Practicing Evangelism
Oct 06, 2025
By: Pastor Nicole Schwalbe
I was raised to keep my opinions to myself. Especially when it comes to religion and politics. So, the word “evangelism” has always been rather loaded for me. Imagine my surprise when I learned (not until seminary – maybe we should let people know what this word means even if they don’t go to seminary?) that all this word means is to “announce good news.” It is to share the joy, beauty and love in the world that we are experiencing. What God has done through scripture and history and what God has done and is doing for us now. It is not about converting people, it is not about indoctrinating, it is not about pointing out sins or handing out judgments. It is about sharing the good news, which is meant for all people.
Knowing this has helped me think about what I lead with as a Christian. Am I leading with kindness, compassion and joy or with rigidity and judgment? I propose we think more seriously about whether we are leading with joy. In my ministry I have experienced a hunger for joy in so many people. Not a joy that denies the harsh realities many are living with but one that acknowledges those hard things and then answers back with a hope and belief in the resurrecting power of Christ. This is the great power we have to share with the world.
Of course, we cannot share the good news of God if we are not taking the time to see it and experience it for ourselves. So, are we? We are called to open our own hearts and minds to the beauty and love that surround us, to look for God moving in the world first so that we can share something real with people who are hungering for good news. Part of our evangelism then becomes a simple call to notice. To stop for beauty and open our eyes to compassion. To listen to people’s stories with a heart that seeks God in the details. When we do that, marinate in the movements of God, we will not be able to stop evangelizing because it will simply flow from us. This is the Christian evangelism I invite you to practice.