Word Count: 418 – Est Read Time: 2 Minutes
What’s Up:
Church leaders, stop confusing church invitations with evangelism – if you’re relying on word-of-mouth marketing, you’re missing the point. Evangelism isn’t marketing.
So What:
Real evangelism means sharing your faith authentically, not just inviting people to church. Without honest witnessing, your ministry will stagnate while conversion growth remains a pipe dream.
The Point Is:
• True Witnessing: Evangelism isn’t about handing out invites. It’s about boldly sharing your personal faith encounters or the transformation you’ve seen firsthand in others.
• Acts 1:8 Blueprint: Follow Jesus’s command to be witnesses. Your life and the lives you witness should spark change beyond the walls of your sanctuary.
• Beyond the Invite: Remember, word-of-mouth is marketing. Evangelism goes deeper than a casual invitation.
• Train to Transform: Equip your members with real tools to share their faith – stories that cut through the noise and truly speak to the heart.
And … ?
Let’s face it, evangelism is in crisis. Too many churches mistakenly believe that inviting a neighbor is the same as sharing the life-changing message of Jesus. True evangelism demands that you become a witness, as outlined in Acts 1:8. Jesus didn’t send out disciples with a script; he sent them out to testify about what they had seen and experienced firsthand. And let’s be honest – the word “testimony” has lots and lots of baggage. Instead, think of yourself as a witness in the legal sense: someone who shares undeniable, personal truth.
I’ll be the first to admit my own faith story is fairly standard – I was raised in the church, and Jesus has always been a constant in my life. But my wife’s journey? That’s a powerful narrative of transformation. Once trapped in a life of addiction and despair, she experienced a radical turnaround when the Holy Spirit intervened and saved her from herself. I share her story because it’s raw, real, and it works. In today’s world – where only 4% of churches in the US are seeing true evangelistic growth –we must train our members to go beyond mere marketing. They need to learn how to share authentic stories from their homes, to their neighbors, and to the community at large. If we don’t, we’re not fulfilling the Great Commission.
Action!
If you’re committed to training your members to be disciples committed to the Great Commission, take a look at the ChurchTalk.tv episode “The Five Faces of Jesus.” It introduces a simple, effective way to move from “Inviting” to being an Acts 1:8 Witness.
