Evangelism is essentially what we are doing when we respond to the question, How can we show others, wherever we are and whatever we are doing, that they are loved by God?
As Archbishop Justin Welby says…
Making evangelism a priority is not simply a growth strategy, or a desperate attempt to fill empty churches. It is about faithfully and effectively witnessing to Jesus Christ, who is himself the principal agent of the good news. When the Church engages in evangelism imaginatively through prayer, listening, proclaiming and responding people become disciples of Jesus and churches grow.
There has been much talk in Church circles in on the subject of evangelism, which has thankfully helped it shake off many of its more negative connotations. And it seems most of us are agreed that evangelism is necessary for the future of the Church. As the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu put it, we need to evangelise or fossilise.
But how?
Here are some articles exploring evangelism…
- Just ask! Bishop Lee
- Why evangelism is always non-negotiable Canon Chris Russell
- What we talk about when we talk about evangelism Archbishop of Canterbury
- Intentional evangelism Archbishop of York
- Evangelism & Witness Archbishop of Canterbury
Faith exploration courses
Courses like Alpha and Emmaus enable people of all backgrounds to explore the Christian faith, both those on the very fringes of faith and those who wish to renew and deepen their understanding.
Click on the headings below to find out more about each course. For further information or support, do contact our Ministry Development team who can help you to consider which course might be most appropriate for you and your church community.
Alpha is a series of interactive sessions aiming to explore the Christian faith. There are DVD and other resources available to churches and individuals. The sessions normally involve a fellowship meal.
Visit the Alpha website for more information
Register to run your own Alpha course
The Christianity Explored course aims to give people time and space to think through who Jesus is and why it matters. It uses Mark’s Gospel as its foundation, and encourages discussion around “tough questions”.
Emmaus: The Way of Faith is an evangelism and discipleship course designed to welcome people into the Christian faith and the life of the church. It aims to involve the whole church in evangelism, the nurture of new believers and ongoing Christian discipleship.
Pilgrim is a teaching and discipleship resource from the Church of England. It aims to people explore the Christian faith in a group setting through participation in a pattern of contemplation and discussion. Pilgrim has two stages for those very new to faith and for those further along their journey. Each stage contains four short courses, each one focused on a major theme of Christian life.
Simply Christianity is based on Luke’s Gospel and is designed to introduce interested non-Christians to the basic message of Christianity. It is a five-week course, in which the leader presents basic material, followed by time for questions, reactions and discussion. It offers an opportunity for a home group to run an evangelistic event over dinner or in a living room.
The aim of Table Talk is to provide a safe place for people to begin to have conversations about the important questions in life. Feedback from the experimental sessions run so far in the Diocese of Bristol have been extremely positive.