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 Overcoming the Obstacles to EvangelismIntegrate evangelism into every hour of the week, so that Christ is carried into people's lives, into our work, play, and socializing.
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Trust, of course, is not just an inner-city issue. Regardless of location, if we want to reach people, we need to build rapport and establish trust, which usually means we must live in the community to which we will minister, whether that means the country or suburbia. Building trust takes time. Many of my neighbors have lived in the same community all of their lives. Leaving a congregation without reasonable cause suggests to them that our desire to serve may be less than authentic. After eight years of ministry here, I've learned that maintaining a steady presence among people demonstrates genuine care and commitment. After I had ministered several years in the community, one man said to me, "Myron, I've watched you long enough. I've learned I can trust you. I'd like to join your church." Obstacle 2: Compartmental EvangelismSome people assume that evangelism is a church-sponsored program that prescribes particular verbal formulas to be delivered at certain times. Inadvertently, perhaps, they compartmentalize life into times of evangelism—one or two hours on a weekday evening—and times for other things. I am not suggesting that such evangelism is wrong or does not bear fruit. But my experience has taught me not to think of evangelism as a special program. Instead, I want to integrate evangelism into every hour of the week so that Christ is carried into people's lives, into our work, play, and socializing. Integrating evangelism with the rest of life causes people to notice the church. Many new Christians in our congregation have told me their interest in becoming a Christian stemmed from their relationship with church members. These were relationships developed outside of regular church-sponsored activities. One young lady said she had been away from the church since her youth. But as she saw the joy of our congregation, she was prompted to visit and discover its source. This in no way minimizes the need to tell others about sin, forgiveness, and salvation. The deed of love is not enough to express fully the gospel of Christ. But neither is a verbal expression of the gospel effective without the demonstration of love. Evangelism is not a sudden foray into the world with the aim of winning someone, only to retreat just as quickly to a safe haven. It must involve authentic, ongoing relationships with people. It must be integrated with their lives. Obstacle 3: We'll Do It Our WaySometimes a church will discover a particular way to share the love of Christ effectively, and stick with it over the years, even when they could try other things profitably. We ought to be zealous for Christ as we minister in particular ways, through a church food pantry or learning center, for example. These days, I believe, a church mustn't limit itself to one or two expressions of service to the community. Effective outreach to every generation and each subculture demands unique approaches. Christ's love takes a variety of forms, some unexpected. |             | |||||||||||||||||||
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