Hindu neighbor had a relative who died unexpectedly in a tragic accident. To my shock they asked me to share a sermon at her memorial service. As intimidating as it was, for 30 minutes I was able to share the hope of the gospel with a crowded room of Hindu friends and family members.

I live overseas in a country that is predominantly Hindu, but did you know there are over three million practicing Hindus in the United States, and that number is only likely to grow. So the question is, how can you reach your Hindu neighbor, co-worker, or friend with the gospel?

Discover their beliefs

First, know what they believe. Hinduism is a vast and complicated religion, but start with the basics: things like karma, reincarnation, and their sacred writings (the Vedas). Better yet, ask your Hindu friend to explain it to you! Ask about their religious routines and which particular god their family prays to. We’ve found that our friends and neighbors love talking about their religion, and it often creates an opportunity to share our faith as well.

Explain why the gospel is unique

Second, share what makes the gospel different. You’ll probably hear Hindus say something like, “Christianity and Hinduism aren’t really that different. After all, there are many paths to the mountaintop.” We’ve had several Hindu friends tell us they even pray to Jesus. But this is where you need to be careful. They’re simply adding him to the long list of millions of other Hindu deities. Many well-meaning churches baptize Hindu “converts” after leading them through a sinner’s prayer, only to find out they are still going to the temple to pray and sacrifice to other gods.

One thing to highlight is the personal nature of God. The gods of Hinduism are distant and require constant appeasement through ritual and sacrifice. Hearing they can have a personal relationship with a God who loves them and knows them by name can be deeply moving. Also stress the idea of grace versus karma. Karma teaches that you get exactly what you deserve, which often leads to fear and anxiety. Grace, on the other hand, is a gift—forgiveness paid for entirely by Someone else. This can be a huge weight lifted off the shoulders of someone following a works-based religion.

Form a friendship

Third, build relationships. While you may be tempted to argue with your Hindu neighbor about why their religion is wrong, remember that, for most Hindus, faith, family, and ethnic identity are all woven together. Immediately challenging their religion will likely come across as disrespectful and only serve to build walls in your relationship.

Start by getting to know them. Invite them over for dinner or tea (be mindful of dietary restrictions). Let your life show them how your faith makes you a better neighbor, co-worker, or parent. I would also suggest offering to pray for them when hardships arise. We’ve never had a Hindu friend turn this down. Demonstrate to them that you genuinely care and want them to experience the same peace and hope you have in Christ.

Not just a missions project

Coming back to the hardest sermon I’ve ever preached: The back story is, we’ve spent three years building a friendship with our Hindu neighbors—having them over, attending birthday parties, lending out tools, even helping their goofy dog get its head unstuck from the fence … twice. And amazingly, when they were in a moment of deep sorrow and pain, they asked us to share the hope of the gospel with their entire family. Your Hindu neighbor is not just a missions project. They are someone created in the image of God in need of the good news of the gospel. The question Paul poses in Romans 10 is still true today: how will they hear unless someone shares the good news? That someone is you.