How about simply using a WhatsApp chat and sending a Bible scripture to a non-Christian friend on your lunch break? Look at the journeys you do each week, and think is there a way you can pause and spend more time opening conversations that may go somewhere? Maybe with that shopkeeper you already see regularly, or buying a bottle of coke for a homeless person on a commute who is often sitting in the same spot.
Once people capture a vision about what is possible, resources don't seem such an issue. Go and start with what you do have.

Obstacle 2: I’m not ready

If we wait to feel ready for evangelism, we’ll be waiting forever.

As Christians we will happily attend training sessions on evangelism. Especially if there’s coffee and cake provided! But although it’s good to get the theory and ‘knowledge’ about evangelism, when the rubber hits the road it’s tempting to shrink back rather than step out and actually talk about Jesus with a friend or stranger. When you’re just starting out, don’t let getting more knowledge take priority over hands-on-experience.

We can also be tempted to wait for others around us to be ready before we ourselves feel able to step out. But that way, everyone is waiting for everyone else and no one steps out!

Take personal initiative and learn to embrace your own natural way of relating to people, you can use your own way of talking rather than try and be like someone else.

Your testimony and who you are is the most personal tool you have. Rather than rehearse and ‘perform’ your story, could you practice sharing your journey to Jesus by finding people to tell it to and learn as you go? This how-to guide is a great resource to help you do that.

‘Feeling ready’ isn’t a guarantee, but by accepting that, in fact, you’ll always be ready – surrendered to your own weakness and totally reliant on the Lord.

Obstacle 3: God would never use me like that

Something I have learnt during my time in ministry is that God does big things, but often in small places, one heart at a time.

It’s great to headline those amazing testimonies of people’s lives transformed by Jesus at the front of church. But if people only hear the big stories it can be hard for the less-experienced evangelist to relate to. "God doesn’t use me that way" they might think. Most of us don’t see miracles every day.

When we allow space to also share and celebrate the small wins alongside the big ones, we’re highlighting where gospel fruit is still budding. Why not intentionally try spotting, sharing and praying into those small moments of mission in your own church’s context? Like when a new Christian steps out and shares their testimony with a friend for the first time; or the student who invited her hairdresser to the church carol service; or the elderly gentleman who has read a few verses of John’s gospel with his atheist neighbour, after four years of getting nothing but closed doors from them. Sharing stories like these involves the whole church as things happen, rather than after they happened leaving people encouraged to try something themselves.

When can we share these small encouragements? It could just be with your serving team as you set up and clean up the coffee stand after the service. It could be your prayer request when you’re asked at the prayer meeting how you’re doing. If you’re a preaching, why not weave this into your sermon application points?

Obstacle 4: We don't have any evangelists

Paul tells us in Ephesians 4, that Christ has given us evangelists “to equip his people for works of service.” In other words, it is “his people” who, having been equipped, do the work too.

So yes, churches need evangelists, but not to do all the work alone. Christians of all types are needed for evangelism ministry. And it’s not always the most outgoing and confident people in the church. In my experience, the more diverse the team, the better in fact, for connecting with diverse people.

With that in mind, often what gets missed is some essential ingredients that need throwing into the mix to help build a healthy and sustainable outreach. Especially if that team in your church is going to continue healthily in evangelism.

Everyone has potential to share their faith but evangelism teams need different types of people to be sustained. Some may have potential as administrators to keep track records of new contacts and who to follow up with. Then there are other ambassadorial roles: thinking ahead about how people will get recruited, vision casting in the team and beyond, communicating stories of what's happening so others can pray. The broader church is crucial in supporting the missional team too: pastors to shepherd them, friends to keep them accountable, the church to pray for them and continue in their own discipleship. Sometimes we need people to tell us to take a break. Perseverance isn’t about constantly sprinting.

As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12, “the body is not made up of one part but of many…If they were all one part, where would the body be?” (v14,19).

How is your church responding to common obstacles like these?

I hope you’re encouraged to know that your church isn’t the only one that suffers from them. With all the skills and resources in the world, the main thing is we use faith God has given us and what is before us.

There are small steps you can take today to start sharing your faith. Why not start by praying for an opportunity in your everyday routine to talk about Jesus?

When it comes to building a missional team and culture in your church, we are here to help – in Paul’s words to “equip his people for works of service.” The end goal as Paul says is so that “the body of Christ may be built up.” That’s a goal worth aiming for.

LCM exists to support you in your vision to reach your friends and neighbours with the good news of Jesus. Invite Matt to come and share at your church. Find out more here how we can help.