The New Evangelism: 5 Surprising Ways to Reach Out This Fall
Door-to-door evangelism isn’t as effective as it used to be—but that doesn’t mean people aren’t spiritually hungry. In this article, discover 5 creative and practical strategies for sharing Jesus with neighbors, co-workers, and friends in a way that meets people where they are today.
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Last week, I had a conversation with a fellow mom (and follower of Christ) at a playground. She told me that she thought door-to-door evangelism wasn’t working anymore in her San Diego neighborhood. We both agreed that people are spiritually hungry, but that evangelism as we’ve known it over the last several decades needs to shift.
Our neighbors may not want to open the door to a stranger, but they are often eager for genuine connection and honest conversations about God. The question is, how do we communicate Christ in a culture that feels disillusioned with the traditional methods of the Church?
In this article, I’ll explore 5 creative strategies for sharing the Good News with your neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family members.
What is Evangelism?
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19–20a NIV)
Sharing the Good News (“euangelion” in the Greek) is part of the calling for every follower of Jesus. But evangelism isn’t usually as simple as asking someone if they know Christ. It typically involves engaging someone in a way that feels important and relevant; sharing some aspect of your own testimony; and then articulating the Gospel in a way that makes sense to them.
The Challenge of Evangelism
Over the last several decades, churches have relied on a combination of strategies to reach people who don’t yet know Jesus. Relational evangelism, church events, and door-to-door or street evangelism are just a few popular approaches to sharing Jesus.
While all of these can (and do) work, many Christians have become frustrated with a lack of response in non-believers. Many churches (especially in America) seem to grow in number simply from people shifting from one church to another – not from the transformation of new believers in Christ. Many non-believing people simply aren’t interested when you invite them to a church service or begin to talk about Jesus. Yet, we know that God is working on hearts and minds wherever we are.
How can we effectively communicate the message of Jesus to those who are spiritually hungry? In the next section, we’ll take a look at 5 creative ways to share the Gospel now.
5 New Strategies for Evangelism
- Sacred Spaces
For many people, the world has never felt more chaotic or more over-saturated with stimuli. Every day, we’re hit with ads, (bad) news, social media posts, and video clips–all meant to grab our attention. People are longing for sanctity.
While it’s been popular for decades to “get outside the four walls of the church,” many people may find it refreshing to get inside the four walls of a church. Creating a place where people can quietly rest in the presence of God, sit, think, and pray is a counter-cultural (and attractive) means of evangelism. This can look like transforming your main sanctuary or simply offering a chapel or prayer room to the public. Radically old-school!
- The Alpha Course
The Alpha Course is a non-judgmental, conversational course designed to introduce people to the basics of the Christian faith. It’s a 10-12 week course that can be hosted at a church or other location, and is specifically tailored to non-believers. Offering the Alpha Course at your church is a great way to educate the spiritually hungry in a low-pressure way. It’s especially ideal for larger cities or places where people may be more comfortable with a class than with a church service.
- Sports or Youth Programs
Parents are always looking for places for their kids to grow, learn, play, and get out excess energy, but extracurricular programs can be expensive. Why not create a free sports or youth program where children can grow in a sport or skill and learn about Jesus at the same time? Treating kids (and their parents) with love, respect, and generosity can be a great witness to the faith, and builds trust in your local community.
- Sunday Suppers
People are lonelier than ever. Even young people are spending less time with friends and family, experiencing increasing rates of anxiety and depression, and looking for connection on their phones instead of their communities. What if the Body of Christ stepped up to meet this challenge by creating ways for all people to meet, fellowship, and connect?
A “Sunday Supper” can be a wonderful way to meet this challenge by offering a chance for people to connect with others. It doesn’t have to be complicated; whether it’s hosting a potluck meal at your church building or encouraging your church members to host dinners at their homes, creating a Sunday Supper can be a fun and strategic way to reach non-believers in your community.
- Bible Studies (Yes, Really)
Bible studies can actually feel refreshingly counter-cultural for Christians that have tried to re-package Scripture study for fear of “scaring off” non-believers. Bible sales have skyrocketed (up 22% in 2024), and it’s likely that a portion of these consumers were not regular churchgoers. Figures like Jordan Peterson have helped create a renewed interest in Scripture – especially in young men – and spiritually open people want to understand what’s actually contained in the best-selling book of all time. Try upping your Bible study program (and market it) and watch what happens.
