Be intentional about impacting your community for Christ
By Rev. John B. Sorensen
Evangelism Explosion International
Is your church intentional about sharing the Gospel in your community? Generic outreaches like fall festivals and community clean-up events are great, but if we aren’t intentional about sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ as part of our service, our actions can be nothing more than good deeds.
So, how might we be more intentional about sharing Christ in the community? I’m glad you asked. Make it a goal to share the Gospel in some way as part of every outreach. You don’t need a divinity degree or experience as a preacher to do this. Let me share with you some examples.
One church set up a prayer booth at a local farmers market. As they spoke with individuals who needed prayer, church members had the opportunity to share the Gospel. Another church engages college students on a local campus with a dartboard game and questionnaire during the school’s fall festival. The questionnaire includes questions about the student’s spiritual beliefs and opens the door for them to find out more about God. Some churches hold barbecues and various community festivals but train their volunteers to steer conversations with visitors towards the Gospel. Regardless of the event, you can easily offer prayer anywhere at any time.
Making an impact in your community doesn’t have to be a church-wide event. Small groups within churches can join to take laundry baskets full of supplies at a local Laundromat, pass out plants with prayer cards in your church’s neighborhood, or pass out bags of food and supplies to the homeless in your community. The key is to include sharing the Gospel. Talk to people one-on-one about how to build a relationship with Christ. Include tracts or a personal invitation to your church. Share your story.
You can reach out and make an impact, even when you are alone. Betty learned a simple Gospel presentation while listening to our radio program. She began sharing it with those in her community – a nursing home – and had the opportunity to lead one man to Christ. Greg and Brittany began developing a relationship and talked about God with the woman who loaded groceries into their car each week at a local supermarket. She gave her life to Christ! Abby posted the question, “On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being great and 1 poor, how fulfilling would you say your life is?” on her Facebook page. She was amazed at the doors that question opened for her to share her testimony as she began to talk with her online friends.
The opportunities are endless. Just remember, impacting your community happens one life at a time. So, get creative! Be intentional. Share the Gospel. And watch the Holy Spirit as He moves in the lives of the people around you.
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Rev. John B. Sorensen, D.D. is the President/CEO of Evangelism Explosion International, headquartered in Arden, N.C. EE has been a leader in equipping Christians to share their faith for more than 50 years. For more free tips and resources, visit evangelismexplosion.org, or follow John on Twitter, @jbsoresen.
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