Luke 4:18 CEB: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to liberate the oppressed.”

The spiritual gift of evangelism empowers you to share the liberating, loving, flourishing, comforting and healing transformation present in the good news, revealed in Jesus for all people. Evangelism is often thought of as a direct effort to convert others to Christianity, but this can be a misconception and create barriers to utilizing one’s gifts. In fact, evangelism is simply the gift of proclaiming and sharing the goodness of God through whatever means of relationship and communication best suit you. Evangelism can show up in poetry, visual arts, music or everyday moments of friendship and conversation when good news is needed.

At its core, evangelism is a catalyzing gift that allows those who have it to notice the challenges, concerns, questions and curiosities of those around them and to engage with them in a way that opens the door to reflection and consideration of the core message of the gospel. Evangelism is relational and often helps those who have this gift to focus on hospitality, connection with others and attention to holy moments when people feel vulnerable and reach out for deep connection and understanding. Those with this gift often feel compelled to share their excitement around things that they believe will have a meaningful impact on others.

Some ways in which the gift of evangelism might show up in your spiritual and communal life:

• Hearing from a young adult who feels lonely and has a desire to be more connected to community, and inviting them to try out your local Gather Network group.
• Noticing a student lingering outside of where your chapter of Lutheran Campus Ministry meets, and inviting them to join you.
• Posting on social media about your personal story and why your faith matters.
• Sharing about your personal commitments and beliefs that are rooted in your faith.

Looking for more opportunities? We encourage you to reach out to your local synod. Connect, collaborate and co-create with peers through the ELCA Leadership Network.