Why should a local church use an evangelism initiative? Why emphasize witnessing time after time? Shouldn't Christians simply share their faith because they love God?

Rationale:

Consider leading your congregation through an evangelism emphasis for the following reasons:

1. Keep something in the pipeline. Any cause, such as the salvation of the lost, can grow cold without constant reminders. Most churches don't need lots of hoopla, but merely consistent and continual prompting to love those without faith.

2. Evangelism inertia. Inertia is the physical law that describes an object in motion always slowing down. Witnessing is like that. Many people start out strong but eventually “lighten up." For established Christians inertia means they are at a standstill and need to be inspired. An emphasis on evangelism can prove the formally unmoved to reach out to the unsaved.

3. Maintain inspiration. Inspiration is like inertia. Momentum tends to slow down and come to rest. Highlighting witnessing, its importance and occasional successes, can be used by God's Spirit to urge people to continue sharing their faith.

4. Seasons of openness. Not everyone is open to sharing the Gospel at the same time. So, local church leaders must prompt worshipers to start spiritual conversations. In every crowd some will be responsive to that loving directive.

5. Commitment to the cause. People who love Jesus are committed to the Great Commission. The demands of time, family, job, and church draw attention away from teaching lost people the good news about Jesus. Local church leadership must envision the clarion call of Christ to disciple all people.

6. The excitement of new births. Local congregations are brought to life because people are coming into a new relationship with Jesus. How established Christians need to hear how grace has overpowered sin the life of a friend!

7. What we cannot do in heaven. In heaven we will forever worship the Lord Jesus Christ and singing in fellowship. On Earth, however, we can worship God by witnessing. No lost people populate heaven. Witnessing is a “worldly" endeavor.

8. Declarations of love. Witnessing declares we love God and people. To encourage our people to share their faith multiplies declarations of law.

9. Testimonies of changed lives. When new believers tell their stories of God's grace, they grow rapidly. Their testimonies can then be told by others and the church can grow rapidly.

10. Unexplainable success. When people witness to the God’ forgiveness, they are always successful. Even when there is no fruit from the cultivating, sowing, and watering, God declares our testimonies as successful. We observe with amazement how got rewards the people who witness. Often they are rewarded in areas where they have neither sown nor reaped.

11. Christlike behavior. The Bible admonishes us to imitate Jesus. One of the things Jesus did was recruit witnesses. He found common folks and asked them to follow Him. After they had followed He sent them out to multiply His effectiveness.

12. Increasing spiritual responsiveness. The Holy Spirit prompts people to witness. When the church reminds God's people to declare His love, the Holy Spirit directs disciples to become disciplers. The church becomes more responsive to the Spirit’s prompting

13. Improved spiritual growth. Paul prayed for Philemon, "I pray that you will become active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing in Christ" (Philemon 1:6).

We urge you to inspire people to the work of evangelism. What a difference God can make!

Program Suggestions:

 1. Start a small group Bible study for recent and young Christians. See GROW : God Reshaping Our Ways, 13 lessons on critical issues for spiritual growth. This material can also be used in individual study.

2. Use membership classes as a means of including and instructing unsaved people.

3. Encourage hospitality in fellowship events where church people can mingle with spiritual seekers and lost people. For example, ladies can load their friends in a vehicle and go to a discount mall for shopping. Men and boys may wish to take in a baseball game accompanied by unchurched friends. Neighbors can invite neighbors for backyard barbecues or dessert time after dinner.

4. Identify people for whom you can do a kind deed. Compassionate evangelism touches the heart in multiple ways.

5. Preach a sermon series on evangelism. Consider the sermons offered under Connecting the Church with the Unchurched (go back to menu).

6. Use the following six bulletin inserts to overcome resistance to witnessing:

"Evangelism Is Not My Gift”
"I Just Live the Life; Don't Ask Me to Say Anything"
"I'm Not Comfortable Sharing My Faith"
"I'm Waiting for the Spirit to Direct Me"
"I Simply Sow the Seed and Leave the Rest to God"
"I Don't Want to Judge Anybody"

7. Train people to connect with unreached people. See the following six new training modules available with Connecting the Church with the Unchurched:

Connecting with the Disconnected
Teens in Crisis: Giving Hope
University Years: A Window into a Spiritual Journey
Becoming a Spiritual Guide for Your Children
Connecting the Church with Senior Adults
Heightening Visibility of the Local Church

8. Train your children how to share their faith. See CHOICE, six training sessions to teach children to talk to their friends about Jesus.

