Internship Assignment on

Mission and Evangelism Opportunities, Challenges And

Hindrances (based on local church)

1. Introduction: “There is no participation in Christ without participation in His mission to the world.”
The missionary obligation of the church comes from the love of God in His active relationship with
[humanity]. Those who are sought out, gathered together, and transformed by Christ are the church.
Their very existence, therefore, springs form god’s sending forth to His Son. Their very existence,
therefore, springs from God’s sending forth of His Son. In this sense “mission” belongs to the basic
structure of the church. “Mission [is] … not a matter of human goodwill and reparations, but a matter
of divine purpose.” Moreover, “Evangelism in its ecumenical setting … [is] burdened by a sense of
urgency.”

A. Mission and evangelism:

(i) What is Mission?
There is little use in grappling with Christ’s claim upon our lives in the twentieth century if we are not
convinced that Christ has entrusted the Church with a mission. We will look into three Greek words to
first understand the meaning of Mission.
1. martureo – to witness, to testify, give evidence of, or present proof.
2. Euaggelizo – to announce good news or bring good tidings.
3. Kerusso – to preach, proclaim, herald.
It is a task – something that is to be accomplished. It can be the duty or ministry of any group of people
who are sent abroad for a specific purpose. It can be a particular work for which one believes oneself
to have been sent into the world.
(ii) What is Evangelism?
Proclamation is at the very heart of New Testament evangelism. People need to be told. The World
Council of Churches, at its inaugural assembly in Amsterdam in 1948, had as its theme “Man’s
Disorder and God’s Design.” The purpose of God was understood to include reconciling all persons to
God and to one another through Jesus Christ. The Gospel was called “a matter of life and death” and
evangelism an urgency for all Christians and an important part of the WCC’s new program
development. In New Testament, however, gives examples not only of mass evangelism, but also of
small-group evangelism, household evangelism, and personal evangelism, each having its appropriate
place.

B. Why Mission is essential for Christian?

We must never forget that “the living God of the Bible is a sending God.” He called us out of the world
in order to send us back into the world. What is at issue is not our personal peace and security, but the
believability of Jesus Christ. The holistic change affecting the totality of our lives, from our deepest
intellectual convictions and emotional commitment to our daily interaction with others and our attitude
toward possessions, is essential to the Christian’s mission. The mission simply means that it is a world
as near as your neighbour and as far as God’s love. Christ sends the Christian across the wastelands of
modern culture and the frontiers of primitive cultures with a message of deliverance. As the recipients
of both the Great Commission, “Go and make disciples,” and the Great Commandment, “Love your
neighbour,” believers are called forth to courageously and compassionately confront their culture.
 The Commission given by Christ to the Church is found in several places in the New Testament.
 The most familiar source is probably Matthew 28:18-20.

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 Mark has a reference to the Great Commission in Mark 16:14-18.
 Luke records it in two spots: Luke 24:47-48 and Acts 1:8.
 John’s version is located in John 20:19-23.

C. Why Evangelism is essential for Christian?

The early church made evangelism its number-one priority. It also said that evangelism was the
spontaneous, natural chattering of good news. All types of Christians as a matter of course and
privilege engaged it in continuously. Today it comes far down the list. Evangelism is witness. Is
evangelisation an optional extra or an indispensable ministry? The evangelistic relation is to be
“alongside of” not “over-against.” Christian church leader of the Two-thirds World often have led in
affirming the imperative of the church’s evangelistic task. D. T. Niles a secretary of the Department of
Evangelism of the World Church of Churches, chairman of the World Student Christian Federation,
and executive secretary of the East Asian Christian Conference in his book “The American Student
Volunteer Movement for Christian Missions.” He called evangelism as a “Conversion to discipleship”
in holistic witness in the world. The recovery of wholeness – that is the purpose of evangelism, the
bringing back of the lost to their place in the economy of God. Every activity, therefore, which seeks to
effect this harmony is an activity within the meaning of the term “evangelism.” The object of
evangelism is conversion, conversion to Christ and personal discipleship to Him. Thus, in India with
its mass movements the first conversion is largely to the Christian community – proselytism. Then
takes place conversion to discipleship – evangelism. In the case of those driven by spiritual hunger or
despair due to the consciousness of sin, the first effect of the Gospel is evangelism. According to
Snyder, the church is more than God’s agent for evangelism or social change; it is in submission to
Christ, the agent of God’s entire cosmic purpose. According to the Scriptures, a missionary is a
messenger with a message from God, sent forth by divine authority for the definite purpose of
evangelism, church-undoing and church edification.1 Evangelism is very close to the heart of God.
And that should be imperative enough for us.
In many parts of the country the church will fade away if evangelism does not take place. It
means that the spiritual and intellectual muscles of church members do not get exercised, and are never
strong. Church life without evangelism breeds weak and feeble Christians. We Christian know that we
are in this worldwide struggle for meaning, dignity, freedom, and love, and we cannot stand aloof. We
have been charged with a message and a ministry that have to do with more than material needs, but
we can never be content to treat our concern for physical and social needs as merely secondary to our
responsibility for the needs of the spirit. There is a burning relevance today in describing the mission
of God, in which we participate, as the gift of a new creation which is a radical renewal of the old and
the invitation to [persons] to grow up their full humanity in the new [person], Jesus Christ.

