Initiative evangelism (in Cru, we label it as “ministry mode” evangelism, but for the purposes of vast understanding, we’ll call it “initiative”) is an activity that truly draws a line in the sand and, by its very nature, asks you to pick a side and stand on it. Many Christians disagree with approaching strangers intending to share the gospel. And those Christians have developed a number of reasons why a faithful follower of Jesus shouldn’t do it.

Recently, a college student sincerely asked me why we share our faith that way. In a nutshell, this is pretty much how I responded…

First of all, I believe that it’s important that we walk by faith and make ourselves uncomfortable for the sake of Christ. Initiative evangelism is a great way to make that happen.

Secondly, I have seen a number of people place their trust in Christ through this method, and it’s a beautiful thing to watch someone pass from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. There’s nothing like it.

Yes, there is a vast difference between the number of people we share with and the number of people who actually place their faith in Jesus, but doesn’t that tell you something in and of itself? Baseball is a game of failure. However, if you’ve got a .300 batting average, you are a really good player . . . and that means you only hit the ball three times for every ten times you’re at the plate. You “fail” 70% of the time but you learn every time you’re up there, and that makes you a better player —a valuable asset to the team.

Similarly (and thirdly), maybe it’s not always about the people we’re sharing with when we decide to participate in initiative evangelism. Maybe it’s more about what God wants to do in our lives when we step out in faith and talk to others about Him. When we die to ourselves and sacrifice our own comfort, reputation and pride, God is able to work in us and mold us into the kind of followers He wants us to be: faithful ones.

I do believe that people come to Christ this way and therefore, their lives are changed by this specific activity. But I also believe that God works powerfully in the hearts of His children when we share our faith this way and therefore, our lives are changed by this specific activity. How can any of that be a bad thing?

Read Isaiah 64:8

1. In this passage, we are referred to as “the clay” and God is referred to as “the potter”. How does that relate to the subject of initiative evangelism?
2. In what ways does God want to mold you when you share your faith?
3. How can you be more proactive about allowing God the Potter shape you as His child?