On a message board that I frequent, a user asked for a review of Becoming a Contagious Christian, Hybels and Mittleberg. Below is what I shared.
I used the materials when they were popular in the 90s. They may have been updated since then, so my review will be based on the original.
I also, only used the book. I did not observe the video. I don’t attend Willow Creek, nor go to a Willowback type church.
The primary topic of course is relational evangelism, and the idea of forming "strategic friendships with non believer’s" with the goal of helping them become fully devoted followers of Christ.
I found the book very helpful in stressing
- a holy lifestyle
- relational connections to non-Christians, and
- training in being able to clearly communicate a gospel script.
I read evangelism books for a living, and many focus on just one of those three.
The course can serve as a foundation for an evangelism group — where group members meet to discuss and debrief their spiritual conversations, and hold each other accountable to making connections outside the church.
Is there value in this course? I think there is value in anything that will help fan the fires of evangelism in a local church.
If you are a fan of the urgent confrontational style of evangelism a la Way of the Master, then this material will bother you because of its emphasis on building relationships and earning the right to be heard.
If your church doesn’t believe in engaging the culture and having relationships with non-churched people, then this book will be so against the grain of your church’s DNA that it won’t work period [there are some very separatist type churches out there].
My suggestion is to read Becoming a Contagious Christian yourself (it’s a read that can be done in a few hours, particularly if you have read many other evangelism books) and see if it fits the style of your congregation.
If 10 people started bringing 2 unchurched people to your church as part of that relationship building, how would your church react to 20 new people?
Order your copy of Becoming a Contagious Christian, Hybels and Mittleberg from Amazon today.
Let me ask you this:
What books on Personal Evangelism have you read? I invite you to post your comments on this book, or any other here.
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