Editing Evangelism

{{Short description|Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ}}
{{About||the similarly named movement in Protestantism|Evangelicalism|the post-Vatican II Catholic understanding of "evangelization" |New evangelization|the 16th-century Italian reform movement|Spirituali}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
[[Image:Jakob Jordaens 002.jpg|thumb|The [[Four Evangelists]]]]

'''Evangelism''', or '''witnessing''', is the act of sharing the Christian [[the gospel|gospel]], the message and [[teachings of Jesus|teachings]] of [[Jesus Christ]]. It is typically done with the intention of [[Conversion to Christianity|converting]] others to [[Christianity]].{{efn|Such intentions may be regarded as [[proselