PRAYERFULLY EVALUATE YOUR MINISTRY
What is a “culture of evangelism”? How would you know if you have one? An evangelistic
culture or movement can be characterized by five primary outcomes:
•Believers are experiencing the spiritual dynamics of witness (for example, the power of
the Spirit and prayer- Acts 1:8).
•Believers are growing in their ability to communicate the Gospel with clarity and
relevance.
•Gospel conversations are a common occurrence.
•Students are coming to Christ, being established in the faith, and getting involved with a
believing community.
•Leaders and laborers are working together in effective outreach.
FILL YOUR TOOLBOX
Tools come in handy, especially when there is a difficult job to do. They extend one’s ability,
making possible what is otherwise difficult or beyond reach. (I was glad for the “pole saw” I
used yesterday to trim dead limbs off our 40-foot palm tree—an otherwise impossible task.)
Quality ministry tools can help extend a believer’s ability in outreach, as well. Even young
believers can engage in significant spiritual conversations or clearly communicate the gospel
with the right tool. Here are some tools that have proven effective in campus outreach across the
nation:
TRAIN YOUR PEOPLE
One can have a toolbox overflowing with effective tools. But little will happen if leaders are not
training believers to share their faith. This is what God has called us to do (2Tim2:2, Eph 4:12).
Many believers find themselves paralyzed by fears and uncertainty in how to engage others
appropriately in gospel conversation. That is where training can help. Good training will inform
the “head”, encourage the “heart”, and equip the “hands”.
Training begins with laying the right foundation—that is, the Word of God. Nothing is more
compelling than what God thinks about the lost, sin, and salvation. A great resource is Getting
Biblical About Evangelism. It is a self-study tool that can be used in small groups. It helps
students build their own convictions about evangelism based on a study of God’s Word. Training
also involves motivation. Besides God’s Word, letting students see and hear stories of Christians
sharing their faith or lost people getting saved can be tremendously encouraging.
A great tool that informs the head and encourages the heart is CoJourners. It can help you equip
students in the art of conversational witness, as you teach the four roles we can have in another
person’s spiritual journey: being an explorer, a guide, a builder and a mentor.
BATHE IT ALL IN PRAYER
Ultimately, building a culture of evangelism is not a matter of tools, training or strategy. A true
evangelistic movement is the product of God’s Spirit at work. That is where prayer comes in.
When God’s Word is coupled with prayer for the lost, it has the power to compel us to action,
overcoming even our greatest fears (Acts 4:23-31).Prayer aligns our efforts with God’s work and
unleashes the power of God’s Spirit through our witness. Jesus said, “But you will receive power
when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea
and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, NIV). Pray for your students to share their
faith, pray for the lost by name, pray for God to work in the hearts of students, pray God would
send laborers into the harvest, pray for courage, pray against the enemy, pray for the campus, and
pray some more. Many times we have not because we ask not.
