We have an exciting Christmas play coming up, sparking thoughts on the concept of church evangelism. Have we become complacent as believers? Do we overly rely on the church for evangelism? Are churches prioritizing marketing for growth instead of converting lost individuals to believers? Is there a risk of merely shuffling churchgoers between different congregations? A church "Shell Game", if you will.

It seems we might be approaching church growth incorrectly…

This isn't a critique of mega churches, but rather an observation. Mega churches are growing in congregation size, yet the number of people identifying as Christians is declining annually. Even small churches are closing. This suggests a shift between churches rather than reaching the lost.

Congregations experiencing growth, rather than stagnation, often have robust programs and marketing budgets. While marketing and church programs play a crucial role, they cannot replace the significance of actual evangelism.

Allow me to elaborate on my evangelism philosophy. Church primarily serves believers, and many well-meaning Christians use it as an evangelism tool. However, this approach presents challenges. Pastors and leaders may need to tailor messages for the unsaved, self-censoring to avoid offense. Consequently, congregants may miss profound theological teachings on Sundays due to a focus on universally palatable messaging.

Don't misunderstand; I am not against non-believers or truth-seekers coming to church. They should indeed attend, with an opportunity to connect later and ask questions.

True evangelism begins beyond the church walls, hence the term "Outreach." While hosting community events can contribute to church growth, the primary goal should be to preach the gospel, not merely boost attendance figures. My focus is on growing churches with individuals firmly saved, not just filling seats. When sharing my faith, I don't advocate for a particular church building or denomination; instead, I emphasize THE Church and Jesus Christ—His family.

What does this approach look like? It begins with the congregation reaching out and ministering to their loved ones. I understand some may find this idea uncomfortable, but consider this: you might be the person God has placed in their life to share the message of Jesus.

And speaking of Christmas, there's a marketing concept called Drip Marketing. In evangelism, it translates to a continuous flow of information over time that eventually prompts a response. This could be as simple as living a good Christian life in front of your loved ones, asking pointed questions, and naturally bringing up spiritual matters in conversation. Christmas provides an excellent opportunity to discuss the gospel.

While Christmas and Easter shouldn't be the sole times people hear about Christ, they present amazing opportunities for these discussions.

So, what's the solution?

It's time for churches to shift focus towards equipping the saints and imparting solid theology, rather than being the exclusive hub for evangelism. Church evangelism is a component, and efforts like outreaches, community engagement events, holiday programs, and VBS should continue. However, the paramount task is for church members to step out of their comfort zones, individually reaching the lost and making disciples. Church growth should be a byproduct of effective church members. Members can and should utilize programs within their local church, but they shouldn’t just invite their loved ones to church and expect the pastor or church leader to do the rest of the work.

Invite your loved one to a special church program, then invite them to dinner or coffee afterward and engage them in conversation about the Gospel. If you are looking for an open door to preach the gospel, that’s it!