9. Order Evangelism in Everyday Life by Lyle Pointer and Jim Dorsey. This book inspires people to pray and to share their faith. Readers will understand how God works to bring people to Himself and how we can be His ally in the process. Discover processes of spiritual decision-making in our postmodern way of thinking. Contact Nazarene Publishing House at 800-877-0700. ISBN 083-411-7185

10. See two new methods of evangelism:

a. CHOICE-- and easily remembered acrostic that provides talking points for starting spiritual conversation.
b. INVITATION TO DISCOVERY-- this approach capitalizes on the "Come" passages were God invites people to know Him better. Church people will find this an easy, indirect, and curiosity-stirring approach to sharing one's faith.

11. Start an evangelistic Bible study. Accessed 10 sessions prepared with seekers in mind.

Evangelistic Bible Study Materials:   

     Introduction—Getting Started
1.  Created in God's Image —Genesis 1:26 -27; 2:7
2.  Who Are Your Giants? —1 Samuel 17:4-14, 32-37, 45-50
3.  Understanding the Plan —Jeremiah 29:11-14a
4.  God Came to You —Luke 2:1-14
5.  God Wants to Work a Miracle in You —John 2:1-11
6.  Who Calms Your Storms? —Mark 4:35-41
7.  Rest for the Weary —Matthew 11:28 -30
8.  Are You Worried? —Luke 12:22-34
9.  The Love of God —Luke 15:11 -24
10. It's Not About Being Perfect —Luke 18:9-14

12. Bringers

Every church, no matter the size, needs to develop a team of people who are focused on and gifted in the area of evangelism. One might call this group, the “bringers”. While the pastor's goal is to make sure that 100% of the congregation is trained to share their faith, the pastor should also look for smaller numbers of people who are especially gifted and passionate about the Great Commission. That group of people (if it consists of 3 or 30 individuals) could be the beginning of your Bringers.

This team should be a diversified group with people of multiple age groups, new and established Christians, and people involved in differing ministries. This diversity will help spread the effect of the team to the entire congregation.

Bringers should meet approximately four to six times a year. The goal of each meeting should be to bring them in, build them up, and send them back out.

The components* of each meeting should be:

1. Strategic Leadership . These meetings prove to be a wonderful time to build evangelistic leadership with individuals who are passionate and gifted in evangelism.

2. Relational Connections . These meetings give opportunity for your gifted evangelists to get better acquainted with others with similar giftedness.

3. Mutual Support. These meetings encourage the evangelists in your church by letting them know they are not alone in their efforts to win lost people.

4. Stimulating Stories. These meetings provide a forum for lay evangelists to share how God has been using them in witnessing opportunities. Pastors are often surprised by the involvement of laypersons in sharing their faith.

5. Teaching, Inspiration, and Skill Reinforcement. These meetings provide a great opportunity to teach, inspire and develop greater skills in lay evangelists.

6. Guest Speakers. Use guest speakers and discussion leaders who will stimulate discussion and challenge your team.

8. United Prayer. These meetings are a great place to be united in prayer for lost people.

9. Healthy Accountability. Use the meetings to encourage accountability for using the gifts God has given to each individual.

*adapted from Mittelberg, Mark. Building a Contagious Church. Grand Rapids , Michigan : Zondervan Publishing House, 2000.

13. Address the climate of the church. Teach your people “Conditioning the Climate for Growth.” This one hour session intends to instruct and encourage pastor and people to develop a positive morale in the local congregation.

14. Evaluate openness to newcomers see welcoming newcomers of fellowship. Consider teaching “Helping an Outsider Become an Insider” and “Seeing through the Eyes of an Outsider.”

15. Poll your congregation regarding evangelistic readiness. Use “Exploring Evangelism Questionnaire” as a basis for discussion among your leadership team.

16. Develop evangelistic strategies for your church. You may buy “Congregational Survey” (LP-2202) from Nazarene Publishing House 800-877-0700. The surveys come in packages of 10. Select a large cross-section of your congregation for a sample poll. Send completed surveys to:

USA/Canada
Attn. Rich Houseal
6401 The Paseo
Kansas City , MO 64131