3 of 3

First Baptist Church's Welch says that many Christians have been misled by "the erroneous claim that evangelism is a special gift." He says it is no more of a gift than tithing. Welch says the drop in visitation evangelism is because training lay people is the church leader's hardest task.

"Every other way to evangelize will be easier than intentional evangelism," Welch says. "You'll always come up with something easier than training, equipping, and motivating lay people."

Beougher says that some churches drop visitation evangelism for more relationship-based models. But because one method is useful, he says, it does not mean others are obsolete. "Don't put all the eggs in one basket," he says. "Not every non-Christian has a Christian friend. Too many people have decided that since visitation evangelism is not relationship-based then it doesn't work."

Welch agrees. "Going house to house, either with prior knowledge of the homeowner or not, is extremely important," he told Christianity Today. "We have to use all the methods we have to reach all the possible people out there."

Allison says that if evangelism is understood as a process of steps, then visitation evangelism can be a means to plant a seed wherever people are on their journey. "However, it will only bring people to Jesus if they are already at the foot of the cross," he says. "It can harvest those who are ready to commit."

Allison says that in advertising, a product must be sold through a relationship if it is one that is very urgent or personal.

"Because a person's relationship with God is so impacting and personal, it must be done in a relationship where trust is built," Allison said. "I am convinced that a lot of people respond to door-to-door visits because they want to get this frightening and intrusive person off their doorstep."

Todd Hertz is assistant online editor for Christianity Today.

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

first page |  3 of 3

share this page

April (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46