ROUGH AND READY GUIDES to effective CHRISTIAN ministry

How to be an evangelist and still be normal

• Evangelism concerns bringing people closer to God. It is not focussed on building Christ Church or getting “bums on seats”.

• As you enter any situation or conversation recall that God is already there; God’s activity doesn’t stand or fall by your success or failure.

• Whoever you are talking with you are just one small part of their journey. It doesn’t all depend on you.

• By and large it is not hugely public. It is a one-to-one activity with people you know or people you meet in the course of your daily business.

• It is not about having all the answers – it is more about hearing people’s questions and joining them on their journey.

• Know the truth of your own story: work out clearly why it is you follow Christ. What does Jesus mean to you? Why does your faith matter to you? This could be very different from the stereotypical story or anyone else’s story.

• Know the simple shape of basic Christian truth.

• Be yourself. What you are is the best possible gift at any particular time. Don’t try to be someone you are not.

• Pray for opportunity and pray for the right words when the opportunities come.

• This can be risky and exciting, challenging but thrilling. It can be wounding because you are exposing yourself in a way which can be abused. Don’t allow the wounds to fester – come home and share with your Christian community be that friends or small group etc. let them pray with you and sort it so you can get back out there.

• There will be spiritual attack.

• Walk through the “doors that are opened” to you. When you meet a closed door, stop.

• Don’t stop too soon – be prepared to actually pray with anyone as necessary and lead someone in a short prayer of commitment if necessary. Perhaps work out for yourself the gist of what you might say and do at this point in an encounter.