How to Spread The Gospel In Your Community
Spreading the gospel takes courage, and it involves actively listening to your neighbors and participating in your community. It involves building bridges, learning the culture, language and context— so you can share the gospel in the right tune and at the right place and time.
When you think about how to spread the gospel in your community or when you think of the word evangelism, what comes to mind? Do you wonder if you’ll have the courage to share your testimony or that verse at just the right time?
What if God just wants you to love your neighbors, to listen to them, to learn from them, to seek the shalom of your neighborhood, and build bridges by being a restorative presence in all the places you live and work and play?
God first loved us and out of that great love, we love our neighbors, communities and cities and desire to learn how to spread the gospel—this great love—with others. Because the gospel changes everything.
Believing that the gospel speaks to every situation allows us to come close as Jesus came close. Jesus himself came close, listening and even crossing cultural lines when reaching out to the lost. We can take our cues from Christ himself— becoming intimately acquainted with our neighbors' hopes, fears, questions, and objections. Being exposed to what is around us shouldn’t scare us but encourage us to pray for and love our neighbors with the gospel.
Here are some options to consider as you learn how to spread the gospel in your community:
Do prayer walks through all sections of your neighborhood. Ask God to help you see the community as he sees it. Invite community members to join you.
Participate in the life of your community—get into the flow of attending parks and recreation areas, block parties, and cultural events.
Be interested in things your neighbors are interested in. Ask them questions and learn from them.
Participate in forums and events addressing community issues, such as the Community Board, town halls, advocacy organizations, and Police Community Affairs.
Come close to those on the margins, those who are often overlooked. Learn what these neighbors know about the community. What’s working and what’s not. How can you steward your power to work with them in seeking the peace and wholeness of the community?
Mobilize volunteers in short-term or ongoing opportunities with community organizations working for the common good, such as summer youth programs and community gardens.
Mobilize your church for an initiative that meets a critical need in your community. Don’t guess! Meet with neighbors, organizations, and institutions to discern needs. Connect, listen, learn, and serve!
To learn more about being this kind of restorative presence in your neighborhood, check out this course: A Guide to Gospel Neighboring.