Pillar 2 — Evangelism and Church Growth

(EDITOR’S NOTE — This issue of the Biblical Recorder continues our coverage of a seven part series on the “Seven Pillars for Ministry: Biblical Concepts for a Christ-Centered Vision.” These seven pillars are vision statements developed by Milton Hollifield, executive director-treasurer of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. I believe these pillars need to be known, understood and embraced so N.C. Baptists can do a better job of fulfilling the Great Commission. It is our hope that this series will be the catalyst to strengthen our churches in fellowship, vision and partnership.)

I remember it well. I was 10 years old, and I had just prayed to receive Jesus as my Savior. My Dad and my brother prayed to receive Christ in the same Sunday morning service at New Hope Baptist Church in Charlotte. My mother made her decision for Christ two weeks earlier and my sister two weeks later. Our whole family of five was baptized together soon thereafter.

I remember the clean sense of newness in my life. I’ll never get over it. My life had been changed for eternity. Our whole family was headed in a new direction. My alcoholic father was set free from that destructive addiction, never to be enslaved again.

The truth of the gospel had invaded our household. We were brand new because someone in the church down the street cared enough to share the Good News of salvation with us. What if they had not cared? What if they never told us that Christ died for our sins?  I’ve wondered where I would be if that Baptist church had been caught up in just having activities that keep people busy, but had no evangelistic outreach.

I’m surprised they did not ask my brother and I to stop coming to the church. You need to know that Larry and I rode our bikes to Sunday services for a long time before my parents started attending. We were those little brats who did not know how to act in church, and there were no parents present to supervise us. But there was Mrs. Jordan who loved us like we were her own. And others welcomed us, overlooking our “unchurchy” ways. So, we kept going back.

God was working on me from another angle. The Gideons came to our elementary school. Yes, it was a public school and we knew nothing about “political correctness.” The Gideons said I could have a New Testament if I would memorize one Bible verse. The verse was John 3:16. I put it to memory and received my first reward. God used that scripture to prepare my heart for a greater gift — the gift of eternal life.  Everyone’s story is different, but the result is the same. The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, as Paul stated in Romans 1:16. Evangelicals believe the gospel is true. We believe it is life-changing. We believe Jesus suffered and died for our sins, was buried and arose the third day. We believe he lives today and that his indwelling Holy Spirit gives us the power to proclaim this salvation to those who have not yet believed.

This is the basic meaning of “evangelism and church growth.” The gospel is proclaimed. Some respond in faith and experience the forgiveness of sin. These new believers get assimilated into a New Testament church. The church grows, reaching out to others and the cycle is repeated.

The methods of evangelism are many — tracts, EvangeCube, verbal witness, Bible distribution, Vacation Bible School, public evangelism events, Sunday School, worship services, concerts. But no method works if we do not share the gospel. We are God’s method!

If there is no proclamation of the gospel, the church is merely a social club. If evangelism is not important, we should not be surprised when baptism numbers decrease and churches close their doors. If there is no faithful proclamation of the gospel, we are guilty of disobedience. Jesus said we will obey him and share his salvation throughout the whole earth when we are filled with His Holy Spirit. Are we filled with Jesus? Are we telling the good news?

Editor’s picks for evangelism
Introduction to Evangelism
by Alvin Reid, B & H Publishing (1998)
Reid traces the history of evangelism with a focus on how Christians can proclaim the gospel effectively. Using methods built upon biblical, historical, and theological foundations, this exhaustive guide integrates doctrinal issues with practical matters of methodology, while developing the personal spirituality of those who seek to carry out the Great Commission.

The Master Plan of Evangelism,
2nd edition, abridged, by Dr. Robert E. Coleman, Revell (2010)
This classic on evangelism needs to be read and applied in every church. For more than 40 years this book has challenged over 3.5 million readers to discover how Jesus used men to proclaim His message.

Concentric Circles of Concern,
Revised, edited by Claude V. King, by W. Oscar Thompson Jr. &
Carolyn Thompson Ritzmann,
B & H Publishing Group (1999)
According to this newly revised edition of W. Oscar Thompson Jr.’s classic work, successful evangelism always starts at home. In Concentric Circles of Concern, Dr. Thompson gives specific details on how best to share Christ’s love by meeting the spiritual needs of close family first, followed by friends, and others in your circle of relationships.

(EDITOR’S NOTE — This item is part of a package of stories highlighting evangelism and church growth across the state. The Biblical Recorder is focusing on the Seven Pillars for Christian Ministry adopted by the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. For more stories or to find out about the entire package, please visit here.)