D. A Mandate For Mission and Evangelism

One of the best ways to learn the meaning of mission is to refer to the commission for mission given
by Jesus to the earliest disciples. Today we must consider this our commission too. It is a total
misunderstanding of the commission of Jesus to limit it only to those who hear it for the first time, or
just to the original apostles, or just to the early church (like reformers). This is our commission and we
learn the following things from the Great Commission:
 Go – do not wait until people come to your congregation, but rather “go” – reach out- to all in the
area of your church and beyond.
 Make Disciples – do not go save souls, nor civilize savages, nor socialize folk to your
denomination’s version of Christianity, but rather go “make disciples” – learners and followers of
Jesus, participants in his mission (Mark 1:15; Luke 4:18-20)

1
Raymond Fung, Evangelistically Yours: Ecumenical Letters on Contemporary Evangelism (Geneva: WCC, 1992), 1,2.

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 All Nations – do not go to nation states, but rather to all peoples – groups, classes, races, and tribes
– in your neighbourhood and around the world.
 Baptizing Them – do not get people to make a decision for Christ only, but also incorporate them
as members of the church and Disciples of Christ.
 Teaching Them – do not tell new Christians what a particular denomination believe only, but also
help them discover and do what Jesus commands.
 I Am With You Always – do not act as if we were working alone, but rather rejoice in the power of
the Spirit who unifies and strengthens us for service. (Simmers, God’s claims Our Mission, pp. 11-
12)
 Proclamation of the Gospel to the entire world is still one of the church’s most pressing tasks.
Jesus Christ is the centre of proclamation. Proclamation is to be carried out everywhere. The
Gospel is to be proclaimed to persons and to society. The Gospel is to be proclaimed by word,
deed, and community life. The principal carrying out of the Great Commission remains the
responsibility of the apostles and of the evangelists as sent forth through the churches by the Holy
Spirit.
There are three common rationalizations that stand in the way of our faithful acceptance of the
Christian mission.
1. A Diminished Gospel
2. Specialized Personnel
3. Restricted Mission

F. What is Christian Mission?

It is a task to be performed by the Church. Christian mission is the endeavour by which the Church is
trying to win others to the Christian faith. It is done mainly the mission programs of the Church by a
selected group of workers called missionaries. Biblical mission proclaims Jesus Christ as divine, and
the only Saviour, and encourages people to become His disciples and responsible member of His
Church. Such mission is the God-given task of the Church.

2. Opportunities
There are many opportunities for the missionary and evangelist for mission and evangelising the
Gospel in various ways. Christianity has been following number of methods to share the gospel. The
methods, which we use, will drag people’s attention towards the gospel it may change and transform
people’s life. Now, we will see the existing methods of proclaiming gospel and new methods, which
can be useful for presenting the gospel.
A. Medical camps: - It is one of the methods that are existed for the physical needs of people.
Proclaiming the gospel is not only meeting spiritual needs but also meeting physical needs.
Free health check-up camps. Free medicine distribution: during epidemic time, natural calamities such
as cyclone, earthquakes, and tsunami. Providing nutrition food for pregnant women Helping during
pulse polio program time.
B. Education: - Education is playing a vital role in society. It enlightens the thoughts of people. We
can present the gospel through education. Spoken English centres: Teaching English Grammar. Carrier
guidance centres. Sunday school. Starting primary and high schools to educate the children.
C. Open-air Meetings: - Jesus, Peter and Paul used this method for preaching. (Sermon on the Mount
Matt 5: 1ff, Acts 3, 21: 36). Gospel Evenings. Healing Crusades. Now a-days people are giving
different names for open-air meetings, like Festivals of Blessings, Festivals of Holy Spirit.
D. Personal Evangelism: - Jesus had a personal encounter with Nicodemus, Samaritan woman
(Jn. 3,4) Distributing Gospel tracts, touching neighbours: Meeting the personal needs of individuals.

