ELDERS AND EVANGELISM

Most elders are very committed to the spiritual growth of their congregations. They consider it part of their role as spiritual leaders to strengthen the prayer life of individuals and the congregation as a whole. They are concerned about the care members of the congregation receive and are often personally involved in providing that care.

Is evangelism the job of the elders?

But when these same elders are asked, "How are you giving leadership to the evangelism ministry of your congregation?" they indicate that they really do not consider reaching new people for Christ and the church to be the business of the elders. Typical responses:

"I'm already doing so many other things in the church. I don't have time for evangelism!"

"I'm not really good at evangelism."

"That's what we have an Evangelism Committee for."

Yet the congregations these elders serve need to focus outward and need to develop effective ways to reach new people in order to fulfill their God-given mission.

Elders and evangelistic outreach

What can busy elders who don't consider themselves particularly gifted in evangelism do to strengthen the evangelistic outreach of the congregation? Here are some ideas.

Pray individually and as a group of elders for people who need Christ and the church and for those who have visited the church.
Express in meditations and prayers at the communion table Christ's passion for those apart from God (Luke 15 describes this passion in powerful images.)
As a group of elders, have a retreat or a study on sharing your faith in daily life.
Don't just study it! Practice sharing your faith with those you encounter every day. Share your experiences with the other elders and pray for each other.
Covenant with the other elders to try an experiment: Pray every morning for a month for the opportunity of a spiritual conversation with someone that day. At the end of the month, get together and talk about what happened in your experiment.
In your daily conversations, let it be known that you pray. When someone shares a concern or problem, tell that person you will pray for her or him. Make sure you do it! Better yet, stop and pray with them on the spot or even over the telephone.
In your daily conversations, let it be known that the church is an important part of your life. Talk about meaningful things that happen at church.
As you make a new friend, ask that friend, "Are you actively involved in a church?" If the answer is “no”, invite him or her to your church.
Take a loaf of bread to a new neighbor and invite the neighbor to visit your church.
Look for opportunities to do kind things for people, and if they thank you or ask you why you're doing this, say something like, "I've experienced the love of Christ and want to share it."
Pray before you come to worship service for the worship guests who will be there.
Do what you can do to help worship guests feel at home."
Send notes to worship guests.
Offer something you grow, cook, or make (flowers, cookies, items crafted from wood) as "love gifts" for first-time worship guests.
Volunteer to deliver "love gifts" to worship guests for a month. Elders could even sign up for this service, as they do to deliver communion to people who are ill and to shut-in members.
Host a gathering where worship guests can get to know church members.
"Adopt" a newcomer in the church for six months, helping the newcomer to get to know others and find a place of belonging and service in the congregation.
When you are in church gatherings and meetings raise the question, "What are we doing to invite and welcome new people?"

Leadership by example

Most of these actions do not require a lot of additional time or energy. Good news - most of these actions do not require attending additional meetings! All of them can be done by people who are not particularly gifted in evangelism. If elders in congregations did just a few of these things: they would, great1y strengthen the evangelistic outreach of their congregations and would discover great personal joy.

By engaging in evangelistic outreach, elders would be providing the best kind of spiritual leadership--leadership by example. They would be demonstrating the heart and actions of the Good Shepherd, who not only cares for those within "the fold," but seeks us when we are lost.

Judy Turner first wrote this article while on staff for Homeland Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). It was first published in Vanguard, July/August/September 1998. It is being republished here because there are still requests for it. You are free to use any resources on our site, but please donate to the work of Christview Ministries Center so that we can continue to produce such materials and make them available.