The lack of evangelism conferences today is symptomatic of a problem.
For many, we have just moved on—maybe we have become too sophisticated for telling people about Jesus. Or maybe it is the reputation of the church.
Or maybe it is just us.
There was a time not too many decades ago where the largest gatherings of denominations or regions were their annual evangelism conferences. Not to mention the largest youth gatherings were youth evangelism conferences, where as many as 15,000-20,000 students would attend in states like Texas and in the deep South.
But it’s obvious that such conferences don’t have the allure they once did. Evangelism has fallen on hard times these days—and conferences have as well. Yes, some denominations still have them, but they seem to be shrinking in attendance and enthusiasm among many who do have them.
I do have a concern about the lack of focus today on evangelism, and one of the symptoms of this problem is the decline in evangelism conferences.
That doesn’t mean there are no longer large gatherings of believers or leaders coming together. There are a number of events that fill arenas, including some church planting or leadership events. And we still see arenas packed out with worship bands leading nights of worship.
I’m not writing to criticize these; nor do I think that more evangelism conferences are always the answer, but the lack of many is a symptom of a larger problem. I’m all for worship gatherings and I speak at church planting and leadership events, so I of course believe in these. But I do have a concern about the lack of focus today on evangelism, and one of the symptoms of this problem is the decline in evangelism conferences.
I think we have some work to do to get people talking about evangelism again.
Let me explain.
Evangelism Tools
Over the years, evangelism was generally defined by its tools. We pretty much equated evangelistic work with a method. For example, the best-known might be Evangelism Explosion and its famous question, “If you were to die today, do you know if you’d go to heaven or hell?”
Or, maybe you’ve used the bridge illustration.
Or, the Roman Road.
Or, bracelets.
More recently some share the whole gospel Story, and some use the 3 Circles.
Most people I know are more likely to roll their eyes at the tools than use them. But, they don’t have an evangelistic alternative—all they have is an evangelistic angst. And angst does not help. The tools may seem outdated, unhelpful, or cheesy to you, but the Roman Road is probably more effective than rolling your eyes.
A recent Lifeway Research study conducted in April 2022 on behalf of Evangelism Explosion discovered about half of believers surveyed ages 18-49 weren’t familiar with any method to share Christ, while over 80% of those over age 50 weren’t familiar with any tool.
Maybe 40 years ago we focused too much on this or that tool. Today, most Christians don’t have any tool. Would you rather prepare a garden with a shovel, hoe, and a rake than with no tool at all? I don’t think so. And, before you make assumptions, be sure to take a look at what Evangelism Explosion has done recently to increase the options for learning to share Christ.
As we are awash in tools, we are actually in the midst of the largest faith-based media campaign in history. The “He Gets Us” campaign, of which I am a part, is all over television, billboards, and more. It’s sparking conversations about Jesus at the office water cooler, in homes, and more.
Today, too many of us see evangelism strategies as hokey and ineffective, and, instead of coming up with other evangelism strategies, we just don’t evangelize.
So, we have evangelism tools, and more people talking about Jesus, yet there isn’t much in the way of evangelism today.
Conferences
So, back to conferences. Since tools were ready-made for conferences, we had many conferences. Now tools are less appreciated and conferences are less common. I am a believer in tools used well.
But, as tools lost their favor, the goal lost its means. In other words, tools (and conferences) helped us do evangelism, which was the goal. The goal was sharing the gospel.
Now, people roll their eyes at tools and don’t go to training conferences, and the end result is a lot of angst about evangelism but not a lot of, well, evangelism.
It reminds me of that famous statement of D.L. Moody: “Well, I like my way of doing it better than your way of not doing it!”
Good Stuff is Happening
I am privileged to be the Executive Director of the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center. In that role, I work alongside many gifted people who use the talents and energies the Lord has given them to show and share the love of Jesus with others.
And, I get to encourage people headed to Together 2022, which will probably be the largest single evangelism training event in decades.
And, all this is while the He Gets Us campaign is starting conversations about Jesus all over America. It’s the largest faith based campaign in history, and we can use its tools to foster and engage conversations at work, online, and all over.
Finally, for several years now (and virtually during Covid) we’ve hosted the Amplify Outreach Conference to elevate the focus of evangelism. In partnership with Outreach Magazine, we are hosting the 2022 Amplify Evangelism & Outreach Conference at Wheaton College on October 18-19.
So, evangelism IS going on. I want to invite you to join us.
I think most of us feel it: evangelism has fallen out of style in much of evangelicalism in America the last decade or so. Today, too many of us see evangelism strategies as hokey and ineffective, and, instead of coming up with other evangelism strategies, we just don’t evangelize.
This is a problem, and we need to fix it.
Goals
We are bringing pastors, evangelists, and church leaders together for the Amplify Outreach Conference to ask, “How can we help the body of Christ get back on mission and share the gospel like we once did?” In other words, tools and conferences aside, “How can we get focused on the goal?”
We already have some amazing speakers lined up—and will start releasing names soon—and it will be on the campus of Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL. (That means dorm lodging is available if you need inexpensive accommodations.)
I hope you’ll plan to join us. We will be learning about what others are doing (including new tools), but will especially focus on developing a lifestyle of showing and sharing the love of Jesus.
You can register for the conference here.
