I remember the early days of my ministry when I would preach with great conviction about the necessity of everyone engaging in the Great Commission.
I thought it was clear: every Christian was called to share the gospel, and any lack of evangelism was a sign of spiritual failure – on their part and on mine.
So, I’d stand before the congregation, urging them to get out there and share their faith, to go into the world and make disciples. This is the language I sat under as a Christian, and it is what I passed along.
I still agree with the conviction, but what I missed, and what I’ve come to realize over time, is that I wasn’t helping them figure out how to engage in evangelism in a way that made sense for how God had uniquely designed them.
Instead, I set a high bar for everyone without considering their individual gifts, personalities, and passions.
As a result, many felt overwhelmed or inadequate, and evangelism became something they felt guilty about rather than something they could joyfully participate in.
This was a pastoral failure I’ve had to process.
This tension between evangelistic expectation and reality is something that many pastors today are experiencing. When asked to rate how they felt about the effectiveness of evangelism in their church, only 1% of pastors said they thought their church was “very effective.”
This statistic has been on a downward trend for the last five years, and as we’ve talked with leaders in the church, it’s become clear that many pastors are struggling to see their church’s evangelism efforts bear fruit.
6 Reasons Pastors are Struggling to See Evangelism Efforts Bear Fruit
1. Practical Disconnection
Some pastors may feel disconnected from evangelism efforts that are happening outside their direct involvement—whether in community groups, ministry teams, or other smaller contexts. This can create a sense of detachment from the bigger picture of evangelism in the church, leading to a perception of ineffectiveness.
2. Varying Definitions
The concept of evangelism is often understood in different ways. For some pastors, evangelism means specifically verbalizing the gospel to non-believers, while others may view it through broader lenses—such as sermon themes, outreach programs, or even visible responses in church services. Without a clear, shared understanding of what evangelism looks like, it’s easy for pastors to feel like their church isn’t doing enough, even if efforts are being made in different forms.
3. Varying Metrics
There’s often a tendency to equate the success of evangelism with tangible, measurable outcomes, like baptisms or conversion stories. While these are important indicators, conflating them with evangelistic effort itself can create unrealistic expectations. Evangelism is not simply about how many people are baptized—it’s about faithful witness over time, and that might not always be visible or measurable in the moment.
4. Leadership Influence
Most pastors are gifted with a shepherding heart, focused on caring for their congregation. While this is essential, the shepherding gift may not naturally lend itself to evangelistic zeal. If the pastor’s gifting doesn’t align with an evangelistic focus, the overall culture of the church may reflect that. Pastors who aren’t particularly gifted in evangelism can feel inadequate in leading others toward it, and that may translate into a loss of confidence in the church’s ability to reach the world.
5. Fear of Rejection
Fear can be a significant factor when it comes to evangelism. Many Christians, both pastors and congregants, are afraid of the relational or cultural consequences of sharing their faith. The current climate, where it’s often easier to criticize Christianity than other religions, may make Christians fearful of rejection or ridicule. This fear can paralyze people from stepping out in faith.
6. Inflated Expectations
Without a solid theological understanding of spiritual gifting, many pastors might set unrealistic expectations for both themselves and their congregants. This was certainly true for me. The assumption that every Christian is called to be an evangelist—regardless of how God has wired them—can create unnecessary pressure and foster a sense of failure when those expectations aren’t met.
A Theological Framework for Evangelism
A closer look at scripture offers much-needed clarity.
Ephesians 4:11 reminds us that the gift of evangelism is listed among other leadership gifts—suggesting that the majority of Christians are not specifically gifted in evangelism. This insight can help shift our expectations, reminding us that although the Church collectively provides a witness to the world, evangelism isn’t the sole responsibility of every believer – at least not in the same way.
Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 emphasize that God has uniquely gifted each believer. These gifts are given intentionally for the body of Christ to function together yet differently, and thus we should not expect everyone to fulfill the same role in evangelism. Recognizing and embracing these different gifts can help foster a more realistic approach to evangelism, one that encourages each believer to play their part based on how God has designed them.
In John 13:35, Jesus tells us that the world will know us by our love for one another. This love, expressed within the body of Christ, is a powerful witness to the world. When we focus on loving one another, we begin to model a type of evangelism that is rooted in relationship, not just verbal proclamation. The apostle John echoes this in his letter, where he emphasizes the importance of living out our faith in community as a testimony to the world.
Reflection Questions for Pastors
- How might an understanding of spiritual gifting shift the way pastors respond to the question of evangelistic effectiveness in their churches?
- Could compassion, generosity, or other forms of love be considered evangelistic witness, and how might that challenge or expand our current definitions of evangelism?
- How can we ensure the church’s witness includes both verbal proclamation to non-believers and authentic relationships between believers?
Five Practical Steps for Pastors Moving Forward
- Use Data to Drive Clarity
Utilize tools like The Church Pulse dashboard to get an accurate picture of your church’s evangelism efforts, rather than relying solely on anecdotal evidence or the loudest voices in the congregation. Make decisions based on data, not assumptions. - Clarify a Shared Definition of Evangelism
Help your congregation understand that evangelism is not a one-size-fits-all mandate. Provide clear, accessible definitions that reflect the diversity of gifts within the church. - Equip Your Congregation According to Their Gifts
Offer resources that help congregants explore their unique spiritual gifts, enabling them to see how they can contribute to the church’s evangelistic mission in ways that align with how God has wired them. - Create Pathways for Individual Engagement
Develop clear pathways for congregants to exercise their individual gifts, ensuring that they understand their role in evangelism is uniquely shaped by God’s design for them. - Leverage Resources for Transformation
Explore resources like the Thriving Church Institute to equip both staff and congregation for transformational change in their approach to evangelism.
By recalibrating expectations, emphasizing a diversity of gifts, and embracing a more comprehensive view of evangelism, pastors can lead their churches toward a more confident and effective witness to the world.
