The need for daring evangelism

Counties UK has released a latest book about how the Gospel will be shared effectively within the difficult climate of twenty first century Britain, when many churches are closing their doors and struggling to draw young people.

Counties CEO, Martin Erwin, speaks to Christian Today about Making Jesus Known Today and Tomorrow and the way Christians and churches will be confident in sharing the Gospel.

What was the inspiration behind the book?

Martin: There has been a lack of confidence within the Gospel. The evangelical church within the UK is struggling and shrinking back, so we desired to offer something that might encourage Christians to share the Good News since it remains to be “the ability of salvation for all who imagine” (Romans 1:16). Our hope is that Christians and church leaders won’t only read the book themselves but in addition consider giving a replica away to bless others.

Have the post-Covid environment and secularism presented additional challenges for evangelism?

Martin: Secularism does present some challenges but I believe that reasonably than spending our energy fighting secularism, we may be higher off embracing the opportunities that we do still should share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s about having confidence within the Gospel again since the Gospel can stand by itself feet and the Spirit of God can use what we are saying. The rise of secularism can definitely make us feel like we have lost ground but I believe we’d like to think otherwise about it.

In terms of Covid, some interesting data emerged in the primary few months that showed that around 1 / 4 of Brits were looking for spiritual material online and far of that was Christian content. We also know that courses like Alpha and Christianity Explored saw an explosion in online engagement.

What this revealed is that, not very far below the surface, there’s a deep craving in people’s hearts for meaning and purpose, so I’m encouraged that Covid opened up a willingness in people’s hearts to explore the religion.

Since the pandemic, churches could have seen a discount in Sunday service attendance but there isn’t a doubt that it has opened people’s hearts to explore the Gospel in ways we didn’t see before Covid. That should give us fresh hope.

What advice would you give to Christians scuffling with a insecurity in sharing their faith?

Martin: The example of a golfer at my church involves mind. After coming to a Counties conference, he felt inspired to be a witness within the place where he’s, so he took the step of inviting his golfing friends along to our Carols by Candlelight service and about six of them got here together with their partners. He wasn’t knowledgeable evangelist and he didn’t go in all guns blazing! He just thought ‘what can I do?’ and took the easy step of inviting them to our carol service where the Gospel was shared and an invite was prolonged to the following Alpha course.

So, I might say: search for those soft first steps and work together with your local church to supply opportunities and events that you could invite people to where the Gospel shall be shared – after which simply invite your folks along!

It seems like partnership between churches and individuals is admittedly essential for evangelism?

Martin: That is vital for church leaders. An evangelist friend of mine once said that one among the challenges within the UK is that now we have loads of evangelical churches, but they are usually not evangelising churches!

We must create spaces and stepping stones for evangelism. Parent and toddler groups are hugely successful by way of numerical attendance but many churches don’t do an ideal job in creating next steps for these families.

Something churches can take into consideration is whether or not there are any events they’ll run which can be low-key but bring people one step closer to investigating Jesus.

I might really encourage church leaders to explore each disciple-making and what we call ‘discipleship pathways’. How can churches make it as straightforward as possible for strange Christians to bring their friends to church?

I might really encourage Christians to wish the prayer of the New Testament church in Acts, which was: God give us boldness and courage. Faith is believing that the opportunities will come and the Holy Spirit will give us boldness in those moments to say the fitting thing and be a witness where we’re.

What in regards to the workplace?

Martin: I believe the identical principle applies. Previously I used to be the governor of an area school which was quite a secular environment but there have been still some opportunities, even on this place, because people would confide in me knowing that I used to be a Christian, and that gave me the chance to supply to wish for them.

Some people may fear being turned down but that was never my experience. It just takes slightly little bit of boldness to introduce God into that space in the idea that He’s already there and has gone ahead of us.

We must also do not forget that there are people who find themselves searching and looking for. Just ask God for the boldness to have those conversations and gently take the chance where God gives them, trusting in what God is already doing and that He is solely asking us to hitch Him.

What approach should we take with young people?

Martin: The one thing about young people on the whole, and particularly teenagers, is that they really care about honesty and compassion. We may not share all their views but we do have to grasp that it often comes from a heart of compassion and wanting one of the best for others. That means now we have to be authentic; don’t attempt to be something you are not. We need not hide who we’re but we do must be compassionate in how we share the Good News.

Are any digital pathways proving fruitful?

Martin: I might encourage churches to not drop online services altogether though the pandemic is over. Don’t just return to where you were before but embrace digital opportunities to interact with people and create community and curiosity as regards to the Gospel.

