In recent years our SBC evangelism statistics have declined significantly. Dr. Jeff Iorg, the President of Gateway Seminary (formerly Golden Gate Baptist Seminary) spoke about this in his convocation message in the fall semester of 2019:
“Southern Baptists have a declining effectiveness in sharing the Gospel with non-Christians and leading them to profess faith in Jesus,” he said. “Since baptism is the first act of public obedience for a new believer, baptismal rates are one important measure of evangelistic effectiveness. By that key indicator, our effectiveness in leading people to faith in Jesus is in steep decline.”
Iorg pointed to statistics that indicate the SBC baptismal rate is lower than at any time since the 1940s in spite of having more than twice as many churches in the convention.
“In 2017 just over 30 percent of SBC churches did not record a single baptism. In that same year, 50 percent of SBC churches baptized two people or fewer. And 82 percent of churches had fewer than 10 baptisms in 2017 — less than one per month,” he said. “Baptismal data indicates we have a declining effectiveness in sharing the Gospel with non-Christians and leading them to publicly profess faith in Jesus.” (“Iorg at Convocation Underscores Evangelism as Priority,” by Kathie Chute, Baptist Press, 9-3-19)
These dismal statistics raise the WHY question. Why are our churches struggling so? Dr. Ed Stetzer, Executive Director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College, wrote an article about this recently. He listed seven reasons for the decline in evangelism.
- There has been a backlash to past evangelistic methods that seemed reductionistic and simplistic.
- Many believers do not have confidence in the gospel.
- It is getting harder to share the gospel in a context where people are further away from what their parents and grandparents believed.
- Some believers have replaced evangelism with another spiritual emphasis. (like social justice or environmentalism)
- A lack of compassion for the lost around us.
- Some believers fear not having the answers to questions people raise.
- Some Christians worry that their lives are not good enough to qualify them as witnesses.
(“Why Has Evangelism Declined?” www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2020/january)
To Ed Stetzer’s list I would add three reasons of my own. First, our secular society has succeeded in persuading believers, especially young believers, that one’s faith is an intensely private matter, and one should only discuss matters of faith with one’s family and close friends. Second, pluralism (the belief that all religions are of equal value) is taught in most colleges and universities. Our young adults have been indoctrinated to believe this. Further, pluralism is often promoted on television. Pastors have complained to me that their congregations have been Oprah-ized. The late Dr. Roy Fish (He of blessed memory) often said that most Southern Baptists are functional universalists. A universalist believes that ultimately everyone will be saved. Now, if you ask Southern Baptists if they believe in universalism, they will deny believing that. However, Dr. Fish’s point is that they live as if they believe it. Third, many companies, educational institutions, and organizations have banned any kind of witnessing. Some even forbid staff members from displaying a Bible on their desks.
Do you agree that it is harder to evangelize now? Do you have another reason you would like to add to these lists?
I’m not sure of the word I’m reaching for. Perhaps “specialization.” There’s been a trend in the last couple of decades for churches to specialize/compartmentalize roles of ministry. Small churches don’t have this “luxury,” but larger churches now have the Senior Pastor, the Executive Pastor, and then a raft of specialists, so to speak, in ministry . . . . missions, youth, evangelism, discipleship and so on. I guess my point is that the average church member no longer sees their pastor/shepherd directly engaged in evangelism, apart from any evangelistic proclamation from the pulpit. In that sense, I guess I’d say that the decline in evangelism then becomes a message and challenge to the pastor as leader. Perhaps it is a good thing to be in a small pastor-led, small staff or single-staff church. This “luxury” of specialization may be one we’re better off without.
Our testimony is no longer relevant for a plethora of reasons. I could list them all but it might be longer than your blog.
David Kinnaman’s You Lost Me is a very good place to start.
I don’t think we can point to the younger generation for the keeping religion a private affair. Many of the people I’ve heard it from are the older generation and it has come in the phrase that “I don’t want to push my beliefs on them.”
I think that’s an awfully nice way of convincing ourselves that we are being respectful of others when what we really may mean is that we want to avoid potentially awkward conversations and are worried about our own comfort. We want to protect ourselves from rejection. Not just that the person may reject the gospel, but also even just that what if the person does not want to talk to me (stranger) or what if it makes this acquaintance/friendship awkward.
