Christian Evangelism
Christian evangelism is the act of sharing the message of Jesus Christ and calling people to follow Him. It is a vital part of the Christian faith, as Jesus Himself commanded His followers to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19).
What is evangelism?
Evangelism is not simply about convincing people to believe in Jesus. It is about sharing the good news of His love, forgiveness, and salvation with others. Evangelism is about sharing the hope that can be found in Jesus Christ.
The word “evangelism” comes from the greek used when the new testament was written: εὐανγέλιον (transliterated as euangelion) which means “Good News.”
How to Evangelize
There are many different ways to evangelize. Some people prefer to share their faith one-on-one, while others prefer to do it in groups. Some people use tracts or other written materials, while others prefer to share their faith verbally.
When forming specific friendships with the goal of evangelizing, especially with those of a different culture, it is important to never approach them only as someone to “convert”. Build a strong foundation of friendship, but also take time to explicitly and directly share your faith!
Are there different evangelism methods?
There are many different evangelism methods that can be used. Some of the most common methods include personal evangelism, public evangelism, and media evangelism. In fact, most of the evangelism today, especially internationally, is media evangelism! You can learn about Call of Love’s media evangelism efforts here. (link to TV station)
As a quick note, some people like to lean towards the less formal and direct form of evangelism they call “lifestyle evangelism.” Is lifestyle evangelism enough? We would argue it is not. Lifestyle evangelism is often more glorifying to ourselves and how “good” of a person we are, instead of directly attributing this to God and proclaiming Christ’s love.
Where can I find evangelism resources?
There are many evangelism resources available to help Christians share their faith. These resources include books, websites, and training programs.
You can find our library of articles to help directly equip you in sharing the gospel with Muslims or cross culturally here: calloflove.org/blog
We recommend checking with your pastor for their recommended resources too, because they are a sound source of wisdom on what is biblically accurate or not.
Evangelism Training
Evangelism training can help Christians develop the skills and knowledge they need to share their faith effectively. Evangelism training can also help Christians overcome their fears and doubts about evangelism.
You don’t have to be trained in evangelism to share the gospel! Any Christ-follower is equipped with the Holy Spirit who can guide you in sharing the gospel. However, extra study or training in evangelism can help Christians, especially less experienced evangelists, in growing confidence and feeling prepared for what may come up.
You can learn more about evangelism in these resources:
Is evangelism a calling for a specific group of believers?
"...but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;" 1 Peter 3:15