What does authentic evangelism leadership look like? The Billy Graham Center for Evangelism (BGCE), partnered with Q Place, has created a YouTube channel to equip and inspire leaders in all levels and sectors of society to prioritize gospel witness. Below is the first video in the series featuring Ed Stetzer, the executive director of LifeWay Research and lead pastor of a new church that has grown quickly by prioritizing evangelism. Other videos in the series can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLQx-pX_bs2d-2FAKrjznzg
On YouTube at http://youtu.be/x4nwdMm-oXY.
I am not sure I understand where he is coming from, I guess I see that the Father draws them and we participate with Jesus as He works with them to heal their vision so they can even see Him. They will know us by the love of the Father that spills out to us. I absolutely want to share the Father that I love to those around me, but I have found enthusiasm for Him is not equaled by those I am telling and many cases I run them off because who they think God is doesn’t match who I believe He is. So doesn’t there have to be a timing thing here where we listen to the Holy Spirit as to what to say? I mean I am not sure of how this is all suppose to work but I have seen my excitement dampen many a conversation. It seems that it has to be more organic than a strategery that we come up with, I just don’t think numbers of church goers tells the whole story here, but again I don’t know the answer to this so this is why I ask.
Hi Tim,
Thanks for your comment. You ask some good and important questions. I think Ed Stetzer’s key point (and an essential one) is the need for church leaders to be evangelistically minded and have “hands-on” experience with evangelism. The “how” of evangelism has a lot to do with the personality and style of the evangelist him or herself, and of the person they are seeking to reach with the good news of Jesus (the evangel). As you suggest, one certainly has to follow the lead of the Spirit, which includes discerning where the person is “located” on a continuum of openness to hearing the gospel. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, but leaders need to learn to evangelize so that they can credibly (and helpfully) teach and encourage those they lead to “go and do likewise.” A great model, of course, is how Jesus evangelized in the presence of his disciples who learned from him and, in turn, became effective evangelists in the varied cultures of their day.