So Many Reasons not to ‘do’ Evangelism by Trevor Jamison

23/09/2010 by idavidsonblog.

I have just returned from the annual Eastern Synod Ministers’ get-together, held at a conference centre near Norwich, over three days.  Two conferences ago we were introduced to the United Reformed Church Vision4Life process, particularly the “Bible Year” that was soon due to commence. Last year we explored the content and material for the “Prayer Year”.  This time we were looking at the Vision4Life “Evangelism Year”, due to start in a few weeks time.  On the morning of the day I departed for the conference the man from DHL delivered three boxes to the door, containing this year’s Vision4Life booklets on “Exploring Evangelism”; enough copies to provide one for every person associated with the URC congregations in Billericay, Brentwood and Ingatestone.  Yes, evangelism is almost upon us. Now, I wonder if readers of this blog greeted the above news with a unanimous chorus of ‘hurrahs’ and ‘hallelujahs’?  Somehow, I doubt it.  That’s not to say no one is enthused at the prospect of year emphasising evangelism.  At a recent Church Meeting in one of the congregations we looked at piloting a Christian nurture course with a view to then sharing it with others who are not involved in any Church congregation.  In response to the question “How do you feel about this?”, rather than, “What do you think about it?” comments included “I feel really excited” and “I have been waiting for years for us to do something like this.”  On the other hand, to be realistic, to be truthful, not everyone shares this sense of positive anticipation. Francis Brienan, the URC Secretary for Mission, a speaker at the Ministers’ conference, identified some of the doubts that people have about evangelism; doubts about method, content, Church, context and personal experience.  For some people the word “evangelism” conjures up unsettling images of being asked to go door-knocking, like the Jehovah’s Witnesses or organise big rallies, a la Billy Graham.  For others, evangelism is too closely associated with a narrow focus on being saved from personal sin.  Some have problems about the Church, fearing that their Church will not prove attractive to their friends if they ask them to come along, even though they personally find it a good place to be.  Some despair of evangelism having any impact in our context, one where Church attendance is falling and many of the population are indifferent or even hostile to any sort of religion.  Finally, of course, some individuals have been the victims of inappropriate or heavy-handed evangelists and would not wish that experience on anyone else. 

One Minister’s letter in a Church blog cannot do justice to the anticipation that some of us feel and the doubts others have at the prospect of year emphasising evangelism but here are some statements of intent and observations to get the conversation and the process rolling: Ø  Any evangelistic method we use will be appropriate to us and to our situation now, not just to how things were sometimes done in some places in the past.Ø  We won’t skate over the reality of personal sin but the good news we share won’t miss out all the other elements of joyful living that come from following Jesus.  Ø  All three of the Churches in this pastorate have aspects of their life and worship that others would enjoy and appreciate if we could persuade them to get involved. Ø  A large part of the population of this country, including people we know, are open to exploring the things that interest us (the indifferent and the hostile we can look to on another occasion). Ø  We need to listen to and learn from the bad experiences some of us have had in order to share our good news in a sensitive and appropriate way this time around but not let them prevent us from sharing good news at all.  Now, as to the content of the evangelistic message and the ways each congregation in this pastorate can share it… a Vision4Life year of exploring (and doing) is coming to a Church near you soon.  I am looking forward to it with both nervousness and expectation and I hope you are too. Trevor

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