Or to point the finger directly at myself, we excuse our reluctance on things we identify with.. well, it’s hard because I am really quite shy and sometimes very introverted. Sometimes it’s difficult to make even the small talk to get to the point of having a meaningful conversation. I can be super awkward. I can point out all the things that make it hard for me to share the gospel instead of focusing on the things that are to my advantage. I’m a great listener and I genuinely love being around people especially in very small groups. People are willing to talk to me about very personal things. So why do i focus on what I am not and what I do not have, instead of what I am good at?
And sometimes we do share the good news or invite someone to church and got just isn’t successful. I’ve run into a lot of women who won’t go because of our beliefs on LGBTQ. They decided they do want to go back to church and raise their children with faith but they choose somewhere that is more comfortable to them with their LGBTQ affirming beliefs. Or some parents have said to me “I just want my kids to believe on something.” They think God will save anyone so long as they are generally ‘trying’… Others might have come had i been more aware at the time of culturally sensitive approaches – a lady came to me talking about my church and my faith. She said she was a Christian but could not go to church, but she watches church online. I had expected to see her more so we could have more conversations (she was at work), but that was the last I saw her. I don’t know if she was prevented in going to church because her family was not accepting of Christianity or if it was a cultural fear of having to give up her cultural identity. I regret assuming I would get to see her again to finish the conversation.
Lastly, most of my gospel conversations used to happen with guys, because I used to spend time with guy friends watching sports or playing cards or video games. Many of them had grown up in church but left as teenagers and were atheist or agnostic. And I was very comfortable having those conversations, but now that I’m trying to be a respectable southern baptist woman im not really around those situations anymore, I’m baking and donating and sticking with the women’s meetings and such.
I recently moved to a new city and we were looking for a church. I called the local FBC/SBC to speak w someone. It came to me as the Church Sec answered the phone to as her about her understanding of the Gospel (one would think that she should know right?).
So, I said “I’ve just been in a horrible automobile and have less than 3 minutes to live, please explain to me the Gospel”. Sadly, she could not in any way. Nothing out sin, repentance, not Jesus.
She did manage to get out that the Pastor would be back soon, and that I could call back at that time. I never called back, and she was very uncomfortable, so I hung up.
We now assume that Church Members understand the Gospel; however, it is a horrible assumption. I am quite sure that she is not alone.
My point is- a lot of SBCers do not know the Gospel, how can they share it?
I’m sure there are some people in church who don’t know the gospel. But I think there’s a lot of people who understand it but have trouble articulating it. Like there’s some anxiety about if I don’t mention this part or that part then I have failed. It’s like a kid who does great on all the classwork and homework and labs, can explain everything well, but bombs the test because of anxiety.
I even wonder sometimes if the things that are created to help us can actually make things worse for some people. The evangelism tools, which I’m not knocking at all– some people are great with these things. But these things that should simplify for some people make it difficult for others because the formula/scripted approach is not natural for them.
Also we emphasize the moment that someone prays the prayer or agrees or what have you. So there is anxiety about getting people to that moment.
I think we need to focus on reminding eachother the fact that we actually have really great news. We serve an amazing God. And we remember the beauty of who God is and what He has done, and i think that makes it easier to share.
Kimberly, all that you say sure resonates. Just yesterday in a women’s group many shared the same thoughts. We kind of all know who speaks naturally about Jesus, and in our hearts we want to be like her/them,. Speaking for myself, pride is a barrier, fear of being mortified. Also I’m pestered by a lie – in part, from church people – that following the Spirit’s prompting simply & sincerely, or saying any Bible words, might “push people away from Christ.” There’s always something I’m supposed to get right first: a pure heart, a relationship of trust, supplying physical needs, walking a mile in their shoes, knowing the right approach for particular generations or circumstances.. all good things! But I notice that my more evangelistic friends may do those things along the way, secondarily to the gospel, not as a prerequisite. They don’t get stuck in that.
For some I think there is a feeling that the method(s) of evangelism they were taught deals with questions that society is no longer asking and so they shy away. Whether that is due to worldviews within our own communities that are shifting away from a Christian perspective or whether it is due to a loss of a basic understanding of the Gospel within the church itself, I can’t say. Perhaps it’s both. I know I’ve been in conversations here in SC where it felt like we were speaking two different languages as the person I was talking to had no concept of personal sin, guilt, etc… Because of that, evangelism wasn’t a neat and tidy, once and done event that resulted in a measurable decision, it was a longer term investment trying to build a framework for them to see their need for the Gospel.
This is a good thought.
It reminds me of trying to talk to people around here where it takes a while to get to know people my age beyond the Instagram/Pinterest version they want you to see. When people are trying to act like everything’s picture perfect, it is harder to talk about the need for the Gospel. It takes a little longer to get there.
