Mark Emerson
A renewal of evangelistic zeal is dependent first on the Holy Spirit. When he finds a people who are open to his work and eager to share their faith, the Spirit opens doors for gospel conversations and readies the waters for baptism.
IBSA’s Mark Emerson said there are vital ways for churches to encourage an environment where the desire for evangelism grows. He points to eight key actions that produce baptisms in a Baptist church.
1. Pray for lost people by name. This is an integral part of the “Who’s your One?” strategy. Consistently bringing lost people before the Lord is biblical. And using a device such as Ping-Pong balls or Post-It notes on a wall or cross as reminders to pray is no gimmick. It’s a nudge the Spirit can use.
2. Offer intentional witnessing training. Statistics connect increased baptisms to preparation of believers to share their faith. A NAMB study showed that 87% of top baptizing churches had evangelism training.
3. Emphasis Sundays still work well. Hosting a special Sunday like “Friend Day” helps a church connect to lost/unchurched people.
4. Hold a revival or spiritual awakening weekend. IBSA’s Church Renewal Journey is an excellent alternative to a traditional revival.
5. Schedule VBS. One-fourth of all baptisms in Southern Baptist churches are directly connected to Vacation Bible School.
Yes, it’s a lot of work for a once-a-year event, and some will argue such effort should be put into Sunday school or some other year-round discipleship. But having the congregation focus on sharing Christ, especially with children, opens eyes to the need and to other evangelism opportunities all year long.
6. Send your group to camp. IBSA sees about 10% (and sometimes as much as 20%) of kids who attend summer camp receive Christ.
7. Start a new adult Sunday school class or small group. On average, a new adult Bible study group nets three baptisms in the first year.
8. Lead your church on a mission trip. Sharing the Lord in another context spurs a church to share Christ in their own backyard revival.