Developing an Evangelism Strategy

Todd Hunter, Board Member and Consultant, Alpha USA

Many churches have found that in order to sustain an Alpha course, it is important to have an overall evangelism strategy that includes tools in addition to Alpha.

Here are three simple but powerful ways to think about implementing a church wide lifestyle of evangelism. A strategy for evangelism will include vision, intention and means.

Vision

This is simply a picture of a preferable future in the collective mind of a congregation; in this case, a mental image of evangelistic effectiveness, of new followers of Jesus joining with your band of followers. Think of a young girl tirelessly practicing dance moves in front of her mirror or someone doing the same with a golf swing. Why do they do this? They do it because they have a vision of a better future that motivates their present behavior and activity. A vision-caster in the church—pastoral staff, key lay-leader, etc—needs to shape this evangelistic dream in the congregation. It must be communicated in various settings and in varied, creative ways. People don’t “hear” the vision the first time, and they forget it within weeks if not regularly and imaginatively reminded.

Intention

A congregational vision must go beyond a sentimental wish to a determined, purposeful, planned, budgeted and calendared activity. A church must order its life and structure to include evangelism. Evangelism does not just happen any more than overweight people suddenly find themselves on a diet. No one “stumbles” onto a diet and no church stumbles into evangelism. A firm and adamant decision must be made to do “what ever it takes” to implement the vision. When things in life don’t get done it is normally because we have not actually intended to do it; we have only wished it or desired it. Evangelism through the local church can seem a daunting task. But like teenage lovers desiring each other’s presence, where there is a will—intention—there is a way.

Means

Once the vision is clear and compelling and the decision to act on it is in place, we then turn to this thought: “okay, what is the best way for me to do this?” While there are several proven and effective ways to do evangelism, thousands of local churches have discovered The Alpha Course to be a successful and valuable tool to get them started. That is what “means” do; they assist you in implementing your vision.

Alpha teaches you to create the proper setting for evangelism and it gives you a simple format or “recipe” to follow. This is a huge advantage when you are just starting. After you have run the course a good number of times you will find ways to customize it to your setting. Alpha also provides 15 talks that, having undergone years of editing, are clear, compelling and well articulated. Use them until someone in your church feels comfortable giving the talks. Pay special attention to the training on small group leadership; everything on an Alpha Course hinges on creating an intellectually, emotionally and relationally honest conversation in the small groups.

Here are ten great books to help you get going:

Older books, but well worth reading:
1. Evangelism Through the Local Church by Michael Green, Nelson Publishers
2. Out of the Saltshaker & into the World by Rebecca Manley Pippert, IVP
3. Life-style Evangelism by Joseph Aldrich, Multnomah Press
4. Power Evangelism by John Wimber, Harper Collins
5. How to Share Your Faith Without Being Offensive by Joyce Neville

Newer books that help us connect to the contemporary evangelistic challenge:
1. Becoming a Contagious Christian by Hybels and Mittelberg, Zondervan.
2. How to Reach Secular People by George Hunter III, Abingdon Press.
3. More Ready Than You Realize by Brian McLaren, Zondervan
4. Beginning Well by Gordon Smith, IVP
5. A.k.a. Lost by Jim Henderson, WaterBrook

Note: these books do not necessarily represent the views of Alpha USA or Alpha International. But, they do represent the thinking of women and men we respect and who are our colleagues in the task of evangelism. Constructive criticism or suggestions to add to the list are always welcome by emailing us through the Contact Us form to Better Alpha Courses Library.