Creating An Evangelistic Climate In Your Church Setting

What is the evangelistic climate in your church? Are you warm and friendly to first time guests and visitors? Do you offer a gospel invitation at the conclusion of your worship service? Do you plan for evangelistic endeavors through the various ministries of your church? Do the unchurched in your local church community know that you care?

Most church members will readily say that reaching the harvest of lost souls is important. They will even go as far as to say that fulfilling the Great Commission is paramount for the church. However, the question remains, “Does your church have an evangelistic climate for growth and outreach?

How do you develop such a climate? Let me share five principles for developing an evangelistic climate in your church…

Principle 1: Learn to think like the unsaved

The longer a person is a Christian, the less likely they will think like the unsaved. Worse yet, if you’re a pastor, you’re even further away from the experiences of unbelievers. Your perspective and attitude will change the longer you’re a Christian. Obviously, this is not all bad. We as believers should always reflect the nature and character of Christ. And in doing so, we certainly don’t want to mimic the sinful behavior of un-Christ-likeness. However, to bridge the gap between the saved and non-saved, believers need to spend time with unbelievers. As followers of Christ with a commission to win the lost, we must learn the questions, needs, and objections of the unsaved in order to effectively communicate with them. 

Think about the apostle, Matthew. After Jesus called Matthew to follow Him, he immediately threw a party and invited all his unsaved tax-collectors and friends. Why did publicans and sinners come to this banquet? Because they were the only kind of friends that Matthew had. This is an excellent example of relational evangelism. Matthew doesn’t invite them to church because he knows that they won’t come. However, he knows they all like to eat and go to parties, so he invites them to a banquet where he can introduce them to Jesus! REACH Evangelistic Strategies builds much of its effectiveness from building meaningful relationships with the lost. Your church needs to implement this important strategy today!

Principle 2: Learn to focus on other’s needs over your own

We live in a very egocentric society where “I, Me, Myself” comes first with most people. Unfortunately, the church is becoming more and more like this as well. Have you heard the phrase, “We four and no more?” Or “Come we or woe, our status is quo?” The church cannot become inward driven, nor can your witness. Jesus looked upon the “fields” as they were “white unto harvest.” He looked over the city of Jerusalem and “wept” for the people. When was the last time you wept over a lost soul? Better yet, when is the last time you put the needs of someone else above your own? The lost really don’t care how much you “say” you love them until you “show” them how much you truly love them!   Ask God to place a lost person on your heart and begin reaching out to them with compassion, care, and grace, and watch God do a wonderful work of salvation in their heart through your compassionate concern for their needs.

Principle 3: Be familiar with your target community

Some churches are suburban, others urban, and others rural. What may work in a rural area may not work well in an urban or suburban area. Know your neighborhood, community, and target area. Jesus often tailored His approach to the particular individual He was witnessing to. What worked with Matthew and Zacheus (tax-collectors), may not have worked with Andrew and Simon Peter (Fishermen).  

Servant models of evangelism are certainly a prime methodology for this type of outreach. Jesus had a servant’s heart, that’s one of the ways in which people were drawn to Him. When you are serving others it shows hospitality, kindness, and compassion for other’s needs. It also opens doors to gospel conversations. Look closely at your community and investigate areas where you and your church can penetrate with acts of hospitality and service.

Principle 4: Get out of the comfort zone

Churches and individual believers need to be “risk takers.” Take a risk in your community, in your workplace, and in your home (extended family). One of the reasons many churches die is because they are of the mentality of “we first,” not “other’s first.” Change is not easy, neither is reaching the harvest. If it were easy, all of our over 400,000 evangelical churches across America would be filled up this coming Sunday morning. But change is sometimes needed if you’re going to attract the lost and non-churched. 

Be innovative, creative, and aggressive in your outreach efforts. Spend some money! I’m amazed at the large number of small churches that run less than 50 people on Sunday morning that have literally thousands of dollars in the bank, yet spend virtually nothing at all, especially on outreach and evangelism. Can you really put a “price” on a lost soul? Step out of your comfort zone.

Principle 5: Appeal to the masses

I have a good friend who is an avid fisherman. When he fishes, he will use 4-5 fishing poles at one time. His motto is, “the more hooks I use, the more fish I catch!” The same is true in evangelism. The more hooks you put into the harvest fields, the more lost people you will catch. Concerts, community events, mass mailings for special events, harvest day high attendance services, and servant evangelism projects in the local community, are just a few things you can do to attract the unchurched. Scratch where people itch, learn their needs, and be a witness that seeks to touch other’s lives for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Equipping believers for evangelism needs to be a priority for every church. Apply these five principles in your church and begin establishing a culture of outreach for your members.