Evangelistic Grace: It May Not Look Like You Expect

When I take the five-fold spiritual gifts test, "Evangelist" is typically in my bottom two. Most “evangelistic activities” feel intimidating to me. Or make me feel like I don’t have the energy or the right words to be any good at them. I know that these are all lies I used to believe. But then something changed.

I accidentally ended up in a group at my church that ministers once a month to the women and men who work in clubs where customers go to watch "exotic dancing." We bring them gifts and treats, let them pick a bible verse out of a bag, and pray with them. It’s a pretty quick interaction, so that we remain in good graces with their management. But you don’t need much time to plant seeds. I can’t say that I was ever anxious about doing this outreach work, I just didn’t think I’d be any good at it.

The first time I went out to these clubs, I went with some women who had been visiting them for a few years. One of them was my friend Thea. She gave me the run-down of what to expect and what to do when we went inside. Thea asked me if there was anything I was nervous about. I told her I was just nervous that they may act as if they don’t want me to talk to them. Like they want me to go away. That they may reject me. She assured me that these would, in fact, happen. I laughed and said, "At least I’m prepared.” She reminded me that we are to bring light into dark places. For those women (many of whom are being trafficked) and men in the clubs, we may be the only love and hope they find in their night, their week, or even longer. We have to trust that God can use our short 15 minutes that we spend loving them.

As we entered the club, we encountered a precious girl with long blond hair at the front desk. She quietly lit up when she saw us. Thea asked her what trips she had planned because she knew from a previous visit that this sweet girl loves to travel. Thea didn’t walk away from her without speaking Jesus over her life in the most kind, natural way.

We moved on to the dressing room, where I was expecting a lot of noise and big personalities, and bustling activity that would require me to assert myself. That was not what I saw.

These scantily clad - or not clad at all - women were meek and pleasant. Some were even welcoming, complimenting me on my jeans. I wanted to wrap them all in warm blankets and tell them that they never had to take them off. Instead, we offered them gifts and treats. We asked if they needed prayer. While we prayed (which was honestly the easier thing to do in a room like this), Thea continued approaching as many women as she could.

She had this way of really SEEING them and letting them know they were loved. She remembered beautiful details about them, asked questions that showed that she cared about them, and never left them without saying His name in a way that felt like an invitation to a party. Thea is the youngest of 4, but when she goes to those clubs, she is everyone’s big sister.

I was in awe that first night. I had never seen an evangelist in action like this. She made it look easy and fun and beautiful. For the first time, I was watching an evangelist operate in her gifting and thinking, “I can do that!”

If you are reading this and don’t believe yourself to be a gifted evangelist - first, that’s ok! I think that many of us have a sense of shame around this gift more than any of the other five-fold giftings. Second, I’m so glad you didn’t skip this post, as many might have if they are not highly gifted in evangelism. There is plenty of hope for you to grow in this way, especially if you can set aside your ideas about what evangelism looks like.

For example, I have another friend, Janelle, who is also an evangelist. But she walks out her gift in a TOTALLY different way. Her evangelistic gifting shows up in her screenplay and skit writing in our church and also in secular spaces! Her heart for bringing people into the Kingdom shows up in drama - often hilarious drama on a stage. THAT sure doesn't look like stereotypical evangelism!

Janel performing (AND WINNING) in a local drama competition

God has given us a measure of each five-fold grace. This means that I do have a measure of evangelism. And when I spend time with evangelists like Thea and Janelle, I am encouraged to grow in my own evangelistic grace. And I’m reminded that evangelism will look different in all of us as we are all uniquely designed to work for His glory!

-Niki Hathorn, Worthy Content Writer

Questions:

1. If you have considered yourself not to have much evangelistic grace, are you able to see where your measure of it might be showing up in unexpected places?

2. How can understanding and embracing the different ways individuals naturally express their evangelistic gifts encourage believers to share their faith more confidently in their own unique ways?

If you are interested in participating in the club out reach that I mentioned, please fill out this form and include "club outreach" in the message.