Spiritual Formation
of Leaders — A Prerequisite for Evangelism
by Karen A. Greenwaldt
Years ago, I was lost and stopped to find my way. I went into a roadside store to ask directions. The store owner listened intently, then asked me to describe what I knew about my destination, my route, and when I needed to arrive. After what seemed an eternity of answering the store owner's questions, I asked again, "Can you tell me the way?" The owner responded, "I have no idea how to get there."
I've been reflecting on that experience in the context of evangelism. I wonder how many pastors and laity in our churches hear people in their churches and neighborhoods saying, "I'm lost. Can you help me find the way?" When pastors and/or laity respond, I wonder if they have ongoing and growing experiences of encounters with the Risen Christ that would provide the basis for responding, "I can show you the way."
As I understand it, evangelism is simply telling the good news of the gospel of Christ and inviting others to follow Jesus. Of course, the work of evangelism is
not a simple task. It is a complex interaction between followers of Jesus and those who have yet to make confessions of faith and to commit to a life-long journey of saying "yes" to the invitation to follow God whose love is made known in the life and death of Jesus Christ.
The work of evangelism is given to the church and to the followers of Jesus. In order to tell the good news to another, however, the communicator must know and have experience with the Christian faith. In other words, we cannot easily invite another to a journey of faith without having the experience of faith personally.
We at the General Board of Discipleship believe that church leaders (laity and clergy alike) must be on a life-long faith journey in order to help others along their faith journey. As with my experience in being lost, we cannot help others along the way unless we know the destination. In the case of evangelism, unless we have a growing, vital relationship with God, we cannot easily invite others to a vital, fruitful faith in Jesus Christ.
The Rev. Karen A. Greenwaldt is General Secretary of the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church
Holy Spirit: The Source and Power . . .