The Heart of Evangelism
Evangelism is at the core of God’s mission. From the beginning, God’s directive was centered on growth and multiplication. Jesus Himself exemplified this priority, with 66% of His recorded ministry encounters focused on reaching people. His final command in Mark 16:15 reinforces this mandate:
"Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere."
Despite this clear directive, statistics indicate that 70-85% of churches in the U.S. are plateaued or declining, with only 3-5% growing primarily through conversion.1 This highlights the urgent need for intentional outreach efforts. The key question remains—do lost people matter enough to inspire action?
To cultivate an outreach-driven church, leadership must be intentional in shaping a culture where evangelism is prioritized.
This starts with four main convictions that influence decisions, ministry focus, and church-wide engagement:
- Reaching People Must Be a Core Conviction: The leader's heart sets the tone for the church’s culture. If outreach is not a personal passion, it will be challenging to lead others in that direction. Leadership should model what they expect from their congregation.
- Commit to Regular Prayer for the Lost: Prayer is foundational to outreach. Leaders should maintain a personal list of individuals who are far from God and pray for them daily. Encouraging congregational participation in prayer—such as displaying names in a communal space—can amplify the impact and lead to tangible spiritual growth.
- Incorporate Evangelism into Preaching: The gospel must remain central to every sermon. Regularly highlighting the importance of evangelism and providing opportunities for salvation responses reinforces an outreach culture.
- Allocate Budget for Evangelism: Financial resources should reflect church priorities. Currently, less than 2% of most church budgets go toward evangelism. A more effective approach would be allocating at least 10% toward outreach efforts, ensuring both local and global impact.
Source: www.thegospelcoalition.org
To effectively reach people, churches must be intentional and strategic in developing an annual outreach plan.
Building a strong outreach culture requires more than good intentions—it demands a clear, actionable plan. By intentionally integrating evangelism into the church’s yearly strategy, leaders can create consistent opportunities for engagement and growth.
These 6 practical steps can make outreach a core part of your church’s annual strategy:
- Preach a Series on Evangelism: Keeping the vision of outreach alive through dedicated sermon series fosters awareness and engagement.
- Transform Small Groups into Outreach Hubs: Small groups should be more than Bible studies; they should foster relationships and outreach opportunities, ensuring every group contributes to the mission.
- Equip Every Ministry with Outreach Strategies: Every church department—including kids, youth, and adult ministries—should integrate evangelism into their programming.
- Train Members to Share Their Faith: Many individuals desire to share their faith but lack the confidence or skills. Offering structured training sessions, such as midweek classes or online courses, can empower congregants.
- Host High-Impact Outreach Events: Capitalizing on key seasons such as Easter, Mother’s Day, Back-to-School, and Christmas can maximize engagement and lead to greater community impact.
- Leverage Digital Evangelism: With significant online engagement, digital outreach strategies—including social media and targeted ads—have become essential tools for spreading the gospel.
Footnotes:
1. “Beyond Numerical Growth”, Outreach Magazine, link.2. “Pastor, Where Do Your Missions Dollars Go?”, The Gospel Coalition, link.