Some traditional evangelism methods like using Gospel tracts and short-term missions brought a large number of believers to the Chinese church. They worked in a simple and fast way. But are these methods still effective in this era?
Rev. Fan from a local church in a third-tier city of Henan claims that evangelizing is not as easy as before and we should pay the price to preach the gospel with wisdom.
Why is it harder for the urban church to evangelize people? Rev. Fan replies, even strangers don't believe you for people today are very guarded. "How can I listen to you since I don't know you?
She says that evangelization is not a simple thing. If your church suffers from ineffective evangelization, think about where people go after they attend Christmas events.
The pastor adds that we should have wisdom to preach the gospel and avoiding harsh words. Otherwise, we will be unappealing. For instance, some Christians shout in the street, "You will go to heaven if you believe in Jesus; but, you will go to hell if you don't!" It may be true, but unacceptable. Those who hear the saying may regard you as a psycho.
"What's more, you should earn the trust of others. Then they want to hear you. If they listen and God works inside them, they are likely to believe." In this case, relational evangelism is a better way to share the gospel with people whom you are familiar with.
Rev. Fan confesses that traditional Christians in many places of Henan are still influenced by the sacred-profane dichotomy. Some Christians are unwilling to stay with unbelievers in the church, believing that unbelievers belong to the world. However, their thoughts are completely wrong. Even Christians do many bad things and judge others. Without a lack of respect for people, they become impersonal and teach what they don't know to others.
"I found out in some churches that the more their members believe, the fewer friends they have and more separated they are with the world. As a result, they wholly stay in the church. Even if they have old friends, they no longer have contact with them and see themselves as holy people after converting." The pastor points out that this is not true. Instead, Christians should be both in the world and be beyond the world. Otherwise, how can they be light and salt of the world?
"It doesn't mean that you live according to the pattern of the world. You should join in the crowd and influence them." Rev. Fan states that Christians should share the Gospel with those who trust them, spending time with them and paying the price to reach them. She also reminds Christians not to show strong purpose while leading their acquaintances to Christ.
"Christians share the Gospel not only with their lips. You should let your friends see that you live a different life from theirs. They will ask why you live like this when they admire you. Draw them to ask you about your life and be patient." She concludes.
Translated by Karen Luo