It’s easier to talk to people who are just as messy as me.
Where do you live in SC? I live in the Upstate
Let’s say dangerously close to Sheally’s BBQ 😉
Dr. Mark Tolbert at NOBTS said something a couple of years ago.
Some study he referenced said that they had found a significant reason that churches were not seeing effective evangelism numbers.
Churches were not doing much evangelism and people were not doing much evangelism.
That’s an overstatement and Mark might quarrel with the way I put it, but many churches aren’t doing evangelistic ministries and most Christians are not sharing Christ regularly with friends and family.
When I taught the course on church evangelism at Southern Baptist Seminary, I told my students, “Just do something.” I believe Dr. Tolbert is right; not much evangelism is taking place. Thom Rainer says that our SBC churches dropped revival meetings, but they did not replace them with anything. The statistics Dr. Iorg mentioned indicate that in many churches not much evangelism takes place.
There is a huge elephant in this room.
If I believed that God had decided in eternity past, before time began, which individuals would be saved and which would not and nothing could really change that, why would I evangelize in today’s often hostile climate?
What difference would it really make? If the person in front of me is elect and will be saved no matter what I do, or is non elect and will not be saved no matter what I do, there is no reason for me to act.
Only if the individual in front of me has free will does it even matter.
Interesting point.
Why would I if I believe that? Because the bible says to go and tell and make disciples. Why would it matter? Obedience to the One I love, my Lord, my God.
Sarah, I taught personal evangelism at Southern Seminary about 15 years ago. Most of the students in my class described themselves as Calvinists. I asked them, “Do you believe people are predestined to be saved?” They replied, “Yes, we do.” Then I asked, “How can you identify those who are elect (predestined)?” They answered, “We can’t identify them.” “Well, then,” I said, “if you can’t identify the elect by their appearance, let’s just proclaim the gospel to everyone and trust that God will draw them to salvation.”
There are several Calvinist out here on the M field. They passionately believe that they can share confidently because Christ has already preordained them to succeed! I am not such a Calvinist but I admire the faith!
“Only if the individual in front of me has free will does it even matter.”
Said no apostle ever. Honestly, that was an old canard back when I thought Adam West was the best Batman.
The public education system, not just colleges and universities but the schools in your communities where you live, have operated under a philosophy of education introduced in the late 19th and early 20th century that believes cultural and social change can be achieved by control of the way most kids are educated. Their approach to education has replaced the strong emphasis on mastery of basic skills through third or fourth grade with a problem-solving, hands-on approach based on the belief that human intellect, properly educated, is capable of solving human problems (sin). Not only is that present in the basic elements of the curriculum taught to kids, but the whole pedagogy uses methods which teach kids how to apply their intellect to the bigger problems of humankind. They get that in a “religiously neutral” environment six and a half hours a day, five days a week. By the time they’re done with college, they’re done with church, too, and they’re not coming back.
Many people in my church know the Gospel but a lot have trouble articulating it.
Sure some are to timid to speak out about the truth in social gatherings but many won’t even in church and /or Sunday School.
Lack of confidence is one Part of the problem.
Many of the men are oh so eager to speak about their sports team but not so eager to talk about spiritual truths and principles – even with the brothers.
One thing I think affects them is a failure to be readers and studiers of the Word. If I spend more time watching sports I will spend more time talking about sports.
OR politics.
Or work.
Or hobbies.
Nothing wrong with any of those things but if I neglect the Bible I won’t be talking about what is in it including the Gospel.
It always dismays me somewhat When in many places, here included, a spiritual conversation devolves into sports talk. Opening up and talking about internal things is hard but Talking about external things is More comforting and easier.
Men don’t like talking about their health Problems either…
Another internal subject
Dr. Terry,
Without a doubt, we in the SBC need to be re-awakened to our call to evangelism. I would, however, note that the statistics are baptism statistics. While I join you and Dr. Iorg in believing that there should be a correlation between conversion and baptism, I believe that we are experiencing a significant decline in this relationship. Perhaps we have been so loud in our “baptism is not necessary for salvation” message that it has become a “baptism is necessary for anything” message. Popular Baptist preachers have debated whether or not it is necessary for church membership or participation in the Lord’s Supper. In such a context, can we rely on baptism statistics any more? We probably can, but we should also acknowledge the other issue: baptism itself.
