Everybody is an evangelist. It’s just human nature. Whenever we have good news, we share it, whether it’s about a new movie, a cool restaurant, or a brilliant new novel. How else would we find out about worthwhile things if it were not for the enthusiastic recommendation of people we trust?
When it comes to the good news of Christian faith, there are lots of ways to share the good news with integrity and respect. We have looked at six of them already. Here are some more:
7. A special service
A couple of years ago, I happened to be in York, England, when there was a service in York Minster for the consecration of three new bishops. The Minster was full to overflowing, and it was a wonderful, uplifting service. Then, just before the blessing, Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, who was presiding, said something that was not part of the liturgy. It went something like this:
You may be here today, and you haven’t been in church for a long time, or maybe you’ve never been in church before. And during this service, perhaps you were surprisingly moved, or there was a feeling of joy, or of dissatisfaction, or of longing. I would encourage you to think that maybe that was Jesus tapping you on the shoulder, the Jesus who was the focus of this service today. And if you did feel something, I encourage you not to ignore it or shrug it off: come and speak to me or to someone else, and we would be delighted to help you.
So often, such big services do attract people who would not call themselves Christians, as family members or simply curious visitors, and often they do experience a nudge from the Holy Spirit—so why not tell people simply and without pressure what it means and what they can do about it? That’s evangelism.
8. Special Lectures
Last November, Hamilton residents were treated to “An Evening with Margaret Atwood,” where the most famous living Canadian author was interviewed about her most recent book, Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts. Fifteen hundred people attended! When you have the right topic and the right speaker, people will show up.
On a much smaller scale, I have seen the same principle applied in church contexts. Sometimes it is a well-known politician talking about their faith, or a medal-winning athlete, or the head of a much-admired local charity. For some years, hockey legend Paul Henderson (a faithful Anglican) was a popular speaker at such events.
For many people who are not ready to darken the door of a church on a Sunday, such events are interesting and easily accessible, especially when they are held in a public place, rather than in a church basement. Food also helps, whether breakfast, lunch, or supper: Jesus often shared the Gospel over food, so we have the perfect excuse.
9. The Jesus Deck
If you were at the Supercrawl on James Street North in Hamilton last September, you would have seen a line of people going into Christ’s Church Cathedral. Among the things the visitors would see were three tables, each with a person sitting behind it shuffling a deck of cards, each card bearing the picture of a scene from the Gospels and an appropriate Bible verse. This is the Jesus Deck.
I was there, learning how to use the Jesus Deck. When someone expressed curiosity, I would say, “Well, each card shows a scene from Jesus’ life, and the cards are a way to see how the story of your life intersects with the story of Jesus’ life. Might you be interested?” To my delight (and, I confess, surprise), most people said yes, so I would lay out perhaps five of the cards. I then invited the person to take time to look at the five and choose one that appealed to them.
One young woman picked the card showing Jesus’ baptism. It turned out that she hated her job and was wondering whether to look for a new one. It was very natural then to say, “Well, this picture is of a turning point in Jesus’ life: he’s finished his preparation, and God is affirming him as he begins his real life’s work. Is it possible that God wants to affirm you, and guide you to a job which will use the gifts he’s given you?” We then had a lovely discussion, and at the end, with her permission, I prayed for her. In a very direct way, the Jesus Deck gave her good news that precisely matched her situation. It was all relaxed and friendly—and yet powerful.
10. The simplest, most demanding witness
A couple of years ago, I undertook a study of why people in Canada become Christians—because they still do! What would you guess was the number one influence? Friends. Friends who are already Christians. But not any old Christian friends. These friends had particular qualities: they patiently answered questions, they walked the Christian talk, and they were patient. My guess is that few of those Christian friends would self-identify as “evangelists”—and who can blame them? They were just being good friends, real-life evangelists, and a million miles from the caricature.
So that’s it—ten forms of evangelism that are perfectly compatible with Anglican spirituality. Evangelism is a basic spiritual discipline, as much as prayer, or forgiveness, or social justice. In these days of church decline, it is a discipline we need urgently to recover—and not just for the sake of survival! The Gospel really is good news for the many people in our world who are lonely, confused, guilty, or hurting. We just need to pray, discern what form of evangelism is most appropriate for our context, pray (again), and then try. What’s the worst that could happen?
Our Treasures and Us: A Time for Reflection