She’s providing English tutoring a woman from an Asian Country.

This woman is married to a diplomat who works for their nation’s embassy.

This woman comes from a Buddist background, but doesn’t practice any of her religion of her youth.

While tutoring, the conversation turns to occupation.  What do we do for a living?

The conversation naturally drifts towards comparing religions and worldviews.

The question that drew our attention is when this woman makes the comment:

“I seem to be thinking more like a Christian. . . does that make me a Christian?”

The inquisitive nature of the question was a wide open door to talk about how does one become a Christian.

My wife was able to start the conversation on this topic, but the appointed hour had finished and her student had to leave to make another appointment.

Due to the circumstances, my wife didn’t get to finish a full gospel explanation, nor continue the conversation at a later time.  The embassy returned this family to their country of origin.

We have to leave this up to the sovereignty of God that other Christian believers will cross her path and continue the conversation from where we had to leave it.

Cooperating with the Holy Spirit.

This was a conversation where the Holy Spirit had been preparing the way.  Elements in this woman’s life had lined up to meet with my wife and get some clarity on the meaning of being a follower of Christ.

The conversation was natural, during the ordinary course of life.  It wasn’t scripted, nor manipulated, but a evangelism conversation as natural as breathing.

We believe that the Holy Spirit had prepared the way, and this conversation with my wife was yet another piece in the big picture that God is painting in the life of the embassy wife.

While a sense of urgency was felt to share the good news of Jesus and what it means to be a Christian, my wife also felt like the embassy official’s wife was not fully ready to make a decision.  There was missing a lack of the Spirit’s convicting of sin.  To force the matter would have been inappropriate.

To not engage in the conversation about “does that make me a christian?” would have also been inappropriate.

The Lord had orchestrated that my wife and the embassy official’s wife got to speak of this issue and for my wife to bring clarity to the official’s wife thinking process.

My wife was but one link in the chain that God is building to draw this woman to Jesus.

Debriefing the Conversation

She and I had a chance to debrief the conversation and think about different ways to answer the question or ask questions to open the conversation further.

Some questions I like to ask are:

1. “How did God point out that person to you?”
2. “Where did you notice God was already at work?”
3. “What was their spiritual thirst?”
4. “What would you do differently?”
5. “What did you share about Christ?”

Coaching Corner

Think about the last evangelistic conversation you had.

What would you do differently if you could do it over again?

• Books for beginning missionaries
• Jeff Gilbertson adds his: Top 10 Reading List
• EvangelismCoach: Top Recommended Personal Evangelism Books for 2009

Other cool links

• North American Mission Board posts conversational tips to keep a conversation moving.
• Resisting Evangelistic Entropy – Networking tips for church planters.  I like some of the intentional “drop ins” to make relational connetctions.

From Goodmanson’s talk at the GCA

Things to watch for when designing a church website

1. Please do not use a splash or entry page for your website. (Will not perform well in search engines.)
2. Ensure your site works cross-browser (Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, etc.)
3. Don’t create graphic directions without direction link.
4. Don’t have a site with complex URLs. (will be hard to lead people to it)
5. Don’t create a flash only or frames site.
6. Don’t have your site built by a hobbyist in the congregation or use a generic cms template.
7. Don’t use Christianese language. Will not be understood and received well.
8. Don’t have outdated content, coming soon or missing content. (E.g., no service times)
9. Don’t use annoying flashing icons and the like.
10. Don’t seek to make money from your church’s website.

I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. – Psalm 57:9

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that Your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. -  Psalm 67:1-2

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. — Psalm 96:3

Here is a simple observation that fuels our work:

1.  The Heart of God the Father.

Instead of asking, what motivates us to missionary work, the starting question should be:

“What motivates God?”

Why would God provide me reconciliation through Jesus?

Was it just because of his love?

Or because of a greater plan in the heart of God?

Is my reconciliation simply because God loves me, or because God wants to use me towards a greater purpose?

Why would God choose to work with me, as a redeemed individuals?

As I’ve meditated on Scriptures with this question, my answer seems to be that

God the father has a heart for the nations.

I am a part in cooperating with God to fulfill God’s plan to gather the nations.

