Evangelism

Evangelism, also known as evangelization or witnessing, is the practice of sharing the Christian gospel. This refers to the message and teachings of Jesus Christ. Most people who engage in this practice do so to convert others to Christianity.

Those who specialize in this work are called evangelists. They may work within their own communities or serve as missionaries in the field. In some Christian traditions, evangelists hold leadership or governance roles within the church.

The term has deep roots in ancient language. It comes from the Koine Greek word *euangelion*. This word originally described a reward given to a messenger for bringing good news. Over time, the word itself came to mean the "good news" being shared.

This linguistic history is why the authors of the four canonical Gospels are called the Four Evangelists. These individuals are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Parallel texts in the Gospels of Luke and Mark show a link between the Greek verb *euangelizo* and *kerusso*, which means "to proclaim."

There are many different methods used to carry out evangelism. Some people use personal conversations or preach to large crowds. Others distribute Bibles, tracts, newspapers, or magazines.

Electronic media has also become a major tool for spreading the message. In 1922, Aimee Semple McPherson became the first woman in the United States to use radio to reach a wide audience. In 1951, Billy Graham and Dick Ross founded World Wide Pictures. This company produced films of preaching and other Christian movies.

Various organizations have been founded throughout history to support missionary and evangelistic work. In 1792, William Carey founded BMS World Mission in Kettering, England. In 1814, the American Baptist International Ministries was established in the United States. Hudson Taylor founded OMF International in 1865. In 1893, Walter Gowans, Rowland Bingham, and Thomas Kent founded SIM in Lagos, Nigeria.

Another notable group, Gideons International, was founded in 1899. They distribute free Bibles to hospitals, schools, and prisons.

Evangelism has also adapted to include specific groups and modern technology. The child evangelism movement focuses on children aged 4 to 14. In the 1970s, a group of athletes called The Power Team used strong-man exploits to share a Christian message. Today, the internet provides many new opportunities for connection. For example, TopChrétien was launched as an evangelical web portal in 1999. In 2007, a student named Christopher Wyatt founded GodTube to share Christian videos. By 2007, there were more than 10,000 Baptist missionaries serving overseas.

Global trends show how widespread these efforts have become. In 1960, more than half of American Protestant missionaries were evangelical. By 2004, South Korea had become the second-largest source of missionaries in the world. This placed them ahead of England and behind the United States. Pentecostalism is another significant movement. It can develop independently in regions like Africa, South America, and Asia. This shows that evangelistic movements are not always driven by foreign residents.

Finally, the practice of evangelism can lead to social and legal debates. Some critics refer to evangelism as "proselytism." While proselytism is protected in the United States, it is illegal in some other countries. Some people argue that sharing faith is a matter of free speech. Others criticize the use of Christian films, suggesting they may have a forced message. However, some distributors argue that all films carry a message and that Christian films are simply works of art. These disagreements highlight the complex relationship between religious expression and public life.