Movement of Healthy Churches: Sign 3 – Outward Focus and Evangelism

For a church to be healthy, it must be reaching out and growing in evangelism but how do you build a culture of outward focus and evangelism in your church? Rev Sabrina Chow gives us practical steps.

When Jesus gave the Great Commission to his disciples before his ascension, he has already set the mission of the church to be outward focus.

Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The mandate is in three steps. Firstly, to make disciples of all nations. Secondly, to baptize them, and finally, to teach them all that Christ has commanded us to do. Evangelism is the first step towards discipleship. With this clarion call, the local church must make the Great Commission a priority.

So how does a church bring evangelism as its focus?

1. The Leadership Sets the Example to Embrace and Practice Lifestyle Evangelism.
1 Corinthians 11:1 “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”

People follow their leaders. If the leader has a lifestyle of evangelism, it rubs on to the people to do the same. John C. Maxwell says, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” If you want your church to be outward focus, the leader must set the example of evangelism. I personally make it a point to ask the Lord for opportunities to share the gospel whenever I’m with pre-believers. When God opens the door, I step in to share my testimony and explain the gospel to them. When I make it my lifestyle, and when I share such testimonies to the congregation, they are empowered and emboldened to do the same.

If you want your church to be outward focus, the leader must set the example of evangelism.

2. Create Different Platforms for Evangelism Throughout the Year to Reach Diverse Groups of People.
1 Corinthains 9:22 “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.”

In our church we create different programs throughout the year to target diverse groups of people so there are many opportunities for outreach. Both English and Chinese congregations have their own evangelistic programs. The cell groups do Alpha. We have programs to reach our nearby community, we run age-group programs to reach the youth and young adults, we have programs to reach the business and corporate communities. With many platforms, the congregation invite their oikos and community to the suitable events that best fit their profile.

3. Do It as a Team.
Hebrews 10:24 “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

We encourage our congregation to do evangelism as a team. For example, in door knocking of community and street evangelism, those who are timid and inexperience will pair up with those who are bolder and more experienced. This makes evangelism fun and breaks the fear of talking to strangers and rejection. This encourages newbies to embrace evangelism as a lifestyle.

We encourage our congregation to do evangelism as a team.

4. Equip the People by Preaching and Teaching Regularly on Evangelism.
1 Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

To keep the passion for evangelism, we often share from the pulpit on the importance of outreach and testimonies of salvations. We also equip the church on how to do evangelism and encourage everyone to attend these classes. When the congregation is equipped to do outreach, they are more confident to reach people for Christ.

5. Recognize Those with the Gift and Passion for Evangelism and Fan It to Flame.
2 Timothy 1:6 “For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”

We encourage everyone to evangelize, but we also recognize those with the passion and gift of evangelism. So, we mobilize them for different events to bring friends and share the gospel. Because of their gift, they are able to bring people and win them for Christ at a higher success rate.

We also equip the church on how to do evangelism and encourage everyone to attend these classes.

6. Build Ownership Through Bottom-up Evangelism Initiatives.
Mark 10:43-44 “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.”

We encourage cell leaders to take ownership and plan their own evangelism efforts throughout the year. This way, it is not just a top-down mobilization but a bottom-up initiative that builds ownership in evangelism.

7. Create a Warm Environment so People Feel Welcome, and Evangelism Can Take Place Comfortably.
Acts 16:34 “The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.”

In our church we create a warm environment for people to fellowship over food. There is always breakfast before service and a once-a-month lunch for everyone. Often it is in that relaxed and welcoming environment that the gospel is shared with newcomers. And because they feel welcomed and accepted, they are more open to talk about the faith and many are won to Christ during these informal times.

Often it is in that relaxed and welcoming environment that the gospel is shared with newcomers.

8. Recognize that Evangelism is a Process and Not a One-time Event.
1 Corinthians 3-6-7 “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”

Evangelism takes time. Sometimes you sow, sometimes you water and sometimes you reap, but it’s the Holy Spirit who enables the seed of the gospel to grow. More often than not, we are called to sow the seeds of prayers and good works and wait for God to work in their lives. In time, when the harvest is ripe, we will reap it. There is no failure in evangelism. When we understand it as a process, we rejoice every time we have an opportunity to sow because it is an indication that the person is closer to salvation than ever before.

When we do the above, we build a culture of evangelism and outward focus. It’s exciting because we often see pre-believers in our services and events give their lives to Jesus. When that happens, we rejoice with the angels in heaven as precious souls enter into the kingdom of God.