How important is evangelism and how can it be done effectively?

Jesus said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19). There are many aspects to living the Christian life/following Jesus Christ, but I believe the most essential element of being a Christian is to evangelize the lost. Give out the Gospel message of Jesus Christ so that others can believe on Him to be saved.

The spiritually lost/unbelievers have no value towards God until they become reconciled back to Him by faith in His Son Jesus as their Savior. So how can anything be more important than giving another the Gospel so that they can be saved? The Apostle Paul was a Gospel driven man because he saw and knew the eternal value of it. He knew that when he bore fruit (reproduced himself or bore a new believer/Christian), that fruit would remain forever/eternally existent in Heaven (John 4:36).

The Apostle Paul stated, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…” (Rom. 1:16). We as Christians today need to have this same mindset. Don’t be ashamed of the Gospel (the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus which is the complete payment to God for all mankind’s sins), because the Gospel message of Jesus Christ is the power to save sinners when they personally believe the message for their salvation. How marvelous is this?

Paul also states that God has entrusted us Christians with this Gospel message to test our faith conviction. Notice, “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth (tests) our hearts” (1 Thess. 2:4). Are you going to fulfill your responsibility and please God or are you going to neglect your responsibility to please men?

Fear and shyness are often roadblocks to evangelizing but they are poor excuses for God to consider. In fact, God has not given us the spirit of fear but the exact opposite with the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8, 2 Tim. 1:7).

So how can you overcome fear, anxiety, or shyness to tell people about Jesus Christ? You’ve heard the saying, “two heads are better than one.” Take a trusted Christian brother or sister with you when you evangelize. There is greater confidence, boldness, and effectiveness in pairs. This was the formula Jesus told his disciples and it’s because it bears greater success (Mark 6:7, Luke 10:1). Tell others about Jesus for various reasons: it's the right thing to do (John 15:8-13, Rom. 10:15), it pleases God (1 Thess. 2:4), we are commanded to by Christ (Mark 1:17, 16:15, John 15:16, Acts 1:8), God loves us (Rom. 5:8), we love Him (1 John 4:19), and Jesus is our friend and we want to introduce others to our dear friend (John 15:13-15).

So, start evangelizing today! Go out and give the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Simply share your own testimony. You can say, “I became saved when I believed (trusted) on the Lord Jesus Christ believing He died for me, was buried, and rose from the dead. He is my personal Savior from sins because I have trusted in Him.”

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Rom. 10:13-15)