What is the future of Christian Evangelism in these End Times?

Bit of a deep and cage rattling article this one, touching on Christian Evangelism and it´s role and it´sfuture in these modern times and more to the point End Times or even Last Days. Taking you right into the war zone of Christianity. Are massive changes on the horizon or will Evangelist types still be free to do what they do, or will their freedoms be severely restricted. This is an article for somebody just curious on what Evangelism is, or maybe you are thinking about becoming one. Maybe like myself you are in the faith and being prodded and nudged and guided by the Spirit to go in that direction, even though you have other ideas or plans. This article is for those types and for non believers alike.

How this article came about

This is one of those articles that just came from nowhere whilst walking down the road and staring out the window afterwards with the mind in neutral. When you get those thoughts you know it has come from somewhere else and it´s the most high giving you a tap on the shoulder saying "don´t just think about it, get that article out there NOW". So here it is!

This process was probably started by myself stating in a recent video talking about the Holy Spirit, and I classed myself as a "Non Denominational Christian" and a sort of "Evangelist" or "Evangelical" type? I´m not sure that was me talking there but that is what was said. Even though I go five days a week to a Church of England Church?. Even though I go to Church regularly, I don´t really class myself as a fan of the Institutional Church and do not see myself as the "Church" going type. If you watch my videos you´ll probably agree and think "he doesn´t look like the church going type" as well. More the jack the lad type.......... but appearances can be deceptive.

Here´s a recent example. Is the owner of this website an Evangelist on the quiet, preaching in a Testimonial style???

Video: What is the Holy Spirit? My personal experience.

So what is Evangelism?

Evangelism is the announcement, proclamation, and/or preaching of the gospel , the good news of and about Jesus Christ. Therefore, the gospel is a communicated message—communicated in verbal and/or written form. Evangelism is the communication of the gospel message, includes a warning, an explanation, and a call. Evangelism includes warning people about sin and the consequences of sin It includes an explanation of God’s remedy for sin—the gospel. And it includes the clear call to repent (to turn from sin and to turn toward God) and believe the gospel. via CARM

What would be Examples?

Street Preachers, Speakers at London´s famous Hyde Park Corner or other equivalents around the world, people who preach the word in some shape or form on the web (such as myself), people who have ministries or video platforms and Evangelise such as on You Tube, people who preach via Social Media and so forth. Also the types you see standing on the streets just holding leaflets or handing them out and not saying a word can be classed as a form of Evangelism or silent Evangelism. Finally going round and knocking on peoples doors is another form of Evangelism. In summary those in the faith will call it "spreading the word". If you are Born Again ...you WILL have the unexplainable and overpowering urge to do this in some shape or form. It´s what I call Frontline Christianity. That´s your job!



What styles of Evangelism are there?

Superb article from PBCF.org by a Senior Pastor by the name of Jeff Warren details 6 different styles of Evangelist delivery.
1. Direct Style 2. Intellectual Style 3. Testimonial Style 4. Interpersonal Style 5. Invitational Style 6. Serving Style

More at PBCD.org 

Famous quotes on Evangelism

Here are some famous quotes focused on Evangelism. It´s something people either love or hate and most people have strong views on the subject. Here´s my views on Evangelism arrived at many years ago. A Jewish work colleague from a job many years ago once said to me something that has stuck ever since (about 15 years ago) when I showed some interest and was fascinated with the Jewish Religion (never pursued it) and he had this to say:

"We don´t come to you Frank...............you come to us!"

That is something that has stuck with me to this very day and is how all The Twelve Gates websites operate." You come to me and knock on my door and ask questions or come looking for answers, I don´t come to you and bash on your door and try to ram Religion in your face"

Strangely enough that´s how you will become "Born Again" or "Saved" . Personally my approach is the reverse to the positive, uplifting, flowery and make you feel good type of preaching. I´m more of a cage rattling Joshua type stepping on Spiritual toes and exposing the darkness . It´s a wake you up and make you sit up and take notice mentality whilst shining that bright light in your face. Confronting you with the truth and revealing who you really are and making you aware that it´s time to do something about it. It´s brutally honest. That´s just me, everybody has a different job in the body of Christ.