You raise an interesting point–a point I haven’t considered. Donald McGavran, the founder of the Church Growth Movement strategy, wrote that we should count baptisms, rather than professions of faith. He reasoned that baptism demonstrates a person’s sincerity in making the decision. I, too, have been concerned about the de-emphasis on baptism, especially believer’s baptism by immersion. Several years ago John Piper, then pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, recommended to his congregation that they drop the requirement of immersion for transfer members. In the end, the congregation rejected his proposal. Still, that proposal reflects changing values it seems. Thanks for your thoughtful reply.
I think evangelicals have lost quite a bit of “face” over the last 4 years with some of the collective decisions they have made that make it much harder for unbelievers to take them seriously.
Bill: as you know, I agree with you that this is a real dynamic. But the decline in baptisms has been unfolding for *way* more than just the last few years, right?
Maybe it’s really fallen off a cliff since 2016; I don’t really know. But my impression from reading SBCV has been that it’s death by a thousand cuts — not by the guillotine.
Have I… have I mixed enough metaphors yet? I DO have more. Just let me know.
You’re right. I think part of it is attributable to the decline of generic civil christianity (lower case c deliberate). We’ve always known that the number who profess is no where near the number of actual believers. I think people don’t feel as much pressure now to pretend to believe. That’s been going on for quite awhile.
Part of it is, I think, a rejection of science denial. If you tell a generation of young people that they have to choose between faith and science (imperfect as both are), then a great many of them will drop faith.
And then of course you have the very visible evangelical lust for political power at any cost that is turning people away.
Yep. You’re on target again.
I’m always surprised, though, that SBCV rarely discusses whether *other Christian denominations* might be poaching potential converts.
That is, if — say — New Apostolic Reformation churches are growing at 3% per annum (I’m making that number up out of thin air; please don’t quote it), maybe they’re snapping up most of the potential new baptisms, crowding out the SBC (or at least leaving it with mostly the low-hanging fruit, namely people who were born and raised in the denomination).
Maybe there just aren’t good enough statistics to *tell* if that’s happening, though? I, for sure, don’t even know where I’d look.
I know in my neck of the woods charismatic churches have been poaching church members for decades
Don’t we consider an “abundant harvest” as a blessing from God? Peter references Psalm 34:12-14 in the third chapter of his first epistle, addressing a church being persecuted because of their faith by encouraging them by pointing out that even though they are suffering for righteousness sake, they are “blessed.” The context of that particular couple of paragraphs has to do with holding on to their testimony through the persecution which would prompt those around them to ask why they were so hopeful, gentle and respectful. There are Old Testament references to the use of the name “Ichabod”, who was Eli’s grandson, associated with the departure of God’s glory from Israel. I’m not sure that concept applies to a denomination, but the Bible certainly teaches that when the presence of God’s glory is taken for granted and sin, disobedience and idolatry are present in the church, “Ichabod” becomes their state of existence.
There are a lot of churches that aren’t really giving any evidence of blessing. It stands to reason that God isn’t going to raise up a lot of new believers in a church that’s not healthy or spiritually sound. The glory of God has departed. I’m not sure there’s really anything the denomination can do to change the character of individual churches. The conservative resurgence claimed that getting those baptism and membership numbers up was part of their agenda and would result from getting doctrine right, but baptisms never headed on an upward trajectory and while membership still grew for a while, the increases got smaller every year until it started sliding back the other way. In my lifetime, I’ve seen one church light up with the fires of genuine revival and confess and repent and get things right with God and then saw the floodgates open. It wasn’t something that could be “programmed.”
I agree the evangelism is difficult for most people, including myself, and that most church members are not evangelizing. But I wonder if lower baptism rates could also have something to do with people having less children. The people most likely to make a profession of faith and be baptized have always been children (as emphasized at every VBS). If people aren’t having as many children, that in and of itself could lower the number of baptisms.
So many good points here. Not a new thought but – the church is a great mission field. Start a culture of freely sharing personal salvation stories, and see what happens. One time a new pastor candidate was presented at my Baptist church for informal q & a. I asked if he would share how he was saved – softball question!!! I was surprised that some people thought my question was rude or offensive. But that’s a culture. Pastors can lead out by freely sharing their own stories of being forgiven, sins paid voluntarily by Jesus, reconciled with the Father, reborn, transferred into a new kingdom, motivated by love to serve & obey Him as He transforms us, awaiting His return – and leading others to do the same. Do we know our own friends and families’ and pew-mates Jesus stories? I confess I’m wayyy more comfortable asking and sharing in a ministry – BSF, church membership class etc. – than in daily conversation. That’s pretty shameful; why wouldn’t I? (What an awful question). But we can all open our mouths somewhere. How ironic it would be if that’s anywhere but church. BTW, a friend was convicted that we don’t share our good Jesus stories. She & her hubby started a video ministry called “Wonderful to Tell,” featuring personal testimonies. Inspiring!
