pat loughery

I read a lot. Usually a few things at a time, in a few different areas.

At this point in time, I’m really passionate about evangelism and spiritual formation. I’m passionately learning about evangelism because I stink at it :-). I used to think that because it didn’t show up on some spiritual gifts survey, I was off the hook and it was somebody else’s job, and GOd’s fault for not programming me right. But now I realize that this is a faulty view of a Jesus-follower’s lifestyle. Really, evangelism is simply sharing with people that we already have relationship with – and it’s sharing what’s happening in our own lives, and bringing the life of Christ into the lives of our friends who are searching for answers. I also amstudying the topic because I want our church to grow through peoples’ decisions to commit themselves to following Jesus. I don’t want to reshuffle the deck of Christians that already live here and are unhappy with their current church. And I tend to learn best through reading, then talkingn with folks about what I’m seeing.

On the evangelism front, I’m revisiting a couple of old favorites, and looking at a few new ones:

More Ready than you Realize by Brian McLaren. I’m just finishing this one up now. It’s well done, a commentary on an email discussion that McLaren had with a young lady about faith, and particularly about what faith looks like to a person with a postmodern worldview. I’m really intrigued by McLaren’s works – while I have some differences of opinion with him in several areas, I think that he’s doing a great job of making the current church examine what it’s up to and why. On the topic of Brian McLaren, check out A New Kind of Christian and The Story We Find Ourselves In. I particularly like the way he describes God’s story, and our part in his story, in the second one. Again, I don’t read McLaren for theology, but to give my mind and approach to life a workout.

I just finished reading Becoming a Contagious Christian by Mark Mittelberg and Bill Hybels. It’s extremely good at breaking down our fear of evangelism and describes a variety of evangelistic styles, encouraging you to work within yours. Particularly strong for modern worldview folks. I think this would be a good weekend workshop or seminar for the folks in our church. Their thesis is that, if your faith is impacting you in a positive way, then sharing it is natural.

I’ve been really impressed by Evangelism Outside the Box by Rick Richardson. I’ve read it twice now, and am planning to sit down next week to summarize it and journal through some notes. Evangelism that bridges the gap between modern and postmodern, primarily conversational evangelism, and a really nice picture of the message that makes much more of an impact than the 4 Spiritual Laws, the Bridge Metaphor, etc for younger people who seek faith.

I’m also reviewing the ol’ classic, Rebecca Manley Pippert’s Out of the Saltshaker & Into the World. Aimed squarely at moderns, this book gives new meaning to relationship and evanglism. Absolutely a must-read if your idea of evangelism is that guy who stands outside a public building hurling hatred and anger at everyone who passes by.

Bottom line for ME is, evangelism is living in such a way that my friends notice the life of Christ within me and oozing out of my pores, and being able to describe that process. But I could be wrong.