All forms of evangelism matter. At their core? Relationships.
In my work and across the church, evangelism is a regular topic of conversation — especially this year with the Pentecost 2025 initiative.
With 5,800 sites across North America and nearly 300 in the Northwest, the movement is gaining momentum with its focus on prayer, community engagement, proclamation and discipleship.
After some initial hesitation about settling into my new neighborhood, I began praying for an opportunity to engage. Then the Holy Spirit nudged me: Befriend your neighbors.
I ended up making trail mix and cheerful yellow cards for our two immediate neighbors. The first knock seemed to wipe out my rehearsed speech, yet the elderly man and the young family both accepted our gift of neighborliness. Only later did I realize that I had forgotten to ask any of their names!
One afternoon at the neighborhood playground, I overheard a mom I’d seen before give her son the “three-minute warning” before leaving. I felt that nudge again. “Go talk with her!” In just 20 minutes, a new friendship blossomed.
I’m praying that these small connections grow into something more — a space for community, conversations about faith and maybe even a small group someday.
I recently met two friends on the other end of the friendship-and-faith spectrum.
Ed, a retiring mechanic of 47 years, had started hosting prayer groups in the back of his shop. He wished he had a Bible to support those gatherings.
One day, he mentioned this to his tool rep, Rick, who happens to be a lay leader at Voice of Hope Church in Lakewood, Washington. Rick offered him a Bible and invited him to church.
Ed was driving to another church when he passed Rick and Corky standing outside the Adventist church. When his original destination was empty, he turned around.
That choice changed everything. Three months after his baptism, Ed attended the third annual Propel Conference, held recently in Puyallup, Washington, to keep learning how to share his faith.
In a Propel Conference presentation on relational evangelism, a speaker quoted Ellen White’s call to become “intensely interested in the salvation of others” (Fundamentals of Christian Education, chapter 27). I highly recommend listening to more at propelconference.org/podcasts.
This relational approach is essential to the work of evangelism — because you can’t lead someone to Jesus if they don’t trust you.
I know not everyone feels excited when they hear the word evangelism. For some, evangelism brings to mind fear, pressure, awkward conversations or programs that feel disconnected from real life — and even a loss of control. If those past experiences resonate with you, I can see why you'd hesitate.
But what if we looked again? What if we saw evangelism less as a script and more as a relationship? A way of loving people well and walking with them toward Jesus.
Our role is simple yet sacred: plant seeds, invite, believe, pray — and be present, whether in friendship, small groups or other moments of discipleship.
Table Talk Prompt
What are some challenges you face when it comes to connecting with others and starting new friendships? What's one small, practical step you can take this week to overcome those challenges and build a relationship with someone in your community?