Over to You
The strategies above require not just vision and passion, but administration and organization. Let Tithely help you square away the nitty gritty details of volunteer management, communication, and registration, so that you can focus on the important part: teaching people about Jesus.
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Last week, I had a conversation with a fellow mom (and follower of Christ) at a playground. She told me that she thought door-to-door evangelism wasn’t working anymore in her San Diego neighborhood. We both agreed that people are spiritually hungry, but that evangelism as we’ve known it over the last several decades needs to shift.
Our neighbors may not want to open the door to a stranger, but they are often eager for genuine connection and honest conversations about God. The question is, how do we communicate Christ in a culture that feels disillusioned with the traditional methods of the Church?
In this article, I’ll explore 5 creative strategies for sharing the Good News with your neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family members.
What is Evangelism?
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19–20a NIV)
Sharing the Good News (“euangelion” in the Greek) is part of the calling for every follower of Jesus. But evangelism isn’t usually as simple as asking someone if they know Christ. It typically involves engaging someone in a way that feels important and relevant; sharing some aspect of your own testimony; and then articulating the Gospel in a way that makes sense to them.
The Challenge of Evangelism
Over the last several decades, churches have relied on a combination of strategies to reach people who don’t yet know Jesus. Relational evangelism, church events, and door-to-door or street evangelism are just a few popular approaches to sharing Jesus.
While all of these can (and do) work, many Christians have become frustrated with a lack of response in non-believers. Many churches (especially in America) seem to grow in number simply from people shifting from one church to another – not from the transformation of new believers in Christ. Many non-believing people simply aren’t interested when you invite them to a church service or begin to talk about Jesus. Yet, we know that God is working on hearts and minds wherever we are.
How can we effectively communicate the message of Jesus to those who are spiritually hungry? In the next section, we’ll take a look at 5 creative ways to share the Gospel now.
5 New Strategies for Evangelism
- Sacred Spaces
For many people, the world has never felt more chaotic or more over-saturated with stimuli. Every day, we’re hit with ads, (bad) news, social media posts, and video clips–all meant to grab our attention. People are longing for sanctity.
While it’s been popular for decades to “get outside the four walls of the church,” many people may find it refreshing to get inside the four walls of a church. Creating a place where people can quietly rest in the presence of God, sit, think, and pray is a counter-cultural (and attractive) means of evangelism. This can look like transforming your main sanctuary or simply offering a chapel or prayer room to the public. Radically old-school!
- The Alpha Course
The Alpha Course is a non-judgmental, conversational course designed to introduce people to the basics of the Christian faith. It’s a 10-12 week course that can be hosted at a church or other location, and is specifically tailored to non-believers. Offering the Alpha Course at your church is a great way to educate the spiritually hungry in a low-pressure way. It’s especially ideal for larger cities or places where people may be more comfortable with a class than with a church service.
- Sports or Youth Programs
Parents are always looking for places for their kids to grow, learn, play, and get out excess energy, but extracurricular programs can be expensive. Why not create a free sports or youth program where children can grow in a sport or skill and learn about Jesus at the same time? Treating kids (and their parents) with love, respect, and generosity can be a great witness to the faith, and builds trust in your local community.
- Sunday Suppers
People are lonelier than ever. Even young people are spending less time with friends and family, experiencing increasing rates of anxiety and depression, and looking for connection on their phones instead of their communities. What if the Body of Christ stepped up to meet this challenge by creating ways for all people to meet, fellowship, and connect?
A “Sunday Supper” can be a wonderful way to meet this challenge by offering a chance for people to connect with others. It doesn’t have to be complicated; whether it’s hosting a potluck meal at your church building or encouraging your church members to host dinners at their homes, creating a Sunday Supper can be a fun and strategic way to reach non-believers in your community.
- Bible Studies (Yes, Really)
Bible studies can actually feel refreshingly counter-cultural for Christians that have tried to re-package Scripture study for fear of “scaring off” non-believers. Bible sales have skyrocketed (up 22% in 2024), and it’s likely that a portion of these consumers were not regular churchgoers. Figures like Jordan Peterson have helped create a renewed interest in Scripture – especially in young men – and spiritually open people want to understand what’s actually contained in the best-selling book of all time. Try upping your Bible study program (and market it) and watch what happens.