I’ve written about this elsewhere

• God’s Heart for the Nations – Part 1
• God’s heart for the Nations, Part 2
• God’s Heart for the Nations — Part 3
• God’s Heart for the Nations, Part 4

2.  The Plan of God: Gathering the Nations.

Revelation 7:9-11 gives us a perfect picture of the fruit of nation gathering.  Every tribe, every tongue.

The end of Revelation shows us the complete picture of the redeemed multicultural community and the complete fulfillment of “I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

The fruit of grace — my reconciliation — gives me the ability to cooperate with God in gathering the nations.

My labor in God’s kingdom is all part of this larger work — to gather the nations.

I’m not saved and reconciled simply because God loves me, but moreover, because God wants to use me in gathering the nations.

3.  We work in cooperation with God’s plan.

We are called to declare the praises of God and his among the nations. (Psalm 96).

As I mediate on that verse, I’m reminded once again that for people to hear our declarations of praise, we must participate in the gathering of the people.

• For some, that is working in multicultural church like I helped plant in my home city.
• For others, that is working among immigrants.
• For still others, that is working among your own people group.
• For us, that is working in other countries, particularly in Latin and South America.

Our particular calling

This larger vision carries us through the awesome times, as well as the lean times, in our ministry.

This is what gets me on airplanes to teach in your church, to inspire a new wave of passion for your calling, and to give myself away in Latin America in the missions side of our calling (An example: Our work in Nicaragua, January 2010).

Our calling to provide evangelism and missions training to churches through out the Americas is our particular expression of ministry to cooperate with God’s plan to gather the nations.

• To encourage individuals to reach people for Christ and give them adequate training to do so
• To encourage churches to grow in reaching their communities, and help them plan to do so.
• To train missionaries who wish to work cross culturally among other people groups
• To assist churches who want to send teams to Latin America to cooperate with local churches.
• To plant a church for immigrants in my city.

You have your own particular expression.

• Some of you are called to give to missions to enable this work.
• Some of you are called to short term or long term missions.
• Some of you are called to help or lead your church in the work of mission.
• Some of you are called to launch businesses that fund missions work.

As you look at your current calling, how does it fit with God’s plan to gather the nations?

Let me ask you this?

If you are feeling a little stale in your ministry, take a reflective look at your ministry and ask yourself — how am I cooperating with God’s plan to gather the nations?

How does your particular ministry expression cooperate with God’s plan to gather the nations?

In January of 2009, PRMI sent a 5^th team to

• Continue training nearly 75 national leaders of Vida Joven Nicaragua in the Dunamis Project and
• teach an Ignite course at La Fuente church in Matagalpa.

What a joy to see how this investment is making an impact!

For example, during our evening events with Vida Joven, these leaders helped us in prayer ministry to nearly 250 fellow leaders of Vida Joven, not just from Nicaragua, but from Guatemala and Costa Rica.

After a time of sharing the Word of God, these leaders setup prayer stations where individuals could seek prayer in response to the work of God in their heart.

I watched the leaders we had been training do effective prayer ministry:

• for healing,
• for forgiveness,
• for rededication,
• for deliverance.

We were watching the fruit of our training work in action!

We’ve been invited back January 7-18 of 2010 to continue giving our training.

In addition to continuing to grow leaders by adding to the foundations we’ve already laid, we’ll add a new church in the capital city of Managua. The reach of this work spreads!

This year we will focus on

• Prayer Ignite for the national directors.
• Gateways Ignite for Club Leaders
• Spiritual Gift Ignite for La Fuente Church.

Ignite is a program expression of PRMI, focused on learning how to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in the work of ministry.

Since this is our 6^th trip, we will intentionally let the local leadership we’ve been training do much of the work of the ministry and prepare them for teaching in the future. We want to transition from teaching to coaching.

We are excited about the Lord’s calling us to this mission!

We would like to give you opportunities to be part of our team to disciple these leaders in how to cooperate with the Holy Spirit. Your prayers and financial gifts create the foundation for our team of seven to go.

The host church and Vida Joven will take care of in-country travel as well as room and board at the sites of ministry.

Our target budget as a team is $6,000 to cover our airfares, translation work and some incidentals.

Would you pray about helping?

Financial support is needed by December 31, 2009 for our departure on January 7.

