Is Evangelism Dead?

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." – Acts 1:8 NIV

Recently, I watched a YouTube video by Carey Nieuwhof titled "5 Reasons Evangelism is on Life Support in the US Church.[1]" In it, he shared a sobering statistic: 99% of pastors say their church is not very effective at evangelism. He went on to outline five reasons why:

The culture wars have created an "us vs. them" mentality.
The world continues to reject self-righteous, hypocritical Christianity.
Unchurched people feel judged, not loved, by Christians.
Church leaders have settled for transfer growth.
Many pastors have given up on a battle they feel they’re losing.

I don’t disagree with these reasons, but I’d add one more: The rules of the game have changed, and most church leaders don’t know what they are anymore.

For too long, we’ve relied on Sunday morning sermons to do the heavy lifting. But here’s the problem: the unchurched aren’t coming to our services. Many people today distrust institutional religion. To them, church feels irrelevant or even harmful. But does that mean people have stopped looking for hope, purpose, and truth? Absolutely not.

So if the old methods aren’t working, what is? How can we adapt?

A Lesson from the Past

Before social media and 24-hour news cycles, people got their updates from trusted TV anchors like Walter Cronkite. Before that, it was radio voices like Edward R. Murrow. And long before modern media, town criers stood in the streets, announcing the news for all to hear.

But did you know the very first town criers weren’t just in old English villages? They go all the way back to ancient Greece and Rome. These were runners who would bring important news—whether the birth of a royal heir or victory in battle—to those anxiously waiting. The Greeks had a word for them: Evangelion—bearers of good news.

This word is where we get evangelist. And when Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:5 to “do the work of an evangelist,” he’s essentially saying, "Timothy, be an evangelion—someone who brings the Good News wherever you go."

The world is desperate for good news. And you and I? We’re called to bring it. Not from a pulpit. Not in a stadium. But in our everyday lives.

5 Ways to Be an Evangelion Every Day

The rules of evangelism have changed, but the mission hasn’t. Here are five ways we can be bearers of the Good News in our daily lives:

1. Live in a Way That Makes People Curious

Evangelism isn’t just about what we say—it’s about how we live. People should see something different in us. How do we handle stress? How do we treat difficult people? How do we navigate hardship with hope? When others notice, it opens the door for spiritual conversations.

2. Listen Before You Speak

Too often, Christians jump straight into telling people what they should believe. But people don’t care what you know until they know that you care. Ask about their struggles, their doubts, their hopes. Be genuinely interested in their lives. When the time is right, they’ll be more open to hearing about the hope you’ve found in Christ.

3. Be the First to Show Grace

Our culture is filled with division, outrage, and criticism. But Jesus was known for His radical grace. Whether it was the woman at the well or Zacchaeus the tax collector, Jesus met people where they were and showed them love. If we want to be evangelions, we need to do the same.

4. Share Your Story, Not Just Theology

You don’t need a theology degree to share Jesus. You just need your story. People may argue with doctrine, but they can’t argue with your experience. How has Jesus changed your life? What difference has He made? Be ready to share—not in a preachy way, but as someone who has found something truly life-giving.

5. Use the Digital Town Square

The town criers of old proclaimed their messages in the village square. Today, our digital world is a new kind of town square. Are we using it well? Are we spreading encouragement and truth, or are we just another voice adding to the noise? Be intentional about sharing hope online, whether it’s through social media, messages of encouragement, or uplifting conversations.

Evangelism Isn’t Dead—It’s Just Different

Paul told Timothy, "Make Good News your life’s work." That calling hasn’t changed for us.

The way we reach people must change. But the message remains the same: Jesus is the hope this world desperately needs.

So go be an evangelion—not just in a church building, but in your workplace, in your neighborhood, and in every conversation you have. Because the Good News is too good to keep to ourselves.

If you’re ready to embrace your role as an evangelion—a bearer of Good News—let’s start the conversation. Evangelism isn’t dead, but it does need a fresh approach, one rooted in authentic relationships and everyday interactions.

If you’d like to learn more about how your church can share the Gospel in a way that truly connects with people, I’d love to help. My course book, Discipleship Builder, is designed to equip congregations with practical ways to do evangelism relationally. You can check it out here on Amazon.

I write a weekly blog just like this one, that you can find on my website: https://smallchurchcoaching.com , subscribe and get this kind of content each week.

I’d also love to hear your thoughts on this topic! Feel free to connect with me on Facebook at @ItsTimeSam, join the conversation in my Leadership Edge for Smaller Churches group here, or find me on X @ItsTimeSam. Let’s work together to make sharing the Good News a natural part of our daily lives!