Yearlong evangelism effort connects dozens to local church

Early in the spring 2017 semester, a group of Southwestern students active in the seminary’s “Everyday Evangelism” program noticed a common problem. Many of the people who made a profession of faith lacked personal discipleship and connection with a local church.

“We learned that evangelism and discipleship are two sides of the same coin,” says Master of Divinity student Daniel Moon. “These cannot be separated, and one should eventually lead to another.”

Moon explains that he and his fellow students were convicted. They believed in the importance of discipleship but knew they could not make that next step happen on their own.

The team needed the help of a local church who was willing to follow up with new believers, so they eventually partnered with Stadium Drive Baptist Church in southwest Fort Worth. Beginning Feb. 3, 2017, they focused their “Everyday Evangelism” efforts in the church’s surrounding neighborhoods. Since then, the team has had more than 200 Gospel conversations and led 21 people to the Lord.

Evangelism encounters have occurred with people from varying backgrounds: people raised in religious families, those who have strayed from their faith, and even outright skeptics. Early on in their partnership with Stadium Drive, the evangelism team met Rosie, a woman whose ex-husband had become a Christian following a life of drug addiction. Rosie doubted that he could change and was skeptical of this new religious life. For Rosie, his actions were too terrible, and she believed that he “was still going to hell.”

When Moon realized that Rosie’s biggest hesitation was her ex-husband, he articulated the Gospel in such a way as to emphasize its life-transforming power. He explained to her, “We don’t know his heart, but when we accept Christ, God will transform our lives visibly.” 

Moon then invited Rosie to respond to the Gospel, explaining that no one is guaranteed another day. Touched by this life-changing message, Rosie’s heart softened, and she decided to surrender her fears and step out in faith. 

On another occasion, Master of Divinity student Jong Lee interacted with a group of teenagers. Lee asked them if they had a relationship with Jesus Christ, to which they responded that they were occasional church attenders but had never understood the Gospel message. Lee explained this message to them, clarifying the significance of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross followed by His glorious resurrection. Before parting ways, the teenagers responded to the Gospel for the first time and prayed to receive Christ.

From the beginning of their evangelism partnership with Stadium Drive, the team’s focus has been to not only reach the lost but also to connect them with a local church for discipleship. During another evangelism outing, Moon and the team were reminded of the significant need for the discipleship of new believers. After knocking on the door of a home and receiving no answer, the group turned around to leave. As they did, a salesman named Jesus approached the group, assuming they were the residents.

But as they explained who they were, the door to the house opened, and Maria stepped outside to see who was at her door. Moon had already started a Gospel conversation with Jesus, but he started over in order to include Maria.

Both Maria and Jesus explained that they had already made the decision to follow Christ, but Moon says it was clear neither of them had been properly discipled. They exchanged contact information, and the Southwestern team encouraged both to share the Gospel with their friends and family.

Later that night, Jesus sent Moon a message, thanking him for their conversation and encouragement. He explained that he knew of his need to be more faithful in sharing the Gospel but lacked the courage to do so. Their earlier conversation was the challenge he needed to be more serious about evangelism and his walk with the Lord.

“Reflecting on this encounter,” Moon says, “I am more and more convinced that personal discipleship is essential in the believer’s life—especially among new believers.”

In more than a year, this group of Southwestern students has had many fruitful conversations, and they have also personally benefited from a year of regular evangelism practice. Southwestern Registrar Mark Leeds, who became the team’s faculty adviser during the fall 2017 semester, says the students have grown in their evangelism practices, honing their conversation and presentation skills.

“The students are growing in so many ways, but especially in clarity of presentation,” Leeds says, noting that many students come to the evangelism teams with techniques they have learned in the classroom but little experience actually communicating with people about the Lord. “By the time we get to the end of the semester, they have had the chance to put those different presentations into practice and discovered ways to share the Gospel more naturally.”

The team’s efforts have resulted in many salvations, but they have also helped connect many of those people to Stadium Drive. One of the church’s members, Brandon Key, has been a key figure in this partnership and says they have seen many new church attendees. But there is still a lot of work to be done, Key explains, so they must remain diligent, working to connect with the neighborhood, particularly those who have made professions of faith.

Key explains that they have been able to recruit a few church members who see the need for evangelism and go out on their own during weekends. Key says, “This has been a blessing for the church, and something that the church can grow by getting more people involved.” He says they will continue their efforts, confident that God can change not just the hearts of a community, but the hearts of a church so that they will be more passionate about the lost just blocks from their church walls.

To learn more about this and other evangelism opportunities, visit swbts.edu/everydayevangelism.