AUGUST 29, 2005

NOT YOUR DADDY’S EVANGELISM
by Pastor George Van Alstine

Those of us who grew up in Bible-teaching churches had the understanding that evangelism usually happened in special services designed to save the lost. These meetings were under the direction of gifted persuaders known as evangelists, who presented a straightforward message, focusing on sin, lostness, and God’s plan of salvation. Each evangelistic meeting ended with an open invitation to receive Jesus and be saved. That’s how most people came to be Christians.

In the 1950s and 60s this traditional way of bringing people to Christ expanded into “mass evangelism,” large area-wide outreach campaigns. Billy Graham was the focal point of this movement, and many thousands of people have come to faith through these large, public crusades.

But during the same period, another movement was developing. There was a recognition that a lot of “pre-evangelism” contributed to every individual conversion in a public service. Words, deeds and prayers of friends and relatives, who were average Christian believers, laid the groundwork, often over many years, for a person’s moment of decision. This emphasis became very intentional in a strategy known as “friendship evangelism,” based on the belief that the opportunity for open witness usually comes only after many acts of caring have earned a hearing. Establishing genuine friendships came to be seen as part of the whole process of evangelism, even though no “Jesus talk” was involved.

The Outreach Department of ABC is sponsoring two late-summer events that stretch the boundaries of friendship evangelism. Both of them are designed to show that the church on the corner of Calaveras and El Molino is a friendly place. The church and its people care for its neighbors whether or not they believe its message.

First, last Saturday, we had a car wash. There was no charge for the service. In fact, even voluntary donations were not accepted. While people waited for their cars to be finished, they could enjoy free brownies, cookies, lemonade, etc. No strings attached. No sales pitch.

Second, next Sunday, we will present Billy Mitchell’s jazz group on the church lawn, during the regular 11:00 AM worship hour. Again, this will be free, with a complimentary pot-luck following. Brenda Mitchell will share a word of testimony at the end, but there will be no pressure for people to respond.

Neither one of these events would be seen as part of evangelism by my father’s generation. In fact, they probably wouldn’t be seen as things the church should sponsor at all. But the Outreach Department has recognized that in this harsh modern world many people feel very isolated and are suspicious of attempts to reach out to them. The unchurched often see churches as self-promoting institutions that are only after them for their money. They tend to be suspicious of direct evangelistic efforts. Events like the car wash and the jazz concert can break through these prejudices and allow more meaningful relationships to develop.

Of course, these events are only pre-evangelism. Jazz and clean cars never saved anybody. The words of gospel witness must also be clearly expressed by the church and its people, or else we won’t be true friends to these new acquaintances.

Pray that minds and hearts may be open because of our outreach efforts. And pray that we as a church may be spiritually prepared to follow pre-evangelism with a clear presentation of God’s good news of salvation.