Evangelism. The very word makes palms sweat
and images spin: buttonholing in a city park, knocking on neighborhood
doors, being conscripted into evangelistic campaigns, to say nothing of
that annoying religious neighbor or coworker. We have met the
evangelists?and they are not us. If evangelism is the welcome door to
faith, why does it grate open on rusting hinges? Mark Teasdale has met
these challenges and more. They come in the shape of students in his
evangelism class. In
Evangelism for Non-Evangelists he
sympathizes with the perceptions and discomfort we bring to evangelism.
But he also opens up a nonthreatening space for us to weigh what we
believe the evangel of evangelism?the good news!?to be. And he helps us
navigate our way toward expressing the gospel in a manner true to what
we believe, authentic to who we are, and attractive and even compelling
to others. For pastors, seminarians, church leaders, and lay people,
here is a refreshing, practical, and companionable look at evangelism.
It might even chart a course toward your own authentic evangelism.
