Evangelist Resources To Strengthen Your Ministry.

Some of the books below will help your theology about evangelism, while others will help lead you step-by-step as you begin an evangelistic ministry. Whether you are called to full time evangelistic ministry, or feel compelled to share your faith in your local community, you’ll find some wonderful coaches and mentors in the books below. I pray that the Holy Spirit would guide you as you step out with the greatest message ever told.

For Him,
Marshall M. Windsor, DMin.

Allison, Lon, and Mark Anderson. Going Public with the Gospel: Reviving Evangelistic Proclamation. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003.

Coleman, Robert E. The Master Plan of Evangelism. Grand Rapids, MI: Revell, 2002.

Davis, James O. The Pastor’s Best Friend: The New Testament Evangelist. Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 1997.

Graham, Billy. A Biblical Standard for Evangelists. Minneapolis: World Wide Publications, 1984.

Graham, Billy Evangelistic Association. The Mission of An Evangelist: Amsterdam 2000. Minneapolis, MN: World Wide Publications, 2001.

Metzger, Will. Tell the Truth: The Whole Gospel to the Whole Person by Whole People. 3rd ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2002.

Mittelberg, Mark. Choosing Your Faith in a World of Spiritual Options. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale, 2008.

Palau, Luis, and Timothy Robnett. Telling the Story: Evangelism for the Next Generation. Ventura, CA: Regal, 2006.

Pippert, Rebecca Manley. Out of the Saltshaker and Into the World. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1979.

Streett, L. Alan. The Effective Invitation. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1984.

Sjogren, Steve. Conspiracy of Kindness: A Unique Approach to Sharing the Love of Jesus. 3rd ed. Ventura, CA: Regal, 2007.

Windsor, Marshall M. Becoming A Spirit-Empowered Evangelist. Rolla, MO: Chalfant-Eckert Publishing, 2016.

Outreach – Celebrate The Little Things!

I recently had the privilege of helping a church with some outreach events. The schedule included a time of encouraging those participating in the outreach (about a dozen) on Friday evening, a breakfast and teaching session Saturday morning, followed by our outreach event. This was the first time that this church had conducted an outreach like this so everyone was wondering how it would turn out (would anyone actually come to the event?!).

First of all, I was so encouraged by the number of folks coming together to help with the outreach! Having a dozen-plus folks show up for outreach in a smaller community is huge. The event was held in the church parking lot and included free hot dogs (cooked onsite) with all the fixings, chips and drinks; as well as some prize drawing giveaways—all while the church’s worship team played and testimonies were shared. The outreach schedule started at 11 a.m. and began wrapping up at 2:30 p.m.

Initially, the pastor wasn’t too excited about this first time event. But, I brought several things to his attention. First, the community was more aware than ever that a church existed in their community that cared enough to offer some hospitality to their neighbors. Second, approximately seventy (70) visitors wandered through the festivities, which was great for a first-time event like this! Third, consistent events pay off. Don’t make pass or fail judgments on the turnout of one event. Word will spread and the community just may begin looking forward to a church’s annual event if it’s done with excellence in the right spirit of ministry.

The pastor agreed that this would be something worth continuing and that the event was as good for the church family as it was for the community. As a matter of fact, at one point the pastor stated, “If this outreach was for nobody else, it was for us.” That’s one of the paradigms of working with God and obeying the Great Commission: when we are obedient to take the gospel to our communities, God actually does a work in us and in our church family as well. How ironic, that we truly receive something new and refreshing from the Lord when we work to give away that which we already have—the hope of Christ. So celebrate the little things and watch them grow!

What’s In A Word?

I recently had the privilege of joining a friend for lunch. We were joking while eating and catching up on all that had transpired since our last lunch together several weeks prior. We happened to talk a bit about a book that I had the privilege of writing a chapter in and I laughingly told him that he really needed to buy a copy! We both laughed and he said that he had thought about buying one, but he hesitated after hearing me describe the book to him entitled, Your Call To Work & Mission.

When I was talking to him about the book at church, he informed me that I said it was written especially for “lay persons” and he did not know what that meant. His statement shocked me, but I managed to share with him my sincere appreciation that he told me. I never even thought about someone not knowing what a layperson looked like! I told my friend that a layperson in the church was someone who normally sat in the seat each Sunday and enjoyed the message preached by the pastor. Laypeople are often those people who volunteer in a church congregation but are not trained clergy nor do they “hold credentials” or legal papers validating them as a minister to a denomination or other religious organization.

You might wonder, “Well, what’s so important about that?” In talking about the gift of tongues in 1 Corinthians 14 the apostle Paul makes a relevant point in verse 19 for us here: (KJV) “Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.” Paul highlights the importance of ensuring every person understands what is taught or spoken.

I shared this small instance of misunderstanding, because we must realize that not only are the people outside the church confused by “Christian-eze,” but also people sitting next to us in church. Don’t take it for granted that everyone enjoys the same language level that you do. As we share the Gospel, we should ask God to help us see whether body language or other mannerisms may reveal some confusion by those we seek to help. If people outside—and inside—the church don’t understand the words we use in sharing the gospel, it’s almost as though we did not share it at all.

Be Blessed!
Dr. Marshall M. Windsor