Evangelicals Aren’t Evangelizing, and It’s Killing the Church

What’s New: Evangelism accounts for growth in only 5% of growing U.S. churches. (Outreach Magazine)

So What: If churches keep relying on transfer and biological growth, they’re doomed to decline and die. Genuine evangelism – sharing the gospel and forging relationships – is our lifeline to effective, faithful, and sustainable communities of faith.

The Points:

1. Inviting isn’t evangelism. Let’s be real: inviting someone to “Come to church” is marketing, not genuine evangelism. Evangelism means sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and inviting people into a life-transforming relationship with him. Big difference.
2. Events aren’t outreach. Hosting a fish fry or rummage sale might fill the parking lot, but if it’s just to raise funds or entertain your members, it’s not outreach (in fact, it mostly serves to solidify the perception that the church is only interested in getting our neighbors’ money). Real outreach intentionally engages with the unchurched and invites them into a relationship.
3. Relationship-building is rare. Churches might host events, but how often do they collect contact info or follow up in a meaningful way? Building relationships takes time, energy, and yes, strategy.
4. Pastors need unchurched friends. Let’s face it: too many pastors and church members live in a holy huddle. Breaking out means spending time with those who don’t already know Jesus – just like Jesus did. If you’re spending more time with your members than the unchurched, your priorities are completely backward. 

And … ?

Here’s the harsh reality: most churches are spending their energy rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic while the ship’s sinking. Somewhere between 66% and 85% of churches in the U.S. are in decline or on a plateau, and let’s be clear – plateau is just a fancy way of saying “hospice care.” The problem? We’ve confused busyness with mission. Genuine evangelism, the lifeblood of the church, has become a relic of the past, replaced by passive invitations and internal programs that do little to reach the lost.

Neil Cole said it best: “If we’re going to reach the unchurched, we’re going to have to sit in the smoking section.” Translation? We need to get out of our comfort zones and engage with people who don’t look, think, or live like us. Genuine evangelism isn’t about memorizing scripts or launching flashy campaigns; it’s about building authentic relationships and walking alongside people as they discover Christ. That takes time, intentionality, and a willingness to get our hands dirty.

Action! Pastor, grab a copy of my Hitchhikers’ Guide to Evangelism from Amazon and the Get More Time Planner from our free resource pool and put genuine evangelism on your front burner.