A New Kind of Evangelism
by Ralph E. Bauserman,
Evangelism Consultant

I am, by nature, a shy person; it is not easy for me to intentionally engage unknown persons in conversation. In my prayer life in recent years, I have been asking God to help me overcome this problem. So now I find myself much more comfortable talking with persons in airports, restaurants, hotels, service stations, and shopping malls. Not long ago, in a convenience store, I found myself talking with a young man who was decorated with all the symbols of our new culture. He was, to say the least, different from anyone in my circle of family and friends. We talked a few moments, and then he went his way and I went mine. Most likely, we will never see each other again.

I am now very much aware that a whole new culture has been emerging, and many of these folks are completely disconnected from our traditional Christianity. They have no Christian roots or traditions; and if they believe in God, most likely this belief does not resemble, even faintly, the God we Christians meet in the Bible. In fact, you will not find these folks in Christian bookstores purchasing Bibles; they see the church as irrelevant. While it does not, in my opinion, serve any useful purpose to label these persons, those of us in the church must be aware of their growing numbers and realize that they are a part of the vast mission field to which we are called.

One of the greatest challenges facing the church is that of helping our people connect with these folks who seem so disconnected. To complicate matters, most of our church people have no desire to connect with the disconnected; in fact, we are frightened of them! It is so difficult for us to accept the fact that they too are children of God, and as such, their lives also have value and worth in the sight of God. May God have mercy and forgiveness on any of us who think that our church membership elevates us to any position of superiority over the disconnected.

In most cases, church people tend to spend their time with people with whom they feel comfortable. We surround ourselves with our "kind" of people. Most of our churches are friendly, but for the most part, we are friendly with each other! We have found that it is safe and comfortable to mix with the "right" people. I find it interesting that the thing that brought Jesus the most trouble was that he spent his time with the "wrong" people! He had a way of connecting with crooked tax collectors, lepers, prostitutes, and sinners. He reached out to them, made time for them, and sat at the dinner table with them. If Jesus were to walk among us again, I think some of us would be surprised that he probably would not be found at our church suppers and carry-in dinners! He would be where he has always been found, among the disconnected. It is time for the church to remember that Jesus did not go to the cross for being exclusive!

Churches that are successfully developing effective discipleship systems are taking a whole new approach to evangelism. Their focus is no longer on filling membership books; rather, it is on preparing their people to connect with the disconnected, and inviting all people, regardless of race, ethnic background, or culture, to join them in the faith journey. This new kind of evangelism is disruptive to comfortable church people, and it is often met with resistance, fear, and no small amount of tension. However, some of us are finally beginning to understand that if we are going to follow Jesus, it is quite likely that we will be led where we had not planned to go!

At your next leadership meeting, would you dare raise the question about how well your church is doing with its mission of connecting with the disconnected? Are your people simply being friendly with one another? As leaders of the church, what are you doing to equip your people to share in a new kind of evangelism? Are we intentionally training our people to relate to those with whom they have little or nothing in common? Remember, the General Board of Discipleship is ready and willing to support you in this great mission.

Posted 8-11-03.