In our church, many people who participate in Saturday evangelism in downtown London express, “I feel like I can distribute gospel tracts, but it’s challenging to engage in conversations.” Those who say this have a hidden desire within their hearts, wishing they could effectively share the gospel.

Even when we meet acquaintances personally, without necessarily approaching strangers on the street, we often find ourselves in situations where we unintentionally talk about religion. Therefore, the difficulty in evangelism lies not only in approaching strangers and sharing gospel tracts, but also in being prepared to engage in conversations about our beliefs with others.

So, when asked what evangelism is, it can be broadly divided into two aspects. The apostle Paul mentioned these aspects in a letter to the beloved Philippians: “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). The first aspect is defending the gospel, and the second is confirming it.

Defending the gospel involves addressing misunderstandings and misconceptions about the gospel, particularly about Jesus Christ. It is a form of apologetics. Non-believers often pose tough questions. For example, why is Jesus the only way? Aren’t all religions the same? How can we know that the Bible is God’s word? How can God be both three persons and one? Hasn’t science already disproven the existence of God? If people love and live in harmony, do we really need religion? If a loving God exists, why is there so much suffering in the world? Doesn’t religion contribute to more violence and wars? With many questions like these, it is clear that each one cannot be easily answered. However, that does not mean there are no answers at all. In fact, it is possible to engage in conversations that foster empathy. If you are prepared to respond to such questions, evangelism can undoubtedly become an exciting endeavor.

As we engage in defending the gospel by addressing misunderstandings, we naturally move on to confirming the gospel by providing compelling evidence that Jesus Christ, whom we believe in and follow, is the only way to reach God. Ultimately, evangelism is about presenting a detailed and confident testimony of Jesus Christ, which requires a good understanding of Him.

I hope that as members of our church, while attending God’s Vision Church, we will grow as witnesses of Jesus, capable of both defending and confirming the gospel. I personally strive to become such an evangelist, which is why I participate in Saturday evangelism every week. Believing in Jesus is certainly the work of the Holy Spirit, but I believe that at the very least, as His co-workers, we must do our best. I hope we can all continue to grow as evangelists on the frontlines, together.