ATLANTA, June 12 – Eric Hoey knows that Presbyterian evangelism isn’t working; he has every intention of reversing that.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s young and enthusiastic director of evangelism and church growth presented a workshop this morning at the Big Tent Event, to provoke a change of heart and mind among the participants.
“Presbyterians can’t assume any more that people are going to join their church simply because of its denominational name,” he told them. Rather, they must get out of the church sanctuaries, meet their neighbors, do mission work, and tell the story of the faith.
The workshop was titled, “Fearless Evangelism,” and it stressed prayer as its beginning point. An exasperated Hoey pointed out that many prayers in church focus on the health of the members. “So few prayers for unbelievers, for neighbors, for outsiders are lifted up,” he complained.
The spiritual and evangelistic climate in the whole denomination could use a shot in the arm, so the members of his department in the denomination’s headquarters have started having prayer meetings for the lost. “Three days a week we gather in the ECD lounge, read a chapter of Scripture and pray for the church,” he said. “We use Stan Ott’s word-share-prayer” model, he added, to which several workshop attendees responded with knowing appreciation.
“How about a one-one-one model? Pray for one person for one minute every day at one o’clock?” he suggested.
One conferee immediately asked, “How about doubling that?”
“Like praying for two people for two minutes at two o’clock?” asked Hoey. He answered his own question, “Yeah, what might happen if we’d all do a two-two-two prayer plan?”
Then again, most folks willing to pray still are too unsure of themselves to evangelize. So Hoey outlined various methods of evangelism – a hint of the outline he would be expounding in the evening’s plenary address.
·The Apostle Peter used a confrontational approach: This Jesus whom you crucified …repent and be baptized!” (Acts. 2:22-41). ·Paul used the intellectual approach, addressing the scholars in Athen’s Aeropagus (Acts. 17:15-34).
·The blind man used the testimonial approach, “I once was blind but now I see” (John 9:1-15, 25).
·Matthew used the interpersonal approach; he joined the disciples and then threw a banquet for his fellow tax collectors all to meet Jesus (Luke 5: 27-29).
·The woman at the well used the invitational approach; she went and brought others to meet the man at the well (John 4).
·And Dorcas used the service approach, making clothing for the people in a quiet witness (Acts 9:3-42).
“I believe that the testimonial approach is one of the most powerful ways to share our faith with others,” Hoey said. A testimony, he explained, is a three part story: what my life was like at one time, how God connected with me – whether in a conversion, or an answered prayer, or an eye-opening moment – and what my life was life afterwards.
Hoey also drew attention to the fundamental challenge of having conversations with unbelievers. “I often feel like I have to help Presbyterians meet people, to know how to start conversations.” There are direct methods and indirect methods. Direct methods many times begin with throwing out a provocative thought such as, “If you’d ever like to know the difference between religion and Christianity, I’ll be glad to tell you.” Or he might ask, “How is it going with you today? … ‘Ahh come on, you can tell me, how’s it really going?” or “I’m curious: do you ever think about spiritual matters?”
“I call them pick up lines for Jesus.”
More indirect approaches involve having conversations about basic interests, “How’s your business going?” Or “What do you like to do in your spare time?” He just then listens for opportunities to bring a witness to the gospel.
Hoey also summarized several different models for sharing the faith, especially highlighting a video titled “The Big Story,” developed by James Choung.
Acknowledging that the church has so much to learn and has to change so many of its patterns of self-service in order to be renewed, he closed with great hope. “Evangelism is an adventure. It is not a dirty word. We can do this stuff. God has given us an incredible story in the person of Jesus Christ. We can’t keep it to ourselves. But you have to get out of the church.”
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