Evangelism

It is always a good thing to spend time just talking with and sharing ideas with people who are intent on bringing God’s message to others, and who are willing to take time to learn more of how it can be done, and how others are doing it successfully. Such was the opportunity I had last week, when I attended the Congress on Evangelism in Nashville, Tennessee. It was a week of sharing and learning with United Methodist people from all across the nation.

It is unfortunate that the words “evangelism” and “evangelicals” have been so caught up with, and distorted by all the political stuff we hear in the media these days. Certainly, just as there was a diversity of people in our sessions last week, male, female, young and older, all different ethnic groups, all different in their church experiences, they were also widely varied in their political views. Evangelism is NOT a political thing or a political movement. That was made clear last week. Evangelism should not be defined as conservative or liberal, or left or right. It is not fundamentalism. Simply put, evangelism is letting others know Jesus died on the cross for us, and God loves us--ALL of us, regardless of our backgrounds, ethnicity, gender, or political opinions. In fact, it often may be that God loves us despite our backgrounds and opinions.

Four things came very clear from all the sessions last week, sessions guided by representatives from churches, large and small (most small) that are thriving.  

First, the only reason any church exists, or should exist, is to bring new people to Christ, and then to help them grow in faith and service in the community. I have great admiration for Adam Hamilton, who is the lead pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, the largest United Methodist Church in this country, and one of the largest of all churches in the U.S. They have over 15,000 members, and it grows in leaps and bounds, with almost 70% joining by profession of faith, meaning they were not believers before coming to the church.  But the church started in 1991 with just 16 dedicated believers.

Those 16, with Adam, made the church’s mission to exist only for the sake of non believers. Those 16 established the church’s sole stated purpose which continues to be, “To build a Christian community where non-religious and nominally religious people are becoming deeply committed Christians.”  In fact, they will tell you if you are interested in joining the church, you must understand that the Church of the Resurrection does not exist for you to serve you, but exists so that you as a believer in Christ can bring others to Christ. They have very little turnover in membership, almost all who leave do so because they move from the area. Instead they have grown from services in a funeral home to four campuses, with over 28, 000 people coming to Christmas Eve services this past month. All in only 10 years. Everything they do is aimed at non believers—true evangelism. I invite you to explore their web site:  http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/

Second, the only way churches grow sustainably and vitally is through one-to-one relationships between believers and non-church persons. And, that must not be confrontational. To ask someone, “If you should die today, where would you spend eternity?” or any approach even close to that is to turn people away, likely forever. Instead, developing a caring friendship with someone, by learning about them, their interests, their story, will eventually provide an opportunity to bring the new friend to church. It may take time, but it works.

Third, programs alone will not bring new people to Christ. All church programs should either be directed toward providing an opportunity for a believer to bring someone new to the program and foster the opportunity for one-to-one relationship building, or to increase the faith of those new to Christ, while strengthening the understanding of Christ’s message for those who believe so they may reach out more effectively.

And finally, everyone who is a Christian, a true believer, must be an evangelist, that is, someone who by action and word spreads the message of Christ and God’s love. This is not just the pastor’s job alone. The pastor’s role is much more to provide the tools, the training, so that congregation members will know how best to form their new relationships. In the New Testament James points out that our faith in God and our trust in Jesus must work in tandem with our actions, or our faith isn’t really faith at all. There is no mincing of words there, nor did Jesus mince words either when he gave us the Great Commission. All of us are called to go, make disciples.

One thing that Adam Hamilton stresses is, all churches, regardless of size, can bring new people to Christ, and all should make that their purpose. Not every church will become huge, but every church can and will thrive, if its believers accept the personal mission God gives us all.