Monthly column for youth leaders

Know anyone with a camping stove stashed away somewhere?

It could be a valuable evangelistic tool this month. Oh no! Just when you thought it was safe to read a youth column, someone's mentioned the 'e' word.

Evangelism is a risky business. Your image, reputation, and popularity are at stake. And those things are important to many young people. How can we help and encourage the young people in our group to share the gospel with the people they come into contact with? Is it Mission Impossible? Here are some ideas:

Ever onwards

It's long term stuff. It requires persistence while still making progress in relationships. We need to equip young people to explain the gospel, relevantly, sensitively and without compromise.

So plan into your yearly programme different sessions that will do this.

When will you explain the gospel, help them to explain it, work out answers to questions that people ask about Jesus; discuss how to use the media as a way of getting Jesus into everyday conversations; pray for their friends and family who don't know Jesus?

Explanation

Don't be afraid of explaining the gospel frequently throughout the year. There are all sorts of ways of doing it. And it's a must. Nobody is going to tell others unless they understand and believe what Jesus has done for them. It is also hugely motivating. It's the best news ever and people urgently need to hear it.

Giving your young people a chance to work out how to explain the good news for themselves is a must, too. They will gain a deeper understanding, and remember it. You could teach them an outline like Two Ways To Live (available from The Good Book Company as a booklet or disk). Or you could rewrite particular verses, like 2 Corinthians 5:21 and play games to explain jargon words. If you do use an outline you must spend time working out how it can be used. Think through how it can be used to answer questions like, 'Why can I trust the Bible?', 'What about other religions?', 'What about suffering?'.

Example

We, as leaders, need to be telling others about Jesus, too. It keeps us going and growing as Christians. Also, we need to practice what we preach. And be seen to do so. How are you getting on with your non-believing friends? How would you respond to the following quotes:

'We want to get Brooklyn christened, but we don't know which religion to go for.' footballer, David Beckham.

'What sort of egotistical God is it who would create a species whose members are granted life eternal only if they spend their lives praising him?' Times columnist and cancer sufferer, John Diamond.

Events

Plan them in regularly. Have some purely social events and others where the gospel will be clearly explained. Get your young people involved in planning socials and more formal evangelistic events. There is no point running something they won't bring their friends to.

February 27 is Pancake Day. You could set out those camping stoves in someone's garage and get everyone to bring along a different topping, have competitions for making the most interesting or best tasting pancake, use food colouring and vote on the most appetising colour. If you wanted, you could talk about Jesus's last supper while you eat your pancake supper since it's all connected with remembering his death and resurrection.

Encouragement

Young people need loads of it, whether they are bringing friends or just beginning to think about it. Give them realistic expectations. And go for it.

Jo Horn

© Evangelicals Now - February 2001
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