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E. Fellowship Dinner: Inviting colleagues, neighbours for dinner and sharing the gospel through our
testimony. Beach Ministry, Jail Ministry, Leprosy Ministry, Eunuch Ministry and Ministry in Red
Light areas.
F. Children Ministry:- Today’s children tomorrow’s church members. Proverb 22:6 says, “Train a
child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
Like Sunday school, Puppet Shows, Cartoon Shows, Hope for children (BCI), Compassion Ministry
(AG), Street children Ministry.
G. Youth Ministry:- Ministry among colleges, university’s students. Some organizations like UESI
(EU), ICPF, etc. are doing. Teen challenge: Drug rehabilitation, Youth camps
H. Traditional Methods:- Using customs practices to present the gospel in that specific context.
Katha Prasangam (preaching of story), folk songs (in village context), folk dance (Bharatanatayam,
Kuchipudi, Kath kali, etc.) Folk music (music in the traditional style), folk-lore (traditional stories of a
community), dramas, skits, and cartoon shows are useful for proclaiming the gospel.
I. Awareness Programs: - Provoking the society about some of problems, diseases, etc.
HIV/AIDS Awareness programs, cancer, drugs. Untouchables
J. Social Services: - K. Other Ministries: -
 Distributing goat, cow,  Using gospel T-shirts, gospel cups, vessels
buffalo, stitching machines  Sms’ Ministry: sending sms to others with gospel
 Samaritan Ministry (distributing Samaritan boxes)
 Clean and green (cleaning  Video shows - using Dayasagar (Hindi),
roads and planting trees) Karunamaisu (Telegu films)
 Printing train and bus reservation forms and passes
applications.
 Old-aged Homes.
 Bore Well Ministry (digging Well) and providing
water during summer time where water is not
available
 Naomi House (for widows)  Slum Ministry

 Orphanages  Neighbourhood ministry: One of the ministries for

presenting the gospel to Muslims.

 Making new roads  Wall writings

 Old-aged Homes.
 Bore Well Ministry (digging Well) and providing
water during summer time where water is not
available
 Naomi House (for widows)  Slum Ministry

 Orphanages  Neighbourhood ministry: One of the ministries for

presenting the gospel to Muslims.

 Making new roads  Wall writings

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L. New Methods: -
 Email ministry: this age is computer age. We can use Internet to present them gospel. Orkut,
Face book, Outlook…etc.
 Website: clips – using clips to present the gospel.
 Magic Shows
 Challi Vendram: Arranging water facilities in centres during summer.
 Counselling Centres
 Competitions: General Knowledge, songs, essay writing.
 Conducting Musical Nights
 Games and Tournaments: By conducting or organizing tournaments we can present the gospel.
 Conducting Open-Air meetings under tree without calling anyone praising, singing,
worshiping, preaching, giving, giving tracts for discount (like freewill offering).
 Advertisements: about heaven and hell, and Christ Love.

3. Challenges and Hindrances (based on local church)

Every religion, every world-view, and every ideology makes claims and, therefore, challenges others.
Christianity is no exception to this rule. There are at least tow factors, which are involved in this
process of ‘challenging’ and ‘being challenged’. Firstly, the legal point, i.e. the ‘outward’ willingness
of religions, world-views, and ideologies to grant others exactly the same freedom of conscience and
religion that they demand for themselves. Secondly, the spiritual ethical point, i.e. the ‘inner’
willingness of all parties involved to look carefully at their own ‘claims and challenges’ in the light of
the ‘claims and challenges’ of others.2 “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (I Cor. 9: 16 –27). In
Indian society we can perceive a constant change in the traditions and social practices after
Independence. In the sphere of family, marriage, caste system, social, economic, and political
institutions there have taken place significant changes. A considerable change in the structure of Indian
society is taking place.3