Over to You
The strategies above require not just vision and passion, but administration and organization. Let Tithely help you square away the nitty gritty details of volunteer management, communication, and registration, so that you can focus on the important part: teaching people about Jesus.
podcast transcript
Last week, I had a conversation with a fellow mom (and follower of Christ) at a playground. She told me that she thought door-to-door evangelism wasn’t working anymore in her San Diego neighborhood. We both agreed that people are spiritually hungry, but that evangelism as we’ve known it over the last several decades needs to shift.
Our neighbors may not want to open the door to a stranger, but they are often eager for genuine connection and honest conversations about God. The question is, how do we communicate Christ in a culture that feels disillusioned with the traditional methods of the Church?
In this article, I’ll explore 5 creative strategies for sharing the Good News with your neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family members.
What is Evangelism?
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19–20a NIV)
Sharing the Good News (“euangelion” in the Greek) is part of the calling for every follower of Jesus. But evangelism isn’t usually as simple as asking someone if they know Christ. It typically involves engaging someone in a way that feels important and relevant; sharing some aspect of your own testimony; and then articulating the Gospel in a way that makes sense to them.
The Challenge of Evangelism
Over the last several decades, churches have relied on a combination of strategies to reach people who don’t yet know Jesus. Relational evangelism, church events, and door-to-door or street evangelism are just a few popular approaches to sharing Jesus.
While all of these can (and do) work, many Christians have become frustrated with a lack of response in non-believers. Many churches (especially in America) seem to grow in number simply from people shifting from one church to another – not from the transformation of new believers in Christ. Many non-believing people simply aren’t interested when you invite them to a church service or begin to talk about Jesus. Yet, we know that God is working on hearts and minds wherever we are.
How can we effectively communicate the message of Jesus to those who are spiritually hungry? In the next section, we’ll take a look at 5 creative ways to share the Gospel now.
5 New Strategies for Evangelism
- Sacred Spaces
For many people, the world has never felt more chaotic or more over-saturated with stimuli. Every day, we’re hit with ads, (bad) news, social media posts, and video clips–all meant to grab our attention. People are longing for sanctity.
While it’s been popular for decades to “get outside the four walls of the church,” many people may find it refreshing to get inside the four walls of a church. Creating a place where people can quietly rest in the presence of God, sit, think, and pray is a counter-cultural (and attractive) means of evangelism. This can look like transforming your main sanctuary or simply offering a chapel or prayer room to the public. Radically old-school!
- The Alpha Course
The Alpha Course is a non-judgmental, conversational course designed to introduce people to the basics of the Christian faith. It’s a 10-12 week course that can be hosted at a church or other location, and is specifically tailored to non-believers. Offering the Alpha Course at your church is a great way to educate the spiritually hungry in a low-pressure way. It’s especially ideal for larger cities or places where people may be more comfortable with a class than with a church service.
- Sports or Youth Programs
Parents are always looking for places for their kids to grow, learn, play, and get out excess energy, but extracurricular programs can be expensive. Why not create a free sports or youth program where children can grow in a sport or skill and learn about Jesus at the same time? Treating kids (and their parents) with love, respect, and generosity can be a great witness to the faith, and builds trust in your local community.
- Sunday Suppers
People are lonelier than ever. Even young people are spending less time with friends and family, experiencing increasing rates of anxiety and depression, and looking for connection on their phones instead of their communities. What if the Body of Christ stepped up to meet this challenge by creating ways for all people to meet, fellowship, and connect?
A “Sunday Supper” can be a wonderful way to meet this challenge by offering a chance for people to connect with others. It doesn’t have to be complicated; whether it’s hosting a potluck meal at your church building or encouraging your church members to host dinners at their homes, creating a Sunday Supper can be a fun and strategic way to reach non-believers in your community.
- Bible Studies (Yes, Really)
Bible studies can actually feel refreshingly counter-cultural for Christians that have tried to re-package Scripture study for fear of “scaring off” non-believers. Bible sales have skyrocketed (up 22% in 2024), and it’s likely that a portion of these consumers were not regular churchgoers. Figures like Jordan Peterson have helped create a renewed interest in Scripture – especially in young men – and spiritually open people want to understand what’s actually contained in the best-selling book of all time. Try upping your Bible study program (and market it) and watch what happens.
Over to You
The strategies above require not just vision and passion, but administration and organization. Let Tithely help you square away the nitty gritty details of volunteer management, communication, and registration, so that you can focus on the important part: teaching people about Jesus.
