Caring and sharing
Twenty-five years ago I took an evangelism training class on how to share my faith … or so I thought. I found myself squirming nervously as the instructor told us how to establish a contact, start a conversation, share a few simple points, ask for a commitment and then move on to our next "victim." Okay, the guy didn't use that last word. But when I hit the streets to practice what I learned, my fear was paralyzing—not because I was scared to engage people in conversation, but because I knew I was engaging people as projects. Sadly, that's probably how many of us have been taught to share our faith.
Since those early days, I've formed some of my own strong convictions about what does and doesn't constitute a Christ-like approach to evangelism. Jeram Barrs, founder and resident scholar at the Francis Schaeffer Institute at Covenant Theological Seminary, has some convictions as well. His are grounded solidly in the Scriptures, particularly the examples we find in Christ and the Apostle Paul. His book, The Heart Of Evangelism (Crossway Books, 2002, ISBN #1-58134-153-9) reflects what is clearly Christ's heart for evangelism as it offers foundational Scriptural principles that can be adapted and applied in varying settings (and cultures!), rather than a single methodology to apply to every setting. Barrs looks at what Jesus and the apostles taught and practiced in regards to evangelism in an effort to help today's church recover the New Testament pattern of evangelism.
Evangelism can be scary. Reading a book on the subject can be scarier still—you might have to act on what you read! But anyone who cares about their friends, neighbors, families and kids will find The Heart of Evangelism to be a practical and encouraging read. Barrs has done the contemporary church (and those who minister to kids)—a church that largely doesn't understand the culture or how to reach it—a huge favor. I'll be pushing this book for years to come!
—Walt Mueller