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Christianity Today, July, 2007 |

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Just As We Were

Is mass evangelism dead?

posted 7/05/2007 08:43AM

Every other month, CT will ask editors on our masthead, along with selected evangelical leaders, about current events within our movement and the broader culture—and then publish the best of their ...

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charity

Posted: July 19, 2007 4:20 AM

i believe evangelism is really fine when the preachers tell the truth and use the account of the bible.the problem comes in when many pastors today come up with lies related to the bible,some others proclaim they have supernatural powers to heal,bring upon deliverance etc...... instead of them using their gifts to bless others,they instead boast about it.because much as miracles are wonderful sights to watch,God is everywhere and can perform them anywhere as long as His time is right. besides even the devil himself has the power to perform them. people should go to these crusades with faith that God is going to heal them and bring up on deliverance to them through his son Jesus Christ and using his disciples(pastor / rev. /preacher....) because without faith mountains keep standing.iT'S MY PRAYER AND JOY THAT ALL MAY RECIEVE SALVATION THROUGH CHRIST JESUS, THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA, THE JOY GIVER, COMFORTER,GOOD COUNSELOR WHO LOVED US SO MUCH THAT HE WAS ABLE TO DIE 4 U&ME May God Bless!

Dr.Gary from San Diego

Posted: July 10, 2007 10:55 PM

The passing of an era or the passing of the torch? With the Reverand Billy Graham passing the mantle to his son Franklin, there is no doubt that the words of Jesus Christ penned in John 4:35-36 are as real today as they were when they were first spoken by Jesus over 2000 years ago. I just returned from photographing The Festival of Hope in Kiev where Franklin Graham lead thousands of people to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In spite of the rain and the wind thousands of people working in hundreds of churches brought their friends and acquaintances to hear the good news. Young and old, they all responded to the simple message of the Gospel. There may be many messengers but the message is the same as it was 2000 years ago and the spiritual emptiness in the soul of every man is desperate to be filled. As long as the church still has a passion to reach the lost, God will provide a way and the means and as Jesus said, "Open your eyes, the fields are ripe for the harvest".

CHaplain Mary Murphy, Veteransjustice@aol.com

Posted: July 10, 2007 10:52 AM

Where are the social justice paradigm shifts mentioned above? In our ministry to Veterans Incarcerated with documented combat related PTSD we have not found a single partners - not even Prison Fellowship. John l4:12 has sent us THE KINGDONM IS ALWAYS BUT COMING A LIFE OF WALTER RAUSCHENBUSCH by Christopher H Evans Come help us heal this Hebrews 6:6 spiritual adultery that is robbing us of our "Social Gospel" replacing it with the prosperity gospel - Money CHangers in The Temple The War Widows Lakewood CO

A Hermit

Posted: July 09, 2007 9:56 AM

This article gets 4 stars for gathering a number of opinions and viewpoints. The best evangelism is that mentioned by Francis of Assissi: "Preach the gospel constantly-if necessary, use words." As Christians truly LIVE the gospel and surrender to the Holy Spirit in the gift of the present moment, people will be attracted to it. In a wealthy, mass-media, celebrity culture, mass rallies have their place. No one will remain a Christian because of them.

RationalRodge

Posted: July 07, 2007 5:16 PM

I'm trying to foster a discussion among folks who are concerned that congregations can't seem to connect with large parts of secular society. That's not a new concern, i know. In fact, many may feel that it's a topic that has been discussed to death. But the concern remains unresolved, despite a slew of ideas about style (liturgy, music, architecture) and emphasis (hospitality, service, social issues). I'd like to suggest a different idea: Perhaps the real problem is in the core message. It may seem unlikely that one could come up with a new message that wouldn't do violence to basic beliefs. Yet I have just such an idea for a new message, one that speaks to the unchurched and lightly churched without challenging what already works for the faithful. There's not room for a more extended disucssion here, but there is on my blog, LiberalEvangelism.blogspot.com

Brent from Spain

Posted: July 06, 2007 3:07 AM

It is a matter of contextualization. Mass meetings can be good in the right location with the right spiritual climate. For example, Reinhard Bonnke is preaching to millions in Africa on a yearly basis. However, mass meetings in Europe (especially Spain) have never been very succesful at winning the lost. It seems like the Alpha Course has had relative success in parts of Europe (especially UK). However, at the end of the day what really works is local church based, one to one and family to family witnessing. Remember this: almost 90% of people in church were saved before the age of 25 and almost everyone is there because they were invited by a friend. If we never had another planned evangelistic event and if every christian (church member) would witness to their friends and invite them to church, we would be much more effective at reaching the world. It is especially important that our young people reach out to their firends and that are churches be relevant to them when the come.

