Creative Evangelism

The story is told of a famous Christian evangelist who was on a flight back from a major pastor's conference. Exhausted from his week, he was looking forward to the long flight from the west coast back to New York. He had with him the latest book by his favorite author and was hoping to finish the book by the end of the flight. As he sat down in the middle seat of three, he noticed that the window seat was occupied by a businessman, who was intently reading a magazine, and the aisle seat was open. Just before the plane took off, a young, teenage girl sat down next to him. As the plane taxied for takeoff, he began to read his book, ignoring everyone else. He had just finished the forward and began the first chapter when he felt a tug on his sleeve. Turning, he found the teenage girl staring at him intently. “Did you brush your teeth this morning?” she asked. “Yes I did,” replied the evangelist. “That’s good, ‘cause it's important.” Just a little confused, the evangelist went back to his chapter. He finished the first paragraph when he felt the tug again. “Do you smoke?” “No I do not,” the evangelist said. That’s good, ‘cause smoking will kill you.” Once again befuddled, the evangelist began his first chapter again. He finished the first page before he felt another tug. “Mister, do you know Jesus?” The evangelist smiled as he told her that he did indeed know Christ. The girl replied, “That’s good, ‘cause only Jesus can save you.” The evangelist smiled as he turned back to his book. However, he had barely found his place again when he felt yet another pull on sleeve. Pointing to the businessman, the girl said, “Ask him.” “Ask him what?” “Ask him if he brushed his teeth this morning.” The evangelist slid a bookmark into his book, turned to the businessman, and said, “Excuse me, my young friend here wanted to know if you brushed your teeth this morning?” The businessman looked a little confused, as he answered he had. The girl leaned across and said, “That’s good ‘cause it’s important.” The evangelist knew what was coming, but he waited for the familiar tug. The process repeated through the smoking, and to the most important question. “Sir, my friend here wanted to know just one more thing. Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior?” The businessman looked genuinely surprised. “I don't,” he said, “but I've wanted to for some time.” Church, that famous evangelist, who has taught thousands upon thousands to lead people to Jesus was going to waste the whole trip in his book, but because of the courage of a young girl with a plan to share her faith, the evangelist had the privilege of leading that man to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Do you have a plan for leading people into a relationship with Jesus? It was simple, but this young lady had a plan to tell people about Christ.

This last week at Annual Conference, Bishop Hopkins challenged us to share our own faith stories. He did it in a creative way. He had a runner come in with a relay baton, and share his own faith story—how God had changed his life. At the conclusion of the message, we were given our own baton, so we could each share with others how God has changed our own life! That is creative evangelism.

Before Christ left, he gave the church a great commission. He said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Mt. 28.19-20) This has become the great omission in many churches today.

At Adamsville, we have a mission statement. To paraphrase it, we are to:

Know Christ,

Grow like Christ, and

Show Christ to others.

Beneath every mission statement, there are core values, that is, those essentials upon which we refuse to compromise. We have a core value of Evangelism. When we evangelize, that is, show Christ to others, we are then to teach them how to go back out and evangelize others. The fact is, if the church were to grasps this concept, it necessitates steady, long-term growth.

How do we go about doing this?

1. Pray. The most important thing that we can do is to pray. This is not an excuse for inaction, but a necessary part as we ask God to prepare the soil of the person’s heart. (see the parable of the sower and the seed in Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23)

2. Learn the basics. I am amazed how many people don't know how to lead someone to Christ. This morning, I want to offer a very basic approach that we all can learn called the Roman Road. Write down these verses and put them in the front of your Bible. Put them in your wallet. Better yet, memorize them, so that you could use them to lead someone to Christ. (Rom 3.23 all sinned, 6.23 wages of sin and God’s gift, 10.9 confess and believe to be saved, 8.1 not condemned, 8.38-9 nothing can separate us from God’s love.)

3. Be Creative. Take time to use your imagination and see what unique ways you can find to broach the subject of Jesus with others. Consider your hobbies, your unique gifts and talents, and formulate your own plan of attack.

4. Don't be afraid of telling the truth. Non-believers often ask tough questions for which we have no answer. Be real. Don't try to act more holy than you are. Just be yourself. Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know, but I would like find out." Then resource. Ask your pastor, your Sunday school teacher, the saints that have been in the church for years. The truth is, we don’t have to have all the answers to be effective evangelists.

5. Offer them community. Remember, salvation is only the beginning of the faith journey. Invite them to church, to a bible study, or even offer to meet with them to read the Bible together. New believers do not automatically become disciples, they need to be in community!

6. Don't be afraid to fail. If we read scriptures carefully, Christ only had a 1-in-10 success rate. Don't become discouraged. Share your disappointments with others, as well as your successes. The testimony of the community will keep us from becoming "weary in well doing". 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Gal. 6:9). Further, you don’t know how your effort may have broken up the ground for someone else’s seed. What we often deem a failure, heaven sees as a major victory. (see Walk Across the Room, observation #3)

Can we lead people into personal, vital, and growing relationship with Jesus? Are we ourselves becoming disciples, empowered by the Holy Spirit to share the Good news with others? Let us find new and creative ways to share the good news with others.