A Fall Harvest Part 2 - Sowing Seeds of Faith: Evangelism and Outreach
- Sam Peters
- Jan 21
- 5 min read
Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. – John 4:35-36 NIV
I know the “E” word scares a lot of people. It doesn’t have to. Relational evangelism is as simple as telling your own God story – who were you before you met Jesus, how’d you meet Him, and what difference has He made in your life since then. That’s the Good News you already have memorized.
Evangelism is like sowing seeds in a field. Each act of outreach, no matter how small, carries the potential to take root in someone’s heart and bring forth new life. Just as a farmer scatters seed with the hope of a future harvest, every invitation to church, every conversation about faith, and every act of kindness in the name of Christ is a seed planted for God’s kingdom.
Natural Opportunities for Outreach in the Fall
Last week I challenged you to prepare yourselves for the harvest. The fall season provides a unique opportunity for churches to engage their communities. As people settle back into routines after the summer, they may be more open to spiritual conversations or to reconnecting with a church. Fall festivals, Thanksgiving celebrations, and the approaching holiday season are all natural bridges for outreach. Many families are also navigating transitions like the start of a new school year, which can prompt them to seek stability and spiritual connection.
This time of year offers plenty of ways for churches to sow seeds of faith in the community, such as hosting community events, organizing service projects, or simply reaching out to those who may have drifted from regular church attendance. Churches can capitalize on the seasonal rhythms of gathering and belonging by inviting people into a welcoming environment where they can experience the love of Christ.
The Importance of Personal and Corporate Evangelism
Effective evangelism happens both on a personal level and through the collective efforts of the church. Personal evangelism is essential because it’s often in one-on-one conversations that people feel safe to ask questions and explore faith. As a pastor or church leader, encourage your congregation to embrace their role as everyday evangelists—sharing the gospel in their workplaces, neighborhoods, and social circles. Sometimes it’s as simple as inviting a friend to church or sharing a personal story of how God has worked in their lives.
Corporate evangelism, on the other hand, involves the church community working together to make a larger impact. This can be done through outreach events, service projects, and even strategic partnerships with other local organizations. For example, a fall festival or a back-to-school drive can create opportunities to meet physical needs while also inviting people into the life of the church. By presenting a unified effort, the church becomes a visible, welcoming presence in the community, showing the love of Christ in practical ways.
Building a Culture of Evangelism
To sow seeds of faith effectively, churches must build a culture where evangelism is a core value. This begins with leadership. Pastors should regularly teach about the importance of evangelism, modeling it through their own actions and encouraging their congregations to do the same. Offer training on how to share faith in a non-intimidating way, and create environments where people can bring their friends and neighbors without pressure. I have written a great “how to” book on relational evangelism called “Discipleship Builder”. There is a Leader’s Guide and a Student Guide available. The course can be taught in a single 8 hour session, or done as an eight-week small group.
This fall, challenge your congregation to be intentional about outreach. Equip them with tools to engage others—whether it’s through sharing a simple gospel message, giving a church invitation card, or serving together in the community. The more people see evangelism as a natural outflow of their faith, the more seeds will be sown, and the greater the harvest will be.
Evangelism, like farming, requires patience and trust. We don’t always see immediate results, but every seed planted has the potential to bear fruit in time. This fall, let your church be a place where seeds of faith are scattered widely and intentionally, trusting that God will bring the growth. The harvest is plentiful, and now is the time to start sowing.
Five Practical Outreach Ideas to Invite New Members into Worship
Let me get your creative juices going by providing five ways you can do outreach to your community:
1. Fall Festival or Community Event
Host a family-friendly event that serves as an open door to the community. Include worship, a gospel message, and plenty of opportunities for meaningful conversations. Many of us have fall events on the calendar already. How can we be more intentional at inviting the community to come through personal invitations and advertising? Be creative and invite them to come.
2. "Back to Church" Sunday
Encourage members to invite friends and neighbors back to church after the summer break. Use this as a kickoff event for a new sermon series on faith and spiritual growth. When you give your people an easy on ramp for inviting others it helps them be evangelistic.
3. Harvest of Hope: Service Projects
Organize community service projects focused on meeting tangible needs (food drives, school supply collections). Pair this with an invitation to join the church in worship.
4. Small Group Kickoff
Launch new small groups that meet in homes or public spaces, making them easy entry points for non-members who may feel more comfortable starting outside of Sunday worship. Keep the topics relevant to non-church people as well as your parishioners.
5. Digital Outreach Campaign
Use social media to launch a targeted outreach campaign, sharing the message of hope and extending digital invitations to your church. Encourage members to share videos or testimonies. Post relevant clips of your sermon series on social media so folks can “test drive” your service easily.
Reaping the Harvest
As you begin these outreach efforts you need to be prepared for them to come. Your folks shouldn’t be surprised when guests arrive. After all, you’ve been praying and reaching out to them. Expect God to provide a harvest. Have your hospitality team practice meeting new people and connecting them with others like them. When guests are made to feel valued and welcomed, they are more likely to come again.
I regularly coach and consult with church hospitality teams on how to create a “WOW” experience for new guests. If your church would like that kind of coaching shoot me an email: sam.peters@smallchurchcoaching.com.
You should have an intentional discipleship path for newcomers as well as those that have been around a while. I dealt with that in a recent article. One-on-one mentoring is perhaps the best way to nurture real discipleship.
Trusting the Lord of the Harvest
The Apostle Paul wrote:
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. – 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 NIV
Fall is a pivotal time in the cycle of our church year. It is a time for growth and transformation. Some will plant and some will water, but God will give you a harvest if you do your part. I’m praying for your evangelistic efforts this fall. Use this time to glean from your fields before the winter comes and no one can harvest.
I’d like to hear what ideas you come up with for your fall harvest campaign. You can share them with me at sam.peters@smallchurchcoaching.com.
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