We (the church at large) have stopped making disciples who make disciples. Maybe we don’t know how… Maybe we simply don’t care…
I wish there were a way to chart the times the gospel was taken to the lost and how many refused the message being given. What if we are telling more but even more people now are saying no. I don’t believe this but if it could be shown it would be interesting at worst.
Just a thought, but there may be just as many disciples as ever. ..even though there are not as many “decisions’. Are we using the wrong metric? This is more ponderance than a statement.
Over at SBC Voices, Mid-America Seminary Professor of Missions Dr. Mark Terry has a post titled “Why Is It Harder to Evangelize?” I believe it is a good question that we do well to consider.
It is undeniable that, statistically speaking, we are seeing decreased evangelistic results both in the churches of the SBC and in American Evangelicalism at large in recent years (see article for more details). The big question is, why?
There are two different angles from which to think about Dr. Terry’s question. The first is to look at it from the perspective of those doing the evangelizing—or in this case, perhaps, those failing to evangelize. And it is certainly true that if we don’t share the good news, there won’t be any response. But it appears that a big part of the problem is not just a failure to evangelize, but also a lack of fruit when we do share the gospel. I would even postulate that one of the reasons (though not a valid excuse) that we don’t share the gospel more often than we do is because of discouragement due to meager results and antipathy and indifference to our message among those we would seek to evangelize.
Now some of this antipathy and indifference is due to people loving their sin more than they love the truth. Jesus’ parable of the sower and the seed that fell on good soil and the seed that fell on rocky soil reminds us that the problem is not necessarily with the seed or the sower but is often with the soil in which the seed is sown.
But could it also be that certain things we do and have done as Christians have an effect on the general level of receptivity to the gospel in the communities in which we live?
As I was reading through Nehemiah in my daily Bible reading and thinking over these questions, the following verse stood out to me:
“I continued, ‘What you have done is wrong! We must honor our God by the way we live, so the Gentiles can’t find fault with us.’” Nehemiah? ?5:9? ?CEV??
Is it possible that we as 21st-Century Christians in America, just like the returned exiles of Judah in the time of Nehemiah, are creating barriers to belief among the unbelieving people in our midst?
In the case of the returned exiles in the time of Nehemiah, a closer look at the fuller context of Nehemiah 5 fills us in on what they were doing wrong that had caused the Gentiles around them to find fault. They were not taking care of the poor and those who had fallen into hard times in their community. And as a result, the other nations around them didn’t see in them a good model of the righteous lifestyle that God expects His people to exhibit.
What do you think might be some of the things we have done or are doing that give cause for the “Gentiles” (or unbelievers) in our midst to find fault with us and may as a result be causing the evangelistic soil in our society to become rockier or harder?
Jon, yes, I agree that the lower birthrate, especially in the Anglo segment of the population, is a factor in the lower baptism numbers and the decline in the number of members, too. Our best years in the SBC were the 1950s, when the birthrate was high.
David, I always appreciate your thoughtful comments. (It has been too long since we ate barbecue together.) I, too, fear that the lifestyle of many Christians works against personal evangelism. About 20 years ago George Barna did a survey of the non-Christian friends of Christians. He asked the non-Christians, “Do your Christian friends influence you?” About 80% replied no. He asked a follow-up question–“Why not?” They answered, “Because they don’t live any differently than we do.”
Admirable to all belove faithful Christians leaders and believers, I too am considered from Gateway Seminary ( Golden Gate Theological Seminary ) and president. Dr. Jeff Iorg at Gateway Seminary is my professor and VIP to me to achieve my T.h.D. My major subjects and calling are ( 1 ) church planning ( 2 ) evangelizing ( 3 ) missionary from July 2011 to this day. By the grace of God and with His strength, I can keep doing evangelizing, mission and accomplished translating the New English Bible tasks. Within my eight years in doing research and studying theological, biblical, church planting, evangelizing, and missionary or outreach ministry experiencing, I have found several problems to be solved from local to conventional.
First, having wrong prospective and false belief at Molech which is a child or a person sacrificing and believing that a slaughtering person can bear their own sins and guilts for their behalf. And it was corrupted and guilty faith. Leviticus 20:2-5. Acts 4:12.
