How do we get the whole church engaged in evangelism? - with Gavin Perkins.
Nov 8, 2022
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Gavin Perkins, senior minister of St Jude's at Bowral, shares insights from his research on church engagement in evangelism. He reveals that while many view it as an individual task, actual conversations with non-Christians are minimal. The discussion focuses on creating an evangelistic culture, tackling barriers like lack of relationships and confidence, and the importance of community in sharing faith. Gavin also emphasizes the role of music and innovative programs to facilitate spiritual dialogues, encouraging a collective responsibility in evangelism.
Creating genuine relationships with non-Christians is vital for effective evangelism, as many church members lack meaningful connections for spiritual conversations.
Training church members to confidently articulate their faith can help overcome societal anxieties and enhance their evangelistic outreach efforts.
Deep dives
The Role of Personal Relationships in Evangelism
A significant barrier to personal evangelism is the lack of meaningful relationships with non-Christian individuals. Many church members acknowledge they either do not know non-Christians or feel their relationships are not deep enough to discuss significant life topics, including faith. This gap often leaves individuals unprepared to engage in spiritual conversations, despite their desire to share their faith. Ultimately, fostering genuine connections with non-believers is essential for enabling more open and effective evangelistic efforts.
Confidence in Communicating the Gospel
Even when church members believe in the gospel, they often struggle with effectively communicating it to others. Many feel uncertain about how to present their faith in a clear and compelling manner, leading to hesitance during potential conversations. This lack of confidence is compounded by fear of facing challenging questions or misconceptions about their beliefs. Therefore, training that focuses on succinctly articulating the gospel and equipping members to respond to queries can help address this issue.
Culture and the Perception of Evangelism
The prevailing cultural narrative has made many Christians anxious about discussing their faith, as there is a fear of being labeled negatively due to societal tensions. Many church members report feeling pressured to conform to broader societal norms, leading to reluctance in evangelistic outreach. The podcast emphasizes the potential for preachers to unintentionally elevate this anxiety through messages that focus on suffering for the faith without balancing it with encouragement. It is crucial to frame evangelism as an opportunity for connection rather than a conflict with societal values.
Harnessing Life Transitions for Evangelistic Opportunities
Key life transition moments, such as moving to a new location or experiencing personal loss, can create openness to exploring spiritual beliefs. During these periods, individuals often reassess their values and may be more receptive to engaging with new communities or ideas. The podcast highlights initiatives such as divorce care courses or community events that serve as informal entry points for non-believers into the church. By creating safe environments for exploration and discussion, the church can effectively leverage these transitional moments to foster spiritual conversations.
How do you grow your church’s evangelistic ecosystem? Is that possible?
83% of Gavin’s church members see personal evangelism as an individual responsibility, yet at most 60% of them had a maximum of two spiritual conversations with non-Christians in the last six months!
Gavin Perkins has been researching what may be the causes and blockers to personal evangelism and how we might overcome these to see more people to Christ! (See https://bit.ly/3zUPIZK)
So then how could we create a congregational ecosystem where individuals take personal evangelistic initiative?
GAVIN PERKINS, is the senior minister of St Judes at Bowral, to the south of Sydney, and he’s just completed a major project as part of his doctor of ministry project in this area.