Include evangelism in your 2026 goals - Here’s how to do it effectively
- Call of Love Ministries
- 11 minutes ago
- 7 min read
For Christ-followers, jumping into the new year with new goals can be a great time to reset. We have an opportunity to re-center on God’s plans for us.
Often, we begin January with high hopes for our resolutions, but then by the end of the month we lose our resolve. This is why it is so important to make a plan of achievable goals and set up accountability. This is especially important with a challenging goal, like sharing the gospel with Muslims in your life.
As Christians, our most important goal should be to grow in obedience to God’s commands. The final command that Jesus gave to His disciples was: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28: 19-20
Evangelism should be on your New Year’s resolution’s list for several reasons:
Jesus Himself calls all Christians to share His love with others
People are desperate to have lasting peace and joy which only Jesus can give; you might be the only Christian in their life!
Your own life and spiritual journey will thrive when you obey the Great Commission.
Now, let’s consider some practical ways you can add evangelism to your resolutions:
1. Pray to put your heart in the right place
Ask God to place the right desires in your heart for the new year. When you put your Heavenly Father in the center of your resolutions, He will align them with His purpose and His great plan– for you to be blessed and to be a blessing to others.
A life of prayer softens your heart towards the goal of sharing the gospel with Muslims. There are many walls that can block us from having an open heart towards our Muslims neighbors. Negative assumptions are the fastest way to shut down a conversation in which you can share Christ. Remember also that most Muslims are victims of Islam, and that every Muslim you encounter is made in the image of God and has a soul that desperately longs for Jesus.
It is essential for us as Christians to always approach our Muslims neighbors with a heart posture of love and gentleness. Entering an interaction with condemnation of or suspicion towards Muslims, does not exhibit the love of Christ.
Because it is common for a Muslims to think we see them as enemies, we have a great opportunity to pleasantly surprise them with the love of Christ.
Pray that the Lord will give you the same overwhelming compassion Christ felt in Matthew 9:36, in all your interactions with all unbelievers: “Seeing the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd.”
We also should remember that without Christ’s love we accomplish nothing:
“And if I give away all my possessions to charity, and if I surrender my body so that I may glory, but do not have love, it does me no good.” 1 Corinthians 13: 3
2. Find an evangelism verse to focus on
God’s Word should be guiding our every endeavor. So, take a Bible verse and put it up on your mirror, in your car, on your phone's lockscreen, or wherever you will read it often. Move it around to keep your mind engaged. This will be a reminder to share the Good News with others, and help you recenter when you get off track.
Here are some powerful verses to get you started:
“He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’” Mark 16:15
“Nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:15-16
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:14-16
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35
“But as for you, use self-restraint in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
3. Write your goals down and live them out
Take some time to set some personal goals that center on evangelism. Perhaps you would like to focus on openly exhibiting your relationship with Jesus in front of your Muslim friends. Or maybe you would like to commit to praying over your lunch in front of your coworkers.
Whatever you choose to focus on, it’s proven that writing down your goals makes you more likely to accomplish them! This is why it is helpful to write down a Bible verse as a reminder, and make a list of your goals and how you plan to accomplish them. Here is a sample list of goals to get you started:
Pray for the salvation of Muslims each day
Learn about Islam and Muslims by reading an equipping book such as The Simple Truth or The Guide to Loving Your Muslim Neighbor
Read one Call of Love blog per day
Plan to invite your Muslim neighbor over for dinner (ensure that it is halal) or schedule a time to meet up for coffee
Remain in God’s word daily (Psalm 119:105) and continue in fellowship with other Christians
Most of all, be sure to pray over your goals, so that you do not become a to-do list but instead an inspiring plan for evangelism!
4. Consider those in your life who haven’t heard the gospel
Many Christians who make the Great Commission part of their daily life write down the names of the people in their life that still need to hear the gospel message. They also add a larger circle they desire to reach, such as the grocery store cashiers, the servers at a restaurant, the mailman, and the car mechanic… or anyone else they see daily.
We encourage you to start making a list! Every time the Lord gives you the opportunity to share the gospel with one of them, or you have a meaningful conversation that gives insight into their lives, write notes beside their names. This helps you to pray in detail for every person the Lord has put on your heart. Watch the Lord work throughout the year and rejoice!
5. Find an accountability partner
Everything is easier with a friend by your side, as Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 tells us. Ask a close Christian friend or family member if they would be interested in sharing the Gospel more! Set reminders to check on each other regularly, and pray for each other. This will improve your ability to share the Gospel and stick to your resolutions.
You may also find it helpful to exchange your written goals, pray together, share resources with, and discuss your evangelism techniques with your accountability partner. Setting joint goals, such as reading The Guide to Loving your Muslim Neighbor, together could also be beneficial.
6. Build friendships with Muslims
In some interactions you will only have a brief moment to share the Gospel. In these situations it helps to have the Word of God written on your heart and to say a quick prayer for wisdom and courage. For more tips on sharing the Gospel with a Muslim in a short amount of time read here.
In other instances, you may interact with a Muslim on a regular basis and have the opportunity to build friendships. We provide some practical ways on how to do this here. Treat your Muslim neighbor with respect and extend them hospitality. Genuinely care, by asking about their beliefs and listening well. The best way to share Gospel with Muslims is by taking a Jesus centered approach, which we discuss here. Keep in mind that their salvation is not on your shoulders, the Holy Spirit is simply working through you to plant seeds.
7. Support evangelism ministry efforts
If you want to expand your impact beyond the people you know and see, then you can have an eternal impact by generously supporting the mission to share the gospel with the entire Arab Muslim world (over 465 million Muslims).
But financial support is not the only way. You can devote yourself in prayer. Pray that the Lord would provide for all the needs of missionaries as they minister and that the eyes of the blind would be opened. Here are some specific ways you can pray for Muslims communities and missionaries worldwide.
However you feel the Lord is calling you to live out the Great Commission, remember to be consuming your daily bread. It is only through knowing God’s Word that we can pour His truth into others (Luke 12:12).
What a joy it is that God wants to use us to take His presence and His message to people who have not met Him yet! Lean on the Lord and His promises which affirm that He will be with you to give you the right words, a special discernment, wisdom, and favor.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for adopting me into your family. Help me to introduce the people around me to you so they too can be adopted into your family through your Son Jesus Christ. Give me courage and persistence, and place the proper Scripture on my heart. Amen!