Second, misinterpret and misuse the autonomy of the local church. Prioritizing and concerning more on financial, material, national and physical achievements. Instead of helping other’s needs and sharing the gospel with other peoples. Matthew 25:35-42. 28:19-20.
Third, the separation between nationalism and denominationalism. These separations hinder the gospel. Acts 4:32. 1 Corinthians 12:25-27. I do not mean by all nationals and denominations shall worship in one place as one denomination.
Fourth, translating and interpreting the Bible ( Word ) with a human’s own understanding which is a lost manuscript, out of the text and diminishes origin definition and meaning. Because human thought is taking place and more personal words were adding in some versions and translations. Deuteronomy 4:2. Revelation 22:18. 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Fifth, it is time for Christians to reforming and awakening from physical and spiritual knowing that if Christians do not do their works, other religions will do their works. It seems like 95 Theses. And, even though the local church does not have mission projects, the mission has church projects. I am ready whenever they give my own financial and ministry autonomy from both church & state. The sooner the better and give now I asked. Please. Thank you for your giving and support. Thank you. Holy God Trinity to be glory forever. Amen.
In Christ Jesus, Zam. K L. Joseph.
As I have said before, I don’t think baptisms are the best indicator of evangelism. Should every new Christian be baptized? Absolutely. Are they? No they’re not. VBS is the largest evangelism event we have each year. Every year I have many young people receive Christ. Many of them are not Baptists. Sometimes it’s difficult to convince non-Baptist parents of the need for baptism. Thus they are not baptized and don’t count on reports.
Also, I have led many older people to Christ. Many of them are at death’s door. Many of them are physically unable to be baptized. Thus they are not baptized and don’t count on reports.
None of these young and older people are “counted” in our baptism report but that doesn’t mean the evangelism by our church is not effective.
I still call for the ACP to have a place to report conversions. To me, that would be a better indicator of evangelism effectiveness.
Just because someone walks an aisle and is baptized doesn’t mean they are any more saved than someone who doesn’t.
I disagree with all the reasons in the post as to why evangelism is becoming ineffective although there might be a little truth in each one. The main reason is where the rubber meets the highway. I’m talking about the membership. The membership just doesn’t have time. Have you bought groceries lately? These are tough times, plus our children are involved in so many activities outside the home. People are tired and if they take another step they feel as though they will lose a body part.
I’ve lived in my home 30 years and no one has knocked at my door except an occasional Jehovah’s Witness. Every one is becoming private individuals and don’t want to be bothered. Have you all ever knocked on a door during the day when the person inside has put in a long night on 3rd shift and you woke them from a deep sleep? You certainly don’t get a pleasant greeting.
The answer I believe is trying to gain those closest to us, it might be a neighbor or friend we work with. I think the best evangelism happens when others see our good works and then when we speak it means something. We cannot be religious to win people it takes Christ likeness, someone genuine not professional.
I sum it up this way: Help those around you even if it’s digging fence post holes. Develop a good name among your friends and neighbors. When someone is hurting they know they can come to you because they trust you. Be honest in all things. Today, folks get preaching from their phones and it doesn’t cost them 10%. I was always after the people not the money even if I paid the bills of the church myself, but the Lord blessed. I was always a bi-vocational pastor for 40 years and I would have paid the bills of the church if I had to.
Baptists, like most other “Evangelicals,” believe that the Holy Spirit is a necessary presence for a salvation experience to occur, from beginning to end. There’s no repentance without conviction, no regeneration without spiritual baptism. I see a lot of talk here about program approaches to evangelism, ways to motivate people in the pews to “share’, methods of sharing, all things that get talked about when this subject comes up. Maybe the key to increased evangelism is revival.
Years ago when I first started serving a church as youth pastor, one of the churches in our association had a series of revival meetings that they described as a “spiritual breakthrough,” There was genuine repentance among the membership and their gatherings had to make time for altar calls during which dozens of adults, mostly unchurched, responded. I visited one of the weeknight gatherings they had frequently and I couldn’t tell you what it was, except that the Spirit was moving in a church that was open to it. It was a presence you could feel, a full auditorium on a weeknight and an atmosphere of expectancy. As I recall, that lasted for several years. The spiritual condition of many of our churches doesn’t support evangelism. We need revival and a restoration of the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.
Lee, you make a good point. Programs and methods are no substitute for the power of the Holy Spirit moving in our churches. An old preacher told me 50 years ago, “God is too wise to put a baby Christian in a refrigerator.”
Why? Why don’t I see southern Baptist street preachers? That is almost nonexistent.