14 Apr 2025, 10:59Careen LawrenceHarrow, Greater London, England, United Kingdom
Creating a Culture of Evangelism in the Local Church
“Go SEC! Inspired for Mission!” – the vision statement for the SEC – is one we have all heard. But how can we carry out this vision?
Lay members and Personal Ministries council members from across the SEC attended a 3-day evangelism training from 11th to 13th April at the Jewish Free School. There were an additional two days of training for pastors within the SEC on 14th and 15th April at Stanborough School, Watford. The training was facilitated by Dr David M. Klinedinst, Director of Evangelism and Church Growth from the Chesapeake Conference in Columbia, Maryland, USA.
What Is Evangelism, and Who Can Be Evangelists?
Evangelism is sharing the gospel – the good news of Jesus Christ. From the training, it was clear to see that we can all be evangelists. It is not only important to understand that there are many opportunities through which we can evangelise, but we also need to know how to do this effectively.
The Training
Across the five days of training, Dr David shared how to create a culture of evangelism in the local church. Topics included: principles of personal evangelism, everyday evangelism, visiting individuals, how to find friends and give Bible studies, getting decisions, making appeals, recognising conviction, and principles of evangelistic preaching.
Through each seminar, Dr David reminded attendees of the importance of connecting with people on a personal level to form friendships as part of evangelism.
Casting the Vision
The overall takeaway around vision casting, shared with both lay members and pastors, was this: “If you don’t cast the vision in your church, someone will do it for you.”
This is important. If we are not casting the vision within our churches, it leaves room for someone with the wrong intention to step in and cast their own.
Dr David shared methods to set the vision in local churches. The method may be repetitive, but it supports congregants to remember what the vision is. Four key ways to set the vision are: through sermon series; preaching on the topic once a month; mentioning it in committee and board meetings; and personal conversations with leaders.
To kick-start this, uncomfortable conversations may be necessary – and this goes hand in hand with changing the church’s culture around evangelism. We were encouraged to pray for a culture change, as God will do what we cannot.
Principles of Personal Evangelism
To understand the principles of personal evangelism, we were reminded of Christ’s method. Through His example, we know the blueprint we ought to follow when engaging our communities.
Dr David shared three key principles:
Agree whenever possible – start with what we have in common
Do not condemn – build others up and acknowledge their strengths
Accept people where they are – love them despite habits or differences
The key: “Listening is more important than talking in evangelism.”
We were also reminded that although we are in the world, we are not of the world. While spending time with our new friends from the community, we must not partake in sin.
If we stand at a distance and talk at people, we don’t build relationships. Where trust is missing, people won’t talk to us about spiritual matters. But through connection, we plant seeds for the cycle of evangelism.
Developing a Cycle of Evangelism
Dr David emphasised the need for a 12-month evangelism plan. This should include bridge events that are not Bible-study focused—such as health seminars, cross-stitching socials, or painting events—to build relationships.
Lay members and pastors were encouraged to work on a cycle that includes sowing, nurturing, and reaping. Dr David also stressed the importance of follow-up once the cycle ends.
Visitation in Evangelism
Evangelism also includes reaching out to members who have stopped attending church. We were given examples of how to carry out meaningful visitations:
Actively listen
Avoid blame
Apologise on behalf of the church
An up-to-date members list is essential. Dr David suggested creating a reclamation ministry and establishing a visitation team working in pairs, especially in churches where pastors have multiple congregations.
What This Means for the SEC
When I spoke with Dr David, I asked what he hoped attendees would take back to their churches. He shared two things:
That everyone leaves with one name God placed on their heart to connect with and build a relationship with this year
That they feel practically equipped to reach someone using ministry skills—not just inspired, but equipped
Pastor Kwadwo, SEC Personal Ministries Director, hopes every individual will become a 24-hour evangelist. Pastor Moore, Secretary of the Ministerial Association, wants every church to become a centre of evangelism.
Speaking with Dr Kirk Thomas, SEC President, he shared that he wants each person to solidify their own personal experience with Jesus so they can share it with their church and, in turn, with their community. He also called for a movement of prayer across the SEC, so the Holy Spirit can fall on us all and stir our souls.
Dr Augustus Lawrence, BUC Evangelism Director, shared that he hopes attendees are now fired up and ready to go—“fired up, convinced, convicted, and confident enough to go and do mission.”
Sis Anastasia Ross, Women’s Ministries and Possibilities Ministries Director, emphasised the importance of building genuine relationships. Pastor Laszlo, Church Growth and Adventist Mission Director, said he found the training a combination of good principles, and expressed his hope that pastors would provide spiritual nourishment to spark a hunger in members to reach out.
What Lay Members Are Saying
I also spoke with several lay leaders, including:
Bro Ayo Olaniran, PM Lead from Peterborough Central, who wants to implement an interest register alongside evangelism cycle support
Sis Cuffie, from Holloway, who emphasised the importance of making visitors feel welcome, saying the local church needs “a face” that meets people with warmth
First Elder Daniel Boachie, from Bracknell and Wokingham Ghana SDA, who plans to help train his church’s deacons and deaconesses in applying what they learnt
Final Thoughts
It is important to note that prayer is the key to everything we do as a church.
To cast the vision.
To build evangelism-centred churches.