4. Hindrances
Now a day churches are organised for maintenance, not for mission. They are inward looking, and the
ministry is expected to nourish the faithful, not to reach out into the chill waters of contemporary
unbelief to draw new members in. Many clergy have never led anyone to faith.4
“The missionary witness is at all times a test of the faith of the church.” In Indonesia, graduate students
in the theological colleges and seminaries may not have been allowed to graduate until they had
personally brought into being a new church of not less than thirty baptised members. 5 No wonder there
is a fantastic explosion of new churches in Indonesia, when evangelism is given such priority. It is
apparent that we are facing massive hindrances to evangelism in the local church. But there are more
that can be mentioned.6
Imperatives, reflection, if the hindrances are massive, the imperatives for evangelism are stark. And
how are weakened Christians going to cope with the massive needs in society all around them? The
growth of urbanisation, the escalation of crime, sexual shambles of our day, the moral decay in public
life, the corruption in government circles, the destruction of the environment, the signs of our
decadence and insensate selfishness on every side: how are we to make an impact on these things with
an enfeebled church? Nor is the world population standing still. Global figures released in 1987 give
2
Michale Amaladoss SJ “Mission and dialogue are converging movements..” in PartII: Missionary Theology (Bangalore:
Centre For Contemporary Chrisitianity, 2006), 411-412.
3
R.N. Sharma, Indian Society (Delhi: Indian Promoters & Publications Ltd., 1989), 35.
4
Michael Green, Freed To Serve (Hodder & Stoughton).
5
Don Posterski, Reinventing Evangelism (Inter-Versity Press).
6
Howard Snyder, Liberating the Church (Inter-Versity Press).

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an added note of urgency to world evangelisation – in which the local churches must play their role. It
is imperative that we communicate this challenge to people in the pews.7
5. What can a minister do to mobilise the local church for evangelism?
If we want to take evangelism seriously in the local church, we cold do worse than go back to our
roots. Here are some of the things that are needed for the betterment of ministry. They are as follows.
First, you must gain a passion for evangelism. This is more often caught than taught. It may be caught
from the Lord, caught form going on a mission with others, and caught too, from someone in your
congregation. But unless you have a passion for reaching out with the good news to those who do not
know it, it will be hard to mobilise your local church.
Secondly, you need to teach about it. You need to teach the importance of evangelism. Along with
worship, it is, in some shape or form, the primary calling of all Christians. We do not live for
ourselves. Our Christianity is meant to be infectious.
Third, you need to model it. You need to start preaching evangelistically from time to time in church.
You must try to help individuals to faith, both in your personal study and in the occasional services, at
birth, death and marriage, which offer important opportunities. If you model evangelism, however bad
you may feel you are at it, it will catch on in the church.
Fourth, you need to review the worship of your church. Are its friendliness, its prayerfulness, its
concern for the locality, its music, its facilities such as would convince the casual visitor of its
relevance to real life? If not, changes are called for. And they will be resisted from within!
Fifth, you need to build up a core of committed people, renewed by the Holy Spirit and actively
concerned to allow his leading and Lordship in their lives and the church. You need to love them, to
invest yourself in them, to train them, to encourage them. They will become the front-line troops in
evangelism.
Sixth, you need to take great care in staff appointments. Do not appoint men and women who are like
you and will agree with all your policies. Appoint people who are different from you, men and women
with different gifts who appeal to different kinds of people. The youth pastor, the music director and
the assistant pastor are three of the key posts. You need to become a fellowship of leadership. You
need a unity that is born of diversity.
Seventh, you need to teach the church the importance of the spiritual weapons god has given us, rather
than the material resources we think so vital. Prayer, spiritual warfare, Scripture, openness to the Spirit,
holiness, love: these are the things that will make your church evangelistic. It will not be the
techniques or the finance or the manuals on evangelism or the revival campaigns. You
Need to involve lay people with you in outreach, evangelism and even mission.8

In this way you model body life, gain from the gifts they develop, and spread the enthusiasm that is
such an attractive part of evangelism. You will find yourself sensing when a new initiative is possible
that may be fruitful in evangelism. It will become not a chore, not a project, but a way of life.

6. Conclusion: - Preaching the Gospel in context is essential and very effective. We can’t share gospel
without understanding society especially like Indian society, which is multi religious, culture and
languages. The world is changing world so we have to find new methods for presenting the gospel.
The methods that, we are following may not help some times to reach unreached people. Some times
new methods also will not be effective. In one word God has to work in their heart. God has to prepare
their heart for receiving the gospel.

7
Paul Stevens, Liberating the Laity (Inter-Versity Press).
8
David Watson, I Believe in Evangelism (Hodder & Stoughton).