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SEAN: Dad, what do you consider success in evangelism?
JOSH: First, success is an immediate relationship with the other person who knows you care. Second, they hear the gospel clearly. Third, you ask for a decision. Whether they accept Christ or not you’re successful. The main thing is that they know you care, they hear the Gospel, and you call for a decision.
SEAN: How do you look for evangelistic opportunities?
JOSH: You don’t have to look for them—they’re everywhere. Almost every person you meet, in any situation, is an opportunity. The best is if you have got some time to share. But all you have to do is think about it and you’ll see the opportunities.
SEAN: How can people overcome their fears to share their faith?
JOSH: One is to develop a greater conviction, not merely a belief. With conviction you know what you believe, you know why you believe it, and you experience it in your life. The more you build convictions, the easier it becomes to share your faith. The more you know how to answer tough questions, the greater confidence and less fear you will have in sharing your faith. This is why it’s so good to read books that help answer difficult questions.
SEAN: Can you give one example of a successful evangelistic endeavor?
JOSH: Yeah, there was a young man from Canada who was a surfer. We were together as a family in Newport Beach. And we were getting milkshakes. He asked if he could sit at our table because the place was full, and I said yes. I briefly asked him to share his story, and then I shared my testimony and the four spiritual laws. I asked if him if he wanted to make that decision but he said no and left. He sent me a note about nine months later. When he got home, he couldn’t get it off his mind, day and night, and he finally accepted Christ on his own. Initially it seemed like I was a failure. But even if he hadn’t accepted Christ it would have been a successful event because he walked away hearing the gospel and knowing he was responsible.
Sean McDowell, Ph.D. is an assistant professor of Christian Apologetics at Biola University, a best-selling author of over 15 books, an internationally recognized speaker, and a part-time high school teacher. Follow him on Twitter: @sean_mcdowell and his blog at seanmcdowell.org.