Janine

Posted: July 05, 2007 8:56 PM

I totally agree with 'allantig'. There are no stats, examples nor history of follow-ups to rate the success of these events. Most of them are attended by Christians anyway! Just think of the impact we would have if we were to put all our energies and resourses into following the commands of our Lord Jesus and implementing His kingdom here on earth just as it is in heaven! Christians can be so involved with what happens in the after-life that we easily forget the realities of the here and now. Sure, it is important to know that we have the assurance of spending eternity with the Lord but we must not forget the 'here and now'!

ccbiggs

Posted: July 05, 2007 8:01 PM

I think that the kind of mass evangelism, like that of Billy Graham is in jepordy. So much emphasis (ever since the Reagan/Falwell reveloution) has been put on being a Republican, and/or Conservative, first and foremost. There was (is) no room in that narrow- minded view of Christianity. I've heard Billy Graham say that he does not agree with all the positions of the Democratic Party. I agree with him on issue. But like Billy Graham, I am still a Democrat, but more importantly, am a Christian. The way to evangelize the world is to tell about and demonstrate Christ. The real Christ. The one who was "all about" caring of one's brother, as himself. The way to ensure that the masses are evangelized is to care about more issues than just Guns, Gays, & Abortion. Once a person is truly saved and developes a personal relationship with Christ, those, and other Christian issues will take care of themselves.

David Fondren

Posted: July 05, 2007 7:52 PM

As with any tool, you have to have the right one for the job. A hammer will not drive a screw. We need to have many tools available to us in a pluralistic society. Large scale evangelical, small Alpha type groups, debates, apologists like Ravi Z., Bible distribution, and of course one-on-one witnessing etc. All are needed to reach a lost and dying people. The great commission is not a suggestion, nor apply to just a few, but to all Christ-ians. With the popularity of large scale over the top events, I think they will be around for a while.

allantlg

Posted: July 05, 2007 6:10 PM

This article is another example of viewpoint journalism! No statistics, no examples and no history of follow-up to the success of such events. There is no evaluation and substantian of lives changed in relation to the cost, time consumed organizing and developing such events as oppossed to discipling individuals to have a one-on-one successful experience in leading a person to Christ and discipling them into their "full maturity in Christ Jesus". Just opinions. I agree with the comment that the Holy Spririt works in all manner and forms. But we are seeing in today's post Christian society that it is relationships with a person living the life of Christ that has the singular greatest impact. Yet, rather than working at developing the individual in our churches to the point where they have a true walk with God in their community and work wherein they can be an instrument of conversion and discipling we put all of this effort in "hiring" someone to do it for us on a massive level.

Gayle Lecus

Posted: July 05, 2007 4:24 PM

I disagree whole heartly with this article--Could anyone say Greg Laurie? We are having the Harvest Crusade here in Southern California and those in Raleigh N.C., where Greg had his meeting know what I'm talking about. Many of the churches in this area are having decision classes and like previous years, we are expecting many to come forward during August 3-5, 2007. This crusade is going on 18 years and guess what? more than 100, 000 people responded to Greg's call to come to the Lord. Billy Graham laid the groundwork and Greg Laurie, Graham's son Franklin and Luis Palau are picking up the torch. God is using all three men mightly.

kkk	Posted: July 05, 2007 2:45 PM

The need for mass evangelism is evident. All you need to do is to attend a mass evengelism meeting in India, South America and whereecer that mass evangelism is allowed. Go and see for yourself...the blind can see, the lame can walk and the demon-possessed is set free and mostimportanty the thousands that believed and are saved...all in the name of Jesus! ". All the angels in heaven rejoice when one soul is saved". And the harvest fields are riped but the laborers are few. How can they call upon the name of Jesus and be saved? when no one goes to tell them the good news?

Bob K.

Posted: July 05, 2007 1:52 PM

I think we miss an important component of this issue; that is, for any sort of evangelism to take place, the Holy Spirit must be at work. There is a proper time and place for EVERY kind of evangelistic effort. Examine the Book of Acts; one can find examples of just about every sort of method, from one-on-one sharing, to small groups meeting, to open air preaching, and almost everything in between. While its an interesting topic, I think that there is a "time and a season" for every move of the Holy Spirit, and as long as there are yielded hearts who want to share His salvation with the lost, the appropriate choice between the different methods used will ultimately be guided by the hand and forethought of God.

Fr Charles Threewit

Posted: July 05, 2007 11:54 AM

It has long been recognized that very few of those who "answered the call" at mass evangelism rallies appeared in a Christian community. So they hear the gospel, even have some kind of emotional response, but fail to seek support in a community -- has the Kingdom been advanced? I don't think so. I believe that one on one, or small groups, like Alpha or Cursillo are far more effective as evangelism tools.

Bruce Elsheimer

Posted: July 05, 2007 11:43 AM

In Raleigh, NC we just had the Harvest Crusade with Greg Laurie where 2471 people gave their lives to Christ. 230 churches came together to help sponsor the 3-day event and Harvest spent the last several months providing training to those of us here. The Crusade included praise and worship, top-level contemporary Christian music and a clear gospel presentation by Greg Laurie. It is obvious from this that God is still using mass-evangelism in North America today!

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