Thank you for praying, considering, and giving as led! We will be happy to pray for you as you pray for us. And we promise to report back after our trip so you can see how you’ve made a difference.

In Christ’s Service,

Sam Hale, Chris Walker, Judy McManus, Susan Finck-Lockhart, Lydia Lockhart, Bill and Marie Ferree

How you can help

Print out this reponse form <- Click here

to find out how to mail in a donation, to pray or give online.

I’ve subscribed to the podcast from Church Talk Radio, and most segments are about 45 minutes to one hour.  I’ve got it on my IPOD and while walking, I consume some great teaching.  It’s length helps me judge my walking time — exercise is faster when my mind in not bored!

Only Two Things Grow a Church

I was listening to one from their archives from March of 2008

Only Two Things Grow A Church (Follow the link to listen or download)

Let me spoil it for you.

• Awe-filled worship
• Awesome Children’s Programming

I found myself reflecting upon my own church experience over the past two years before we made a fresh transition again to helping a pastor plant a new church.

Awe-filled worship

Church #1

We recently had a Sunday morning off and were able to attend a neighboring church that continues to grow and is already outgrowing its building and overflow rooms.

It’s Christmas time, so the choir led in some traditional carols, as well as some modern choruses.  The band provided excellent musical underscore.

It’s a bi-lingual church, so the Christmas carols were sung one verse in English, one verse in Spanish.  Not the same verse 2x, but a progression through the song.  As one who speaks in both languages, this expression was deeply meaningful to me.

Then, the choir did a solo from their cantata.  The orchestration and vocals (again, bi-lingual) were off the chart, even with occasional funny pronunciations of words in the other language!

A brief slide show of a recent missions trip to another town gently tugged my heart to say “I want to go to!”

Then a family got up and led us in an advent devotion, using the advent wreath and candles which many traditions use.  Wow, I didn’t realize how much I miss that symbol of the Christmas season.

The sermon was biblical and inspired our family devotions this week.  I felt myself convicted to make some changes to grow my own faith and the faith of my family.

This particular church doesn’t collect an offering during the service.  Rather they have little boxes at the exit door – members know that, but I didn’t, so I didn’t get to sow into that ministry.  I found myself disappointed that I couldn’t give.  Wouldn’t you love visitors who were desperate to give an offering?

While there was nothing overtly special about these service components, nor was there a “performance” drive from the musicians or choirs who were humbly joining us in worship singing, nor was the preacher a skilled orator, the entire service was awe-filled for me.

• Unable to talk.
• Teary at times.
• Amazed.
• Speechless.

Maybe it was just a point in my life where the Spirit of God wanted to minister to me.

Several times, I found myself unable to sing, just lost in the mystery of what God has done for us in Emmanuel.  I found myself in awe of God and was very aware of the Lord’s presence.

Church #2

In what follows, I am not complaining, but simply describing what happened.  It simply was clear this church wasn’t a fit for this family.

The Pastor is trying hard to do the work with the resources available and it works for the many people who regularly attend.

We were connected with a church for one year in our journey before we dropped out (Read Church Dropouts — why people find it easy to leave) to focus on a church plant

Many Sundays, the worship was awe-filled.

But after a while, it got stale – the same songs, same order, the same, the same.  No songs connected to any holiday season, and no songs or preaching about anything other than some theme related to victory.

Sermons were hit or miss in terms of quality, relevance, and impact.

My wife served in the children’s ministry and missed most of the worship experience.  It eventually got to the point where when she asked me what the sermon was about, I could only say “something about walking in victory.”

We began to lose our motivation to go.  Church had become a chore.

The lack of awe-filled worship, and our desperate thirst for the richness of Biblical preaching eventually helped us drop out.

Awesome Children’s Programming

Church #2

Again, we have no complaints, but simply want to describe our experience.

In this same church, my wife served in Children’s ministry on Sunday mornings for several months.

• Chaos ruled.
• Teachers didn’t show up.
• Supplies were not readily available.
• Planning with ministry leaders didn’t happen.
• It appeared to be unorganized and last minute nearly every Sunday.

My kids grew tired of it.

My wife grew tired of trying to make do.

Soon my kids started protesting going to church in general.  They couldn’t wait to leave!

There is some truth in that the parents decide which church to go to, but that the kids decide if they are going back.

