Dr. Thom Rainer, President and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources

Evangelism is one of the key systems of healthy churches. With a goal toward revitalization, in today’s guest post Dr. Thom Rainer encourages you to “look in the mirror” when it comes to measuring the evangelistic temperature of your church. (You have an opportunity to meet Dr. Rainer in a couple of months – for details see the P.S.)

There is no shortage of pundits who are providing to us the gloomy and dismal state of American congregations, and, indeed, of many churches around the world. For sure, I am among the guilty. While personal evangelism is ultimately a heart issue between Christians and God, we do see ways this disobedience to the Great Commission is manifesting itself.

Despite all the negative information you have heard from me, I remain an obnoxious optimist about local congregations. One of the reasons I am so optimistic is that many of us are no longer ignoring the problems. One of the early steps to church revitalization is a willingness to “look in the mirror.”

With that in mind, in this article I try to help church leaders look in the mirror if their churches are not evangelistic. And here are seven factors that leaders may see when they get that honest perspective.

1. There is no priority of evangelism. I know. That sounds too self-evident. But churches that do not make evangelism a high priority are really making it no priority at all.
2. Many laypersons believe that evangelism is what we pay the pastors and staff to do. Such a perspective is first unbiblical and, second, unproductive. Evangelistic churches always have enthusiastically evangelistic laypersons.
3. Many churches have an excuse mentality. So pastors blame it on the laity. The laity blame it on the pastor. And both blame it on culture, the denomination, or some other external scapegoat.

To read all 7 factors in this guest post, click here.

Your partner in ministry,

Nelson

P.S. – Dr. Thom Rainer is one of our unique faculty who will be joining me for our first-ever Renegade Pastors University, Sept. 23-25 in Nashville. Come back to seminary – for just a few days! You’ll hear from the foremost experts in church growth, church leadership, and church health, all in one place! Other guest speakers include Dr. Bob Whitesel, Dr. Gary McIntosh and Stephen Mansfield.

Super early bird registration ends July 30 – click here to secure your spot today!

© Nelson Searcy. All Rights Reserved.

About Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy is an experienced church growth strategist, pastor, church planter and coach, consulting with churches around the world. As founder of Church Leader Insights and the Renegade Pastors Network, he has personally trained more than 3,500 church leaders in over 45 denominations through live events, seminars and monthly coaching. Nelson is also the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.” He is the author of over 100 church growth resources and 18+ books, including The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life, Ministry and The Difference Maker: Using Your Everyday Life for Eternal Impact, and At the Cross with the People Who Were There. He and his wife, Kelley, have one son, Alexander.