Archive for: evantell
Prepare to let out a gasp—–I don’t always care about the lost. Phew, OK—got that out.
So, what does that mean and why does it matter?
If you know anything about Larry Moyer and EvanTell, you have probably heard about Larry’s (and as a result, the ministry’s) “heart for the lost”. And if you’re new to EvanTell and Evangelism.net, you will quickly understand what I’m talking about. The concept of concern, or heart, or caring for ‘lost’ people is pervasive throughout our curriculum, Larry’s books, our articles, etc. It is expressed as a primary (if not THE primary) motivator for evangelism.
But sometimes I not only don’t care about the lost, I have disdain and contempt because of their general attitude toward believers. I don’t mind being honest and admitting that. Christians are consistently the only people group who anyone can safely ridicule without fear of retaliation. Try commenting negatively about any non-Christian special interest group, religion, “campus” club, ideology, nationality, etc. –then see what happens. Try the same with Christians and it’s not only OK—it’s most often encouraged. So naturally, it’s easy to project ill-will toward those who propagate the negative stereotypes of Christians and, more seriously, mock God. The warrior in me loses patience knowing that they speak in ignorance about that which they do not know.
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Each month we have what we call an Igniter Lunch where anybody can come, grab a sandwich, and listen to a speaker give a message on evangelism. Tomorrow, I’ll be the speaker and will talk about “How does a busy Christian find time to evangelize?” When I think of this question two things come to mind.
One, we make this entire issue more difficult than it is. You don’t have to take time out of your schedule for non-Christians, you simply have to work them into your schedule. What are the three things believers do that non-Christians also do? They are eat, read, and play sports. So we need what Winston Churchill once called, “The genius to recognize the obvious”. Here are a few ideas:
- You can converse with non-Christians over a lunch table or have a non-Christian couple over for dinner. Lighthearted dinner conversations allow you to turn the conversations to spiritual things and ultimately the Lord.
- Share a book you’ve read about spiritual matters. Loan it to them and solicit their response. Give it to them with the compliment that you have been impressed with how much they like to read.
- Finally, most sports can be participated in with non-Christians. I tell people that I like anything that is outdoors and physically abusive. So my three sports are hunting, running, and water skiing. I have done all three with non-Christians and on occasion led people to Christ.
Secondly, busy people who are committed Christians make time for non-Christians when necessary, they don’t have time for non-Christians. They do so because they are absolutely convinced that the only thing they can take with them to heaven is a friend. They therefore spend time with non-Christians because they feel they are more important than their investments, hobbies, cars, lawn, or anything else. Once more, they prioritize.
So much more could be said and will be shared at the Igniter Lunch, far more than a blog post will allow me to say but I hope this gets your thinking started. But these are just my thoughts. Suppose I ask you the question, “How does a busy person find time to evangelize, what would YOU say?”
I have two things in common with most Christians. First, evangelism sometimes frightens me. I don’t know of anything more exciting than God using me to change another person’s eternal destiny. But often when I consider the possibility of talking to someone about the Savior, I become frightened—that sweaty hands, nervous knees experience. It’s usually fear of the unknown: I simply don’t know how the person is going to respond. I don’t know whether I’m going to gain a friend or lose one.
Second, it is easiest for me to understand something new when it is simple, clear, and to the point. “Stop making it so difficult,” I often want to plead. Put it in language I can understand, and give it to me one point at a time. Don’t throw “the whole ball of wax” at me at once. Give me one point, let me understand it, and then move on to the next point.
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Our executive staff at EvanTell has been reviewing “Good to Great”, a book by Jim Collins that analyzes 11 average businesses that suddenly experienced explosive growth that was sustained over a 15 year period. The purpose of the book is to summarize what these companies had in common that led to such a dramatic turnaround.
One of the common reasons for the success of these companies is what Collins refers to as “level 5 leadership.” We normally think of great leaders as being highly charismatic, able to lead by the sheer force of their charismatic personality and persuasive skills. However, Collins points out that in most of the companies that experienced sustained growth, this was not the case.
Here is a list of some of the traits of a “level 5” leader:
• Embody a paradoxical mix of personal humility and professional will.
• Ambitious, but first and foremost for the company and not for themselves.
• Display a compelling modesty, are self-effacing and understated.
• Resolved to do whatever it takes to make the company great, no matter how big or hard the decisions.
• Reflect a workmanlike diligence—more plow horse than show horse.
• Unwavering, doing what must be done for the sake of the company, even in the face of enormous obstacles and opposition.
It occurred to me that these same traits and work habits of level 5 business leaders are the same ones displayed by many of the great leaders in missions throughout history. Mission leaders such as William Carey and Hudson Taylor were in fact “level 5” leaders and these characteristics were part of the reason for the tremendous impact of their endeavors.
All truth is God’s truth. Many of the principles listed above are Biblical in nature and apply both in the worlds of both business and ministry. In the next few posts, we will more closely examine this correlation.
Duane Wessels, a You Can Tell It! master instructor for EvanTell, recently traveled to Nigeria and Ghana to equip ministry leaders to train their fellow believers in personal evangelism.
“The benefit of what God is doing is already evident. Church leaders are being re-energized to reach more and more unbelievers, not just fellow Christians. EvanTell’s new resources for children are enthusiastically received by the leadership. The demand is great. Thanks for your prayers.”
How do you reach people who have been turned off by Christians? What do you say to people you want to see come to the Savior who is so good when they have seen Christians who, in their opinion, are so bad? In this episode of the Evangelism Encouragement Podcast, host Mark Rae talks with Dr. Larry Moyer as they consider some of the reasons non-Christians give as to why they have been turned off by Christians. [display_podcast]