One resource doing that basically effectively is ChatNow.org, which is an internet platform for individuals who need someone to consult with or who need to know more about Jesus. It connects visitors to a Christian volunteer to speak with online and so they are having many 1000’s of conversations every month.

Even if digital doesn’t feel like your area, try to attach with specialists and make links with ministries or organisations that have already got the talents your congregation may not have.

What would you say to a smaller church that appears like it has limited budget or human resources for evangelism?

Martin: There could be a very big difference in mindset between churches which were big prior to now and at the moment are small and struggling on the one hand, and churches which can be small because they’ve just been planted.

With small churches that was big, they often struggle with a way of loss and a sense of crisis, and that mindset might be the most important obstacle to effective evangelism.

We work lots with church planters and most of our church planting teams start with only a handful of individuals and either no congregation in any respect or a really small congregation of around a dozen people. Yet the mindset’s completely different.

The difference between the 2 is their view of what is feasible in God’s hands. But my encouragement to all small churches, whatever their circumstances, is that smaller churches are statistically more practical at reaching people than larger churches. They stands out as the only live Christian presence within the town or neighbourhood.

The essential thing is to ask God for clarity and boldness, and faithfully get on with what God has put of their hand. Just like Moses, when God told him to make use of the staff in his hand. It appeared like it was just an insignificant shepherd’s staff but when given to God it became the source of miracle and wonder and transformation for the youngsters of Israel. In that way, the seemingly small church, that would easily view itself in a negative light as a result of decline and loss, could actually be way more significant than it realises.

A beautiful example of that’s slightly church on the Somerset Levels that I visited recently. A number of years ago, once they turned to Counties for support, they were on the verge of closing down and had only six people. Now they’re starting a second house group. They’ve got a totally different mentality and they are not serious about how small they’re or that they cannot do anything. Instead, they’re moving forward with a special outlook and are pondering strategically in regards to the impact they’ll make of their community. So don’t lose heart; God begins great things through small things and that is at all times been true within the Kingdom.

Can anyone do evangelism and where’s one of the best place to begin?

Martin: I believe it’s clear that some people have a special calling to be an evangelist and in Ephesians 4 it tells us that God gives evangelists to the church to equip God’s people for works of service.

But definitely, as Jesus tells us in Acts 1:8, all of his followers are called to be a witness. The query is: are we a very good witness? Are we an impactful witness? What type of witness are we making?

We can all be higher equipped to do the work of evangelism and there are some easy things we will do, like reading books about evangelism that can challenge and encourage us. That’s a Good Question by Canon J John is a very good one and 10ofThose.com has some good books on this topic. Read some books that encourage you, learn something, after which give it a go.

It will be so simple as asking an issue to a colleague at work. If you realize someone is struggling, why not pass them on some Christian literature or a card and say ‘I’ve been praying for you, and I got here across this and thought it would help’.

Learn some small, easy first steps, then do them, and see what God will do – similar to the little boy with the five fish and two loaves of bread. Give God the small thing in your hand and see what he can do.

So, to reply the query, not everyone seems to be an evangelist but everyone can do evangelism and we’re all called to be a witness where we’re.

Surveying the UK Church in the intervening time, do you are feeling more optimistic or pessimistic about our current witness to the Gospel?

Martin: The Gospel has not lost its power and there are Christians in our nation who know and love Jesus and desperately need to know the best way to share that Good News with their friends. The more the Church has declined and shrunk, the greater that challenge becomes and the greater our dependence on God.

If you think the predictions, the Church apparently won’t exist by the 12 months 2050 or something like that, but we all know that is not true because that ignores the ability and work of God. We’re desperate and we definitely must be on our knees for the state of the Church and the state of our nation, and we must be praying for many who are lost and do not know Jesus.

But on that basis, I’m way more optimistic than pessimistic because we’re either coming to the day when Jesus comes back and takes us home – and that cannot be very distant – or we’re coming to a possibility for one more outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit on our nation.

God stores up the prayers of the faithful and I feel in these difficult times that the opportunities for the Gospel are greater than they’ve ever been. And the decision on the Church to arise and be daring in declaring the Good News of Jesus is bigger than it has ever been and once we do that we’ll discover that the fields are ripe for harvest.

God has a harvest ready for us; we just must be daring and step out. The heart behind our book is to say to people: the Gospel has not lost its power; Jesus remains to be Lord and the hope of all nations. So I’m optimistic. It’s on that basis that we’re still here and still encouraging people to share the Gospel.