To reach the lost.
We must intentionally seek God and ask that He takes the lead in every step.
“Go SEC! Inspired for Mission!” – the vision statement for the SEC – is one we have all heard. But how can we carry out this vision?
Lay members and Personal Ministries council members from across the SEC attended a 3-day evangelism training from 11th to 13th April at the Jewish Free School. There were an additional two days of training for pastors within the SEC on 14th and 15th April at Stanborough School, Watford. The training was facilitated by Dr David M. Klinedinst, Director of Evangelism and Church Growth from the Chesapeake Conference in Columbia, Maryland, USA.
What Is Evangelism, and Who Can Be Evangelists?
Evangelism is sharing the gospel – the good news of Jesus Christ. From the training, it was clear to see that we can all be evangelists. It is not only important to understand that there are many opportunities through which we can evangelise, but we also need to know how to do this effectively.
The Training
Across the five days of training, Dr David shared how to create a culture of evangelism in the local church. Topics included: principles of personal evangelism, everyday evangelism, visiting individuals, how to find friends and give Bible studies, getting decisions, making appeals, recognising conviction, and principles of evangelistic preaching.
Through each seminar, Dr David reminded attendees of the importance of connecting with people on a personal level to form friendships as part of evangelism.
Casting the Vision
The overall takeaway around vision casting, shared with both lay members and pastors, was this: “If you don’t cast the vision in your church, someone will do it for you.”
This is important. If we are not casting the vision within our churches, it leaves room for someone with the wrong intention to step in and cast their own.
Dr David shared methods to set the vision in local churches. The method may be repetitive, but it supports congregants to remember what the vision is. Four key ways to set the vision are: through sermon series; preaching on the topic once a month; mentioning it in committee and board meetings; and personal conversations with leaders.
To kick-start this, uncomfortable conversations may be necessary – and this goes hand in hand with changing the church’s culture around evangelism. We were encouraged to pray for a culture change, as God will do what we cannot.
Principles of Personal Evangelism
To understand the principles of personal evangelism, we were reminded of Christ’s method. Through His example, we know the blueprint we ought to follow when engaging our communities.
Dr David shared three key principles:
Agree whenever possible – start with what we have in common
Do not condemn – build others up and acknowledge their strengths
Accept people where they are – love them despite habits or differences
The key: “Listening is more important than talking in evangelism.”
We were also reminded that although we are in the world, we are not of the world. While spending time with our new friends from the community, we must not partake in sin.
If we stand at a distance and talk at people, we don’t build relationships. Where trust is missing, people won’t talk to us about spiritual matters. But through connection, we plant seeds for the cycle of evangelism.
Developing a Cycle of Evangelism
Dr David emphasised the need for a 12-month evangelism plan. This should include bridge events that are not Bible-study focused—such as health seminars, cross-stitching socials, or painting events—to build relationships.
Lay members and pastors were encouraged to work on a cycle that includes sowing, nurturing, and reaping. Dr David also stressed the importance of follow-up once the cycle ends.
Visitation in Evangelism
Evangelism also includes reaching out to members who have stopped attending church. We were given examples of how to carry out meaningful visitations:
Actively listen
Avoid blame
Apologise on behalf of the church
An up-to-date members list is essential. Dr David suggested creating a reclamation ministry and establishing a visitation team working in pairs, especially in churches where pastors have multiple congregations.
What This Means for the SEC
When I spoke with Dr David, I asked what he hoped attendees would take back to their churches. He shared two things:
That everyone leaves with one name God placed on their heart to connect with and build a relationship with this year
That they feel practically equipped to reach someone using ministry skills—not just inspired, but equipped
Pastor Kwadwo, SEC Personal Ministries Director, hopes every individual will become a 24-hour evangelist. Pastor Moore, Secretary of the Ministerial Association, wants every church to become a centre of evangelism.
Speaking with Dr Kirk Thomas, SEC President, he shared that he wants each person to solidify their own personal experience with Jesus so they can share it with their church and, in turn, with their community. He also called for a movement of prayer across the SEC, so the Holy Spirit can fall on us all and stir our souls.
Dr Augustus Lawrence, BUC Evangelism Director, shared that he hopes attendees are now fired up and ready to go—“fired up, convinced, convicted, and confident enough to go and do mission.”
Sis Anastasia Ross, Women’s Ministries and Possibilities Ministries Director, emphasised the importance of building genuine relationships. Pastor Laszlo, Church Growth and Adventist Mission Director, said he found the training a combination of good principles, and expressed his hope that pastors would provide spiritual nourishment to spark a hunger in members to reach out.
What Lay Members Are Saying
I also spoke with several lay leaders, including:
Bro Ayo Olaniran, PM Lead from Peterborough Central, who wants to implement an interest register alongside evangelism cycle support
Sis Cuffie, from Holloway, who emphasised the importance of making visitors feel welcome, saying the local church needs “a face” that meets people with warmth
First Elder Daniel Boachie, from Bracknell and Wokingham Ghana SDA, who plans to help train his church’s deacons and deaconesses in applying what they learnt
Final Thoughts
It is important to note that prayer is the key to everything we do as a church.
To cast the vision.
To build evangelism-centred churches.
To reach the lost.
We must intentionally seek God and ask that He takes the lead in every step.