VIDEO transcript
Last week, I had a conversation with a fellow mom (and follower of Christ) at a playground. She told me that she thought door-to-door evangelism wasn’t working anymore in her San Diego neighborhood. We both agreed that people are spiritually hungry, but that evangelism as we’ve known it over the last several decades needs to shift.
Our neighbors may not want to open the door to a stranger, but they are often eager for genuine connection and honest conversations about God. The question is, how do we communicate Christ in a culture that feels disillusioned with the traditional methods of the Church?
In this article, I’ll explore 5 creative strategies for sharing the Good News with your neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family members.
What is Evangelism?
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19–20a NIV)
Sharing the Good News (“euangelion” in the Greek) is part of the calling for every follower of Jesus. But evangelism isn’t usually as simple as asking someone if they know Christ. It typically involves engaging someone in a way that feels important and relevant; sharing some aspect of your own testimony; and then articulating the Gospel in a way that makes sense to them.
The Challenge of Evangelism
Over the last several decades, churches have relied on a combination of strategies to reach people who don’t yet know Jesus. Relational evangelism, church events, and door-to-door or street evangelism are just a few popular approaches to sharing Jesus.
While all of these can (and do) work, many Christians have become frustrated with a lack of response in non-believers. Many churches (especially in America) seem to grow in number simply from people shifting from one church to another – not from the transformation of new believers in Christ. Many non-believing people simply aren’t interested when you invite them to a church service or begin to talk about Jesus. Yet, we know that God is working on hearts and minds wherever we are.
How can we effectively communicate the message of Jesus to those who are spiritually hungry? In the next section, we’ll take a look at 5 creative ways to share the Gospel now.
5 New Strategies for Evangelism
- Sacred Spaces
For many people, the world has never felt more chaotic or more over-saturated with stimuli. Every day, we’re hit with ads, (bad) news, social media posts, and video clips–all meant to grab our attention. People are longing for sanctity.
While it’s been popular for decades to “get outside the four walls of the church,” many people may find it refreshing to get inside the four walls of a church. Creating a place where people can quietly rest in the presence of God, sit, think, and pray is a counter-cultural (and attractive) means of evangelism. This can look like transforming your main sanctuary or simply offering a chapel or prayer room to the public. Radically old-school!
- The Alpha Course
The Alpha Course is a non-judgmental, conversational course designed to introduce people to the basics of the Christian faith. It’s a 10-12 week course that can be hosted at a church or other location, and is specifically tailored to non-believers. Offering the Alpha Course at your church is a great way to educate the spiritually hungry in a low-pressure way. It’s especially ideal for larger cities or places where people may be more comfortable with a class than with a church service.
- Sports or Youth Programs
Parents are always looking for places for their kids to grow, learn, play, and get out excess energy, but extracurricular programs can be expensive. Why not create a free sports or youth program where children can grow in a sport or skill and learn about Jesus at the same time? Treating kids (and their parents) with love, respect, and generosity can be a great witness to the faith, and builds trust in your local community.
- Sunday Suppers
People are lonelier than ever. Even young people are spending less time with friends and family, experiencing increasing rates of anxiety and depression, and looking for connection on their phones instead of their communities. What if the Body of Christ stepped up to meet this challenge by creating ways for all people to meet, fellowship, and connect?
A “Sunday Supper” can be a wonderful way to meet this challenge by offering a chance for people to connect with others. It doesn’t have to be complicated; whether it’s hosting a potluck meal at your church building or encouraging your church members to host dinners at their homes, creating a Sunday Supper can be a fun and strategic way to reach non-believers in your community.
- Bible Studies (Yes, Really)
Bible studies can actually feel refreshingly counter-cultural for Christians that have tried to re-package Scripture study for fear of “scaring off” non-believers. Bible sales have skyrocketed (up 22% in 2024), and it’s likely that a portion of these consumers were not regular churchgoers. Figures like Jordan Peterson have helped create a renewed interest in Scripture – especially in young men – and spiritually open people want to understand what’s actually contained in the best-selling book of all time. Try upping your Bible study program (and market it) and watch what happens.
Over to You
The strategies above require not just vision and passion, but administration and organization. Let Tithely help you square away the nitty gritty details of volunteer management, communication, and registration, so that you can focus on the important part: teaching people about Jesus.
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