Written by Keith Simon, colead pastor at The Crossing in Columbia, Missouri

If Christians believe evangelism is an event, not a process, most will avoid engaging in spiritual conversations with neighbors, family, and coworkers.

In our busy and fragmented world, getting through the Four Laws, or traveling down the Romans Road, seems impossible. Even if we did, would anyone in our post-Christian culture understand? Our lack of a shared vocabulary makes it difficult for people to know what it means to “repent and believe the good news.” Add to that all the questions and objections post-Christian people raise against the gospel. Does every believer need to be a trained apologist?

Pastors must help Christians see that evangelism is a realistic, community project. In the New Testament, one plants the gospel seed, another waters, and still another brings in the harvest. In this model, every Christian plays a significant role. The process starts by building friendships with people who don’t know Christ. Few start following Jesus because of a social media influencer. Usually, they come to Christ through the influence of someone they know and trust.

Of course, building relationships is just the first step. After the Samaritan woman met Jesus, she told her friends and family. She directed them to the “man who told [her] everything [she] ever did,” and she even called for a response by asking, “Could this be the Messiah?” (John 4:29, NIV). This woman hadn’t attended an evangelism training course or read the newest book. She didn’t have all the answers to her questions, much less theirs. All she knew was that Jesus offered salvation to her, an outcast. Since he offered life to her, she knew salvation is for everyone. She understood we’re saved not by pedigree or by goodness but only by his grace.

Pastor, help your people embrace the whole process of evangelism. Help them value planting and watering as much as harvesting. When they do, they’ll look for opportunities to show Christian kindness and love—by doing their job with excellence, by taking a meal to a new mom, by asking how they can pray for coworkers, by introducing Christian and non-Christian friends to one another, by inviting neighbors to church, by giving away books by Tim Keller or C. S. Lewis, and, yes, by talking through the Four Laws or the Romans Road.

The New Testament model for evangelism lets every Christian—regardless of training, personality, or spiritual gifts—play a meaningful role in helping the lost come to faith.

—Keith