When was the last time you heard an 8-year-old say, “Why
does tomorrow night’s service have to be shorter?”
Brianna Arrowood was overheard wishing that evangelism
training could last longer at the “Every Believer a Witness” series at Pitts
Baptist Church in Concord.
Brianna and her mom, Hannah, were among hundreds who
recently learned biblically-based, practical, and sometimes hilarious ways to
approach people with the gospel in their day-to-day lives.
The life-changing seminar was taught by Dennis Nunn, founder
of Living the New Life Ministries, and native of Charlotte’s Derita Community.
Dennis has identified four major reasons believers don’t regularly share the
gospel: apathy, ignorance, fear
and powerlessness. With boundless energy and enthusiasm, he motivated listeners
with practical methods to begin conversations about Jesus without fear.
Attendees left empowered to share the story of how the gospel changed their
lives.
“The beauty of the conference is the way it instilled a new
mindset for evangelism,” said Pastor Scott Davis. “We have to get back to
fulfilling the Great Commission. At church we are often so busy, so caught up
in good things, that we neglect the best thing. Dennis taught the
church to not be so focused on technique, but on actually doing
something. Spiritual leaders or children can use these methods which are
simple and transferrable.”
During the first of four evening sessions, Dennis provided a
simple, biblical model and walked attendees through the composition of their
own story of how Jesus came into their lives. He encouraged people to go out
the following day and simply ask someone they encountered, “Can I read you my
story?”
Attendees came back the following night amazed at people’s
responses to their non-threatening approach. On the second evening of the
conference, Dennis reminded attendees their responsibility is to simply share
the gospel and that God will change hearts.
Even though we should expect to face some opposition, there
is no pressure to perform; God simply wants us to share what He has done for
us. Using dozens of examples from his own life, Dennis spent the next session
presenting many practical, intentional ways to share your testimony. He gave
examples of entertaining and relaxed conversations he has instigated with
co-workers, hotel employees, servers, neighbors, friends and family. He taught
how to listen for openings to share the gospel and provided tips on how to
discuss faith in everyday life.
Davis is thrilled by the interest so many have shown. He
said, “The evidence that people were motivated was the great attendance each
night.”
The conference was well attended by all ages, and the
students of the church were especially engaged. One seventh-grader shared his
story with nine classmates. Gary Cline, a Sunday School teacher, had the
opportunity to hear Nunn train members of Mount Vernon Baptist in Boone last
year, and was anxious to invite him to Concord. Cline has found that the
training has helped him look for daily opportunities to share Jesus, and he
loves finding ways to connect with people.
Nunn developed the “Every Believer A Witness” training
seminar seven years ago to help create and maintain a culture of witnessing and
evangelism. He realized that 90 percent of Sunday morning “pew-sitters” were
not sharing their faith, and he never met a pastor who was satisfied with his
evangelism program. He claims, “We will never get the majority of our people
witnessing, and we will never fulfill the Great Commission, until our people
come to see evangelism as best done in a conversation rather than a
presentation.”
With his winsome personality and contagious enthusiasm, Dennis
teaches people how to start faith-based conversations every day. Pastor Davis
noticed that sharing the gospel is just “part of Dennis’ DNA.”
Nunn serves as a supportive coach to everyone he encounters,
modeling the principles he teaches. He traveled to the Eastern European country
of Moldova last year, and shared with 400 pastors who are now very anxious to
hear the full “Every Believer a Witness” seminar. As a result, Nunn’s materials
are being translated into Russian.
In November, Moldovan Pastor Victor Mirza will travel to the
United States to spend a week with Nunn, then return home to teach fellow
pastors. Visit livingthenewlife.org to learn more. The training can be taught
by a church’s senior pastor over six Sunday mornings, or can be taught by Nunn
in the Sunday through Wednesday “revival” format.
Members of Pitts Baptist have found that sharing the gospel
is easy, based on Nunn’s assertion that “everybody loves a story.” Simply
consider what your life was like before you met Jesus, how you came to accept
the gospel, and what Jesus Christ has done in your life since.
(EDITOR’S NOTE – Tara Willis is a freelance writer from
Charlotte and member of Hickory Grove Baptist Church.)