Here´s some other views on Evangelism from all walks of life taken from the Good Reads website which demonstrate some quite strong views on Evangelists and what they do.

“Let eloquence be flung to the dogs rather than souls be lost. What we want is to win souls. They are not won by flowery speeches.”
― Charles Haddon Spurgeon

“I believe that entertainment and amusements are the work of the Enemy to keep dying men from knowing they're dying; and to keep enemies of God from remembering that they're enemies.”
― A.W. Tozer

“True gospel preaching always changes the heart. It either awakens it or hardens it.”
― Chan Kilgore

“A need for approval lies behind all efforts of evangelism. If someone else can be convinced, that will show us that we are on the right path. The attempt to convince someone of anything is a mark of insecurity. (173)”
― Ravi Ravindra, The Wisdom of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras: A New Translation and Guide by Ravi Ravindra

“Jesus himself did not try to convert the two thieves on the cross; he waited until one of them turned to him.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison David Platt
“Radical obedience to Christ is not easy... It's not comfort, not health, not wealth, and not prosperity in this world. Radical obedience to Christ risks losing all these things. But in the end, such risk finds its reward in Christ. And he is more than enough for us.”
― David Platt, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream

“Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you're not saved yourself, be sure of that!”
― Charles Haddon Spurgeon
“Do you not know that God entrusted you with that money (all above what buys necessities for your families) to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to help the stranger, the widow, the fatherless; and, indeed, as far as it will go, to relieve the wants of all mankind? How can you, how dare you, defraud the Lord, by applying it to any other purpose?”
― John Wesley

“Religion is like a pair of shoes.....Find one that fits for you, but don't make me wear your shoes.”
― George Carlin



The Future of Evangelism and Russia

Which brings us nicely onto why this article came about in the first place. A couple of videos leapt out from that famous Video platform featuring the President of Russia which provided a dramatic and worrying contrast. The first was filmed a couple of years ago when he was talking about Christianity, how it is a good thing and talking about the "West" which is featured below.

Putin defends Christianity and condemns anti-Christian West and political correctness



Merely a couple of years later this second video has been released after the Russian President stated that no Evangelism is allowed in Russia in the future including in your own home, on the internet, on the streets and public places, only in Churches?

RUSSIA BANS CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM !!! AntiChrist Spirited Vladimir Putin



Is this the Future of Evangelism
Putin was baptised into the Eastern Orthodox Church on the basis of his mother being Eastern Orthodox and her pushing for her son to be baptised. Only in recent years after life dealt him some heavy blows and he visited Israel (see HollowVerse)  did he finally come back into the Christian Faith again embracing Eastern Orthodoxy. Which is why this stand against Evangelism is all the more worrying. It is a well known fact that the Roman Catholic Church is not keen on Evangelists and they have been persecuted throughout history being called Heretics, but in modern times they have been allowed their freedoms as a basic human right which it now looks like, this has been removed...in Russia. Does this mark a worrying potential change on a global scale, or is it something just isolated to Russia?

Conclusions
With Christian Persecution on the rise especially in China and the Middle East views are changing in society towards Christianity, becoming more Anti by the day including towards the Holy Book itself....The Bible. Will websites like this and others, Evangelists on You Tube and Facebook and Twitter and the classic street preacher be forced to shut down and become a thing of the past. As mentioned in a previous article on Monk´s, Hermits and Anchorites´s many who have the faith will end up going underground and going back to the old Biblical ways of Christian communities meeting around peoples houses and sharing everything they have. In more extreme cases they will go just like the Agafia woman who fled into the Siberian wilderness. Only time will tell but one things for certain.........times they are a changing?

Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

A final video, left till last that carries a WARNING. Contains bad language and some disturbing scenes including vomiting and it is a cage rattler,  but it gives a good insight into what a True Christian Preacher will be confronted with on the streets and shows the "Power of the Word" and confirms to even the hardened Atheist that YES there is a GOD!

Most Watched CFM Street Preaching videos of 2012

Bible Quotes:

(1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
1. Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2. By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4. And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mark 16:15

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 5:15-16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:16

O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name:
make known his deeds among the people.
Psalm 105:1

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew 28:19-20

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
Mark 8:35