Next-Generation Evangelists!!!

Can God use High Schoolers to reach out to the world for Jesus Christ? You better believe He can!!! And it’s very exciting!!!

For the fourth year in a row, I had the honor to teach a 7-part Evangelism Class at Jesse Remington High School, a local Christian High School.

Do 14-17-year-olds have the spiritual and emotional maturity to take in the deluge of information I wanted to share with them? Would these kids be able to handle it?

I was astonished EVERY class at how mature the students were. They paid excellent attention. They participated in the discussions so well! They asked great questions. It was sooooo encouraging!

And I think I may have titled this post incorrectly. These Teens really aren’t “Next-Generation” Evangelists. They’re “NOW” Evangelists! They’re ready to be used by the King of kings immediately!!!

Here is the Syllabus I developed for our sessions (each session was an hour and a half):

1. “Evangelism is Great News”
   Evangelism is great news for Christians, yet many Christians see evangelism as a chore they know they must do, rather than a gift we get to do. Sadly, many miss the WONDERFUL BLESSING it is to be God’s ambassador. How amazing that God would include us in His plan to save others! It’s love in action.

   Resources: Share my testimony with “Coloring Book,” or other magic trick (Maybe breaking chains). Apple with seeds illustration, “Evangelism Linebacker” to finish off. “Love Test” for homework.

2. “The Theology of Evangelism”
   To warn of the danger of presenting a man-centered gospel, and to warn of the danger of making the gospel about “happiness” instead of “righteousness.” (The Bill Gates dilemma – he’s the richest man in the world with whatever he wants, but if he dies without Christ, he’ll go to Hell.) Our job is to plant seeds and we are “successful” if we do that, regardless of how people appear to respond.

   Resources: Way of the Master “Hell’s Best Kept Secret” video (30 minutes). Have them memorize 10 Commandments for homework.

3. “Rubber Meets Road Evangelism”
   Practical, practical, practical! How do you share the gospel with anybody. How do you avoid “rabbit trails” and how do you keep the conversation on what is important. Vital class!

   Resources: Watch Way of the Master “WDJD” video. Give out “Evangelism Cheat Sheet” cards with WDJD and CCCTTTT. Kirk and Gang Members video. Hand out “Write Your Own Testimony” assignment.

4. “The Heartbreak of False Conversion”
   Many people have been hurt by the wrong gospel message. Changing the gospel hurts people. Not only that, but it inoculates the lost. And some of the people who are most against our message are those who think they’re saved.

   Resources: Watch Way of the Master “True and False Conversions” video.

5. “Real-World Apologetics”
   How do you answer skeptics, seekers, mockers? Ask good questions. Learn to notice logical fallacies. Learn that it’s okay not to know. Ask for permission to look into their question and to meet up with them later.

   Resources: Watch “The Atheism Delusion” video and discuss it. Learn to use sandcastles to prove God’s existence, Various tracts that show human fallibility.

6. “Getting Off the Ground with Evangelism”
   After most people are trained in evangelism, their reaction often is, “Now what?” Getting started in an evangelistic conversation can be the most difficult part. How do you engage a stranger and swing the conversation from the natural to the supernatural? How to make evangelism a “lifestyle” and not an “event.”

   Resources: Gospel Tracts. “George Street” short video. Q&A.

7. “Evangelism Road Trip”
   To watch evangelism in action and give opportunity for people to participate if they are so lead. Heading down to the Subways in Boston to be part of Open Air Campaigners outreach to people from around the world!

Here are some photos of the students, and how it went when I took them into the Subway in Boston to put their Evangelism skills in action!

These 7 Teens are amazing. They pay such great attention in class, and ask good questions and participate. They all did their homework and writing assignments faithfully. They learned so much. I love teaching these guys!

Sometimes we have guests. This week there were prospective students visiting the school. so they got to be a part of the class too!

Jarvis the Evange-poodle came to class every week, and he was a big hit. K is holding him here and she asked me many times if she could steal him. My answer was... NO!

Back row, left to right: E, R, I, K, (Jarvis the Evange-poodle), and me. Front row, left to right: J, K, I

What an embarrassment! Did K seriously wear a "Buffalo Bills" hat on her way into Boston??? Seriously? Well, there's grace for that. :)

We drove to the subway station and got on a train to take us into the heart of the city!

This is Manuel. He thinks he's an angel, and that he doesn't need Jesus because he's been to Heaven and Hell and the stars. Manuel told us that he's mad at God because he wanted to stay an angel in Heaven and didn't want to be sent to Earth with flesh. He also said that women are responsible for all the sin in the Bible. He's either mentally ill or demon-possessed. I'm so proud of E and R for listening with compassion and patience, and also steering the conversation to Jesus and our need to be saved.

Between Chris and myself, the students got to see nearly a dozen Open-Air messages in the subway. You can see that those in the crowd are really paying attention to what Chris is saying! I'm so glad the students got to see that over and over.

This is Addie (Left). She listened to one of our Open Air messages and missed her train so she could talk with E. Addie is so sweet! She told E that she was brought up in an overly-strict home, and has used that as an excuse to stray from Jesus. Addie's heart was so tender. She knew she's been wrong to avoid Jesus. Addie said she wants to read the Bible again, and E gave her a Gospel of John! Addie asked E if she could come to her Church this weekend. But when she realized that E goes to church in New Hampshire, she acknowledged that's too far away. But we gave her the name of a superb Church near where Addie lives! :) Addie asked for prayer, so let's all be praying for this kind young woman! I'm so thankful that the Evangelism Students got to see and be part of a true "Divine Appointment." Praise God!

I and K handed this woman a Gospel booklet and she asked them what it was about right there on the spot! :)

This Mom was reading the Gospel booklet out loud to her daughter. Chris started an Open-Air message and the Mom asked him more questions. Praise God!

I handing out gospel booklets.

This sweet woman! I approached her, and she said "No speak English." I said, "¿Hablas Español?" She said, "Creole." I ran to my lit bag and got her a Gospel booklet in Creole. She was so happy! Me too!

J did a super job handing out Gospel booklets!

This is Sam, a Muslim woman who E started a conversation with. Get this, Sam said she's received our gospel booklets before, has heard us give Open-Air messages in the subway, and thinks about Christianity a lot. And what are the chances in such a large subway system that she'd see us a lot? Jesus could really be drawing this sweet Muslim woman. Please be praying for Sam! Thanks and God bless you!

After evangelism... Falafel! The best in Boston!!! (Yummy!!!!)

After we were done ministering in the subway, I asked what their biggest “Take-away” was, and one of the students said, “It’s really so much easier to talk to people about Jesus than I thought.” And then I thought, “I’ve been telling you this all month!!!! But I guess sometimes people have to experience it for themselves.” I’m glad these young men and women did, and I trust Jesus will use them all their days!

I praise God for this opportunity to partner with the Christian School to spend time teaching these young people how to make Evangelism part of their life. Hallelujah!

If anyone wants me to provide similar training for your group, please contact me so we can chat about it.

That’s it for this update. We love you and thank Jesus for you!

Thank you so much for your prayers, financial support, and notes of encouragement, without which we would not be able to reach the Lost for Jesus Christ!

Please contact us anytime and let us know how we can pray for you!

And please feel free to forward this to anyone you think would be blessed by it!

For Christ and His gospel,

Mark, Shelby, Vivienne, Juliana, Caleb, and Gabriella