Christian History Home > Issue 57 > Ordinary Saints at First Church
Ordinary Saints at First Church
It wasn't revivals or eloquent preachers that most influenced pagan society but everyday Christians doing everyday evangelism.
E. Glenn Hinson | posted 1/01/1998 12:00AM
Pagans and Jews converting by the thousands after hearing the preaching of the apostles. Apologists, using logical and passionate argument, convincing elite Romans to believe in Christianity. These are the images once elicited in histories of evangelism in the early church.
But typical converts in the early days of Christianity probably did not hear about the faith from an apologist or at a public rally. More likely, their introduction came through "everyday evangelism"—through the ongoing life in the local church, the witness of individual Christians, and specialized "parachurch" ministries.
Mission-sensitive churches
Organized communities of faith deserve chief credit for evangelizing the Roman Empire, both before and after Constantine. Imitating a model crafted by Paul, early Christians planted churches, nurtured them, and made them centers for attracting and enlisting converts.
Churches were founded in almost every way possible. Sometimes a bishop, presbyters, or deacons were sent to evangelize ...
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