It became clear that when the kids didn’t want to go, and we ourselves weren’t motivated to attend.

This church wasn’t a fit for us.

So we dropped out.

Church #1

Looking at the bi-lingual church we just visited, our kids loved their children’s programming.

Spanish speakers had their class, English speakers had theirs (the church was big enough to make this happen).

The kids made friends.  The kids want to go back.

They’ve experienced the VBS of this church, and we’ve visited this church four times these past 12 months when we have a Sunday off.

Reflections

If this church #1 was easy for our family to get to, and if we weren’t involved in a church plant, we’d move mountains to get there.

Maybe it’s like this every week. It’s been that way the 4 times we’ve visited in the past 12 months.

As we plant the church we are currently in, we’ve been inspired to look at these elements to see how we can grow them.

There is some truth to the observations that two critical elements to growing a church are

• Awe-filled Worship
• Excellent Children’s Programming

In that 40 minute podcast, Bill and Kris give several ideas about how to develop those ministries in your local church, church plant, and small church.  It’s a worthy listen.  Throw it on your IPOD and go for a walk – you’ll find yourself energized to figure out how to grow your church.

I even did a webinar (See CoffeeHouse Theology Webinar Replay) with Ed Cyzewski.

Some of Ed’s insights are pretty profound.

• Is theology important in personal evangelism?
• What role does theology play in how we do personal evangelism?
• How does our culture shape our theology and vice versa?
• How does our theology shape our mission?
• Can you do theology without being a post-modern philosopher?
• How do you think we should rate the importance of Scripture, culture, tradition, church, when it comes to shaping our theology?

My take on Ed’s Book

This book (Ed gave me one prior to the webinar) is not simply a primer on postmodernism – but rather, how do we do theology in light of our current post modern culture?

Ed looks at the intersection between

• How we read the Bible as an authoritative source
• How useful church tradition keeps us grounded
• How the global church gives us global perspective.

This last point is what I think the greatest contribution to the discussion.

Maybe instead of reviewing the book contents, I simply give an example of some of these intersections.

In order for Christian theology to thrive in a postmodern age, we desperately need to interact with Christians all across the world (p. 193)

Listening to the global church

For example, I had someone trying to tell me not to say the word “kid” to describe my children because of a King James use of the word “kid” for goat in the parable of the sheep and goats.

She says, “Kids are cursed of the Father, and therefore, use the word children.  Don’t curse your children”

This well meaning woman was doing theology, but based on a misinterpretation of an English word.

This doesn’t work in Spanish and it was quite the novel teaching.

If we listen to the tradition of the church, as well as wonder how is that same passage or teaching is viewed through the global Christian Culture, this woman would see how silly her argument is.

On a different note, those who are convinced that the King James is the only inspired version seem to ignore all the other languages that the Bible has been translated in for the other languages of the earth.

Any interaction with the global church will reveal some of the silliness of their argument.

Theology with Cross Cultural Experience

Likewise, I think of some of the movements of American Christianity that blends patriotism with faith.

What do immigrants to this county think of American patriotism mixed with Christianity?

Likewise, what do ex-pats who choose to live in another country do when they no longer live in America.

In a global village, is it wise to mix patriotism with Christian faith?  I don’t have an answer, but I raise it myself since I live and minister in two cultures.

I also think of some evangelical clichés that glibly talk about prosperity:

“God’s will done God’s way will get God’s supply.”

For example, I think of third world evangelists laboring in some of the poorest slums, planting churches that have people who are just trying to survive.  No resources, no volunteers, no children’s ministry, no time, and no money.

They labor for the gospel, yet maybe get an offering of lemons.

How can the gospel make a difference among the poor when resources are not visible?

What would the kingdom of God look like in the town that lives on the landfill in Managua Nicaragua?

Extreme poverty, yet the kingdom of God is preached.

Souls are saved, but there is not much change in poverty.

Missionaries work for medical teams, clean water, literacy, as do irreligious corporate foundations.

Can culture be changed by the gospel? Sure we can point to William Booth or the Great Awakening, but what can we do to encourage the evangelist laboring in any slum in any nation where corruption rules the government?

Seeing evangelical clichés through the light of my own work in developing nations is informing my theology and challenging some of the assumptions I bring to the table.

