Evangelism

Evangelism is not evangelism if it is not bringing people to Christ. There are some surprising, if subtle, anti-evangelism techniques, however.

• preaching to the choir. If a youth is already a believer, they don't need evangelism they need discipleship. Don't call it evangelism if it is not. Focus on developing them, not reiterating the same basic message.
• Recruiting a believing youth from another youth program or church is not evangelism it is recruitment (maybe even sheep stealing). “Correcting” their theology is not evangelism, don't call it that.
• Proclaiming a Gospel that is so negative, harsh or judgmental that it drives people away is anti-evangelism.
• An evangelism by example is not evangelism. To be blunt, no matter how good and Christian your behavior is most people are too oblivious to guess why you are nice. You have to actually tell them why, explicitly.
• A Gospel message that is so mild, vague or compromised that no one can see the good news in it is not evangelism. Youth, especially middle adolescents, need something concrete, worthwhile and exciting to commit to.
  We have a responsibility to try to reach the non-believer with the Good News of the Gospel. For most youth workers, the opportunities for this are limited, but we need to make sure we aren't doing anything to prevent these opportunities. This may mean reaching out to youth that are outside your group, perhaps even incompatible with your group. This may mean softening or strengthening your message or approach to be more effective. Theological purity, comfort zones (yours, they youth's, the church's), ease or your sense of importance are all irrelevant.