Order your Copy

Order your copy of Coffeehouse Theology: Reflecting on God in Everyday Life (NavPress), an introduction to contextual theology for lay readers that explained the roles of context, God, scripture, tradition, and global Christians in the forming of theology.

As with all books I link to on Amazon, I get a tip from Amazon if you place an order.

• http://christianuniversities.org/20-incredible-iphone-apps-for-christian-evangelists/

Website Evangelism is an Internet mission which creates websites for the lost on topics they are looking for.   We then put gospel presentations on those sites. For example, they created a website based on the movie 2012.

• With the release of the 2012 movie on November 13 this year, we are wanting to encourage Christians to get involved in this great mission opportunity.  Please, visit www.websiteevangelism.net and click on the page, “2012 Movie Mission”.  This will tell you how it works and how to get involved.

Overflow Show

Check out  http://overflowshow.com that endeavors  to pass along the “Best ideas from the best books on evangelism in the world” (one idea per book, with publisher’s permission).

Other links of note

• Cup of Joe offers up some helpful Evangelism resource recommendations, with a reminder that God is the evangelist.
• Dan Kimball is did a series on hell, including this one: “If you think I’m going to hell, you should care that I’m going to hell.” (To quote Seinfield’s Elaine).
• Pastor’s Study blog visited on Philip And the Eunuch. Here is our stuff on Philip and Eunuch, from the conversion series that we did here some time ago.
• Here is a chapter by chapter review (this link is for Chapter 2) of unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity… and Why It Matters See also (this review from Time Magazine, Scot McKnight’s review part 1).

Note: I’m in Black Mountain NC this week, doing some video taping on personal evangelism training, so this week will have some guest articles.

Today’s Guest Article is from Chris Thompson, author of Church Visits Blog.  Chris is a reporter for the Alaska Daily news and writes about his visits to churches in the Anchorage area.  I met Chris when I was in Alaska in 2008 and we’ve stayed in touch, particularly on Church Hospitality issues.

Today’s guest article originally appeared on March 13, 2009 at Church Visits and is redistributed with permission.

As you read, think about how a reporter would describe his or her experience to visit your church for the first time.

I didn’t realize it was the attenders for the 9:45 service attenders exiting and visiting with each other.

Entering the sanctuary, I was warmly greeted by a friendly woman who gave me a hymnal and bulletin.

Confused because chairs were being put up, I inquired if I’d missed the service?

She assured me no.

Because the 11:00 a.m. service has the fewest attendees, chairs are removed creating a closer sense of community amongst those there.

An understated sanctuary with lots of wood and warm accents, felt to me as though I was coming home.

This may have been due to the Lenten accents of cross draped with purple, rough hewn altar, and tasteful hangings of decorated burlap.

A signature round stained glass window, featuring a cross, highlights the east wall of the sanctuary without intruding on one’s sight lines to vie for attention.

I counted twenty worshipers including a signer for deaf attendees, a pleasant first for my visits.

During the Passing of the Peace, it seemed as though one-half of the church greeted me.

The service was Lutheran liturgy.

Pastor Marty Dasler was hands on and extemporaneous in his remarks.

The music was simple and heartfelt.

The eucharist was delivered to a circle of congregants around the alter from unusual eucharistic vessels.

A touching moment concluded the service when Dasler prayed a birthday blessing for a younger member.

I’m told their 8:15 and 9:45 services are heavily attended and feature a choir.

A return visit is anticipated for this welcoming congregation.

Why Amazing Grace?
To create an inner sense of personal symmetry, I visited Amazing Grace Lutheran Church on March 1, the First Sunday in Lent.

This was my only unvisited church of the four participants in the Daybreak ecumenical service yet to be presented that night at St. John United Methodist Church.

Previously I’d visited and blogged my visits to the other three, St. John United Methodist, St. Mary Episcopal, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.

Located on Elmore just off O’Malley, its signage is not readily apparant.

The driveway turn is likewise deceptive and must be looked for carefully.

But the church is beautifully sited on its property.

Having had some frustrating experiences with Lutheran Church visits in Anchorage I longed for a totally positive visit to at least one Lutheran Church.

Of two previous visits so far, one never made it into print and the other did but with exceptions.

Pastoral Style
To a first time visitor, Pastor Dasler showed both a practical and innately intuitive spiritual side.

After the Passing of the Peace he played “Rock, Paper, Scissors” with a parishioner volunteer.The purpose of this exercise was to underscore Lenten discipline and that “…Spirit overcomes flesh.” So simple, so powerful and so memorable.

Dasler was extemporaneous in his remarks speaking from his heart, not from transcripts or notes. Psalm 139 was the basis for his sermon.

Sermon Quotes
“God has given forces of hope to everyone.”
“God has made promises to us and we are part of the promise.”

Musical Church
This church has many talented musicians, both instrumental and vocal.

I struck up a conversation with the pianist/organist Kathryn Eckmann after the service. I discovered a common bond we shared for the spiritual effect music possesses. One of the songs sung in the service was composed, words and music, by a member pianist/organist Carolyn Nickles.

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord.
God of pow’r and might.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name;
Comes in the name of God.
Hosanna in the highest.

Although not expecting such a small number of attendees, I found size irrelevant.

These attendees were clearly focused on worship. I understand Amazing Grace is having special Lenten Worship Services on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. preceeded by a soup supper.

The services begin with vespers and are designed to be reflective including a series of Desert Readings featuring quotes by Thomas Merton, selected Desert Fathers and other spiritual leaders.

He enjoys AAR/SBL where he studies, first hand, with worldwide religious scholars. A management consultant, skilled in all aspects of 360-degree feedback programs and human resource management systems, he practices these skills as Workforce Consulting.

He lives in Anchorage.

Today’s Guest Article is from Jeffrey Johnson, author of Got Style? Personality Based Evangelism.

See my review of Got Style at Personality Based Evangelism

It seems clear that a believers’ early communication then and now is about a personal encounter and experience with Christ, not really a doctrine or dogma.

Why?

It certainly is because the Holy Spirit leads and moves people, and the Spirit’s role cannot and will not be minimized.

But is there also some God-given something in people the Holy Spirit works with that enables them to be early and effective witnesses, even without special training?

I believe there is.

My study and experience have led me to this conclusion.

Personality is the Human Component

More than anything else, personality is the human component involved in effective evangelism.

By personality, I mean much more than the traditional dichotomy of extrovert vs. introvert, which pits three-fourths of population against the other fourth, respectively.

Extroverts and introverts can be found in varying degrees in any of the personality styles.

By personality I mean God’s inherent wiring as to how people generally engage and interact with the world.

People seem to instinctively know this even if they have different ways of expressing it.

A recent informal poll found only 8 to 10 percent of Christians regularly share Christ with others.

When asked, “Why don’t Christians share Christ?” several responses were given:

• 33.5% – Afraid of being rejected, embarrassed
• 21.7% – Afraid of not having answers
• 19.2% – Rarely think about the need
• 17.3% – Don’t know what to say
• 8.3% – Haven’t found a way to share that fits personal style  (In other words, it’s not comfortable or natural.)

Though the last response names “personality” specifically, personality seems to be behind the other responses; people are really saying they haven’t found a way to do evangelism naturally – as a part of how they are “wired.”

Because evangelism has become associated with something unnatural or forced, it feels “bad.”

I never understood why sharing the something so good makes so many feel so bad until I realized most people are doing evangelism in a way contrary to the way God made them.

We are called to do evangelism out of “grace, not guilt. It can be enjoyable, not just an endurable experience.”

Scriptural Examples of Personality Influences

I began searching the inspired pages for how Scripture views and values evangelism.

While contemporary examples are helpful, they cannot replace New Testament examples.

What I began to see was evidence that we all have this “personality thing” and it influences how we share Christ with others.

Paul.

One of the most striking examples of Spirit-used personality is in the Book of Acts where we read about Saul, whom we come to know later by his Greek name Paul.

Examining some of Paul’s story will give us a glimpse of how the Spirit works with personality, not only to find faith (Evangelism) but to mature in it as well (Discipleship), but that’s content for another book at another time.

Paul was, from Scripture’s earliest references, a passionate persecutor of those who held the new Christian faith. He was present at the martyrdom of Stephen and, though only watching over the outer garments (coats) of those who stoned Stephen, he was guilty by association.

At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him [Stephen], dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul (Acts 7:57-58 NIV).

Paul’s passion finds further expression as he traveled north to Damascus to, in his words, “persecute the church of God” (1Corinthians 15:9) and “try to destroy it”  (Galatians 1:13).

It is clear that for Paul, this was more than completing a job task.

He took his responsibility personally.

Personality is very personal. For each of us, it is unique. It defines who we are and directs how we interact with others.

And yet it was en route to Damascus to carry out this persecution that Paul had a life-transforming encounter with Jesus Christ.

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ” Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do” (Acts 9:1-5 NIV).

The record goes on to tell us that after only three days, Paul walked south on the same road, but he was changed from Christianity’s greatest persecutor or Christianity’s greatest promoter!

Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. (Acts 9:19-22 NIV)

What strikes me about Paul’s story is this:  it was only three days between the time he was an enemy of Christ and when he became a first-class friend of Christ.

More striking is Paul attended no online training program, no school of evangelism, no workshop or seminar.

What did God’s Spirit tap in to Paul to move him out to promote that which he passionately and intensely had persecuted days before?

God used Paul’s inherent assertive personality.

Surrendering his entire life to the Spirit, personality included, was a part of his transformation. With the same vigor, the same personality, Paul promoted the very thing he tried to destroy.

Paul’s conversion was evidence of the Spirit’s working in his heart.

Paul shared the Gospel using his personality as he surrendered himself to the Holy Spirit.

Speakers and Doers

This was just one example in Scripture. I wondered if there were other kinds of evidence for how the Spirit views or uses personalities, so I searched Scriptures further.

This is what I found:

Whoever speaks, does so using the words God provides, and whoever serves, does so using the strength God provides, so that in all these things, God might be acknowledged” (I Peter 4:11 NIV, italics mine).

This verse indicates everyone in the world fits into two broad groups:

• those who naturally engage the world by what they say and
• those who naturally engage the world by what they do.

The first group uses words (verbal or written) and emphasizes the head.

The second group uses works and emphasizes the hands.

There are three styles I believe under the “Words” and three styles under the “Works” with a couple substyles under a few.

These two groups describe how we all are generally wired as God created us.

Some are predominately doers

Looking further in Scriptures, 1 Peter 3:11 gives additional insight into the styles of presence: “…won, without a word, by their conduct” (NIV).

Here, it is not what is said, but what is done that can win people over.

People who are basically “doing type people” get their hearts and hands dirty in their evangelistic efforts.

But just so there is no misunderstanding: words also have a vital place.

1 Peter 3:15 reminds us “we should be ready always to give the reason for the hope that is within us” (NIV).

This verse assumes our lives will cause people to want to know “why” – and we need to be ready with words to explain because they will initiate the conversation and ask the questions.

It must also be understood here that evangelism is not about convicting, convincing, or converting the non-Christian.

That is the work of God through the activity of the Holy Spirit in a person’s heart.

Evangelism is about introducing people to Christ through persuasive presentation, using both speech (lips) and actions (life) to share the Good News.

Presentation only appeals to a need already present in a person or that can be perceived during the encounter.

Thus, evangelism is really about conversing with the person in such a way that communicates the Gospel.

Again, words and works are the two basic ways we can evangelize.

God wired us with one or the other of these broad based personality categories.  .

Though I have been touting this dichotomy for years, the most concise descriptors I’ve read that contrast between words and works are presented in Irresistible Evangelism.

Below are several pairings, representing two sides of a continuum; word or proclamation styles are on the left and works or presence styles are on the right.

• Monologue … Dialogue
• Presentations … Conversations
• Our language … Their language
• Count (quantity of) conversions …Count (quality of) conversations
• Front door approaches … Back door approaches
• Fishing from the bank … Swimming with the fish
• Scripted … Spontaneous
• Winning … Nudging
• Gospel presentations … Gospel experiences

Dr. Jeffrey A. Johnson

National Coordinator of Evangelism and New Church Planting for National Ministries

American Baptist Churches USA

Today’s Guest Article is from Jeffrey Johnson, author of Got Style? Personality Based Evangelism, who recently did a blog book tour (see related links at the end).

See my review of Got Style at Personality Based Evangelism

That seemed to me to stifle the energy and enthusiastic a new believer brought to the conversion, especially if they are not the much biblically literate or historically churched at the time of their commitment to Christ.

So that got me thinking …

“What is it that people have inherently and innately within themselves at their point of conversion that God can use to enable them to share their faith effectively?”

I came to the conclusion: it’s personality.

Though spiritual gifts can enhance a person’s witness, they are not a requirement to be a witness.

It seemed to me that the early church did effective evangelism for decades, actually seeing larger scale conversions than we have witnessed today and without the benefits of the lists of or training about spiritual gifts.

It was centuries later that lists were widely disseminated for comparison purposes.

When the gifts are presented in the Bible, it is always in connection to building up the Body of Christ, not reaching people outside the established Church.

Witness vs. Being a Witness

This false premise of the relationship of evangelism and gifts needs to be replaced with better understanding of witnessing.

Surprising as it might sound, the term “witnessing” is not a scriptural term.

Being a witness is entirely scriptural.

Witnessing is something you do.

Being a witness for Jesus is something you are.

Witnessing is a verb, a mechanical process.

Being a witness is a noun, an organic reality.

What qualifies you to be a witness for Christ is spending time with Christ.

Conversion is Necessary

t this point, you may be aware of an assumption I make about evangelism in general:  I believe there is some point in time when a person makes a conscious decision to follow Christ.

This can happen in any Christian tradition or outside all Christian influences.

The decision may happen suddenly, as in Paul’s case, or it may happen gradually, as in Timothy’s case where he grew up with a believing mother and grandmother (2Tim. 1:5).

However it happens, becoming a disciple of Jesus is something people choose and accept rather than something that “just happens” to them from the outside.

I believe that people come into God’s family by their own choices, not the words or choices of others.  God has no spiritual grandchildren, just daughters and sons.

Since that is the case, every person needs an opportunity to make that decision. Our evangelistic efforts give them that opportunity.

How much Bible do I need to know?

Growing up in Christ and mature use of the gifts does include acquiring some knowledge of the Bible.

When people come to faith in Jesus Christ, their biblical literacy and knowledge vary widely.

But, they all have a natural inclination to somehow share their new found faith.

Expecting people to wait to share their faith until they have a general, adequate understanding of Scripture is problematic in two ways.

First, who gets to decide what is adequate?

Second, learning Scripture basics take time.

And if people have little or no knowledge of the Bible when they come to faith in Christ, they might wait months or years to build that foundation.

In the meantime, the energy and enthusiasm inherent in their conversion becomes stifled; passion wanes.

New believers often become only “hearers” of the Word and not doers (James 1:22).

New believers generally have twelve people in their spheres of influence who are not yet believers.

Long term Christians have about four on the average.

Taking new believers out of their spheres of influence for any length of time substantially limits the reach of the Kingdom.

Start Sharing Your faith Today!

From a Biblical point of view, however, there is no time limit when it comes to sharing the Gospel.

From the moment people experience salvation, they become witnesses, expected to share their faith experience, to introduce others to Christ.

The Scripture’s witness in John 1 records that within hours

Andrew shared his encounter with Christ and with his own brother Peter.

The next day, Philip – within hours of meeting Jesus – introduces his friend Nathanael to Christ.

Studies show the closer one’s conversion to Christ is to one’s conversation about Christ, the more often one will share one’s faith over the course of time.

The greater the lapse of time between eternal conversion and eventual conversation about it, the less likely people are to evangelize and evangelize regularly, if ever.

Some studies say that as many as 50% of believers have never shared their faith with another person.

What would account for this?

Perhaps if we are honest, we will admit that the more leadership roles people take on in the church in order to “use their spiritual gifts,” the less time they have for connections with people who are not yet Christian believers.

Related Posts to  Got Style Blog Tour:

• http://drthomreece.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/got-style-evangelism-in-general-by-dr-jeffery-a-johnson/
• http://www.internetevangelismday.com/blog/archives/1001
• http://realmealministries.org/WordPress/?p=1500
• http://afeatheradrift.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/got-style/
• http://doableevangelism.com/2009/11/18/book-review-got-style/
• http://www.csosports.org/personality-based-evangelism-blog

Dr. Jeffrey A. Johnson

National Coordinator of Evangelism and New Church Planting for National Ministries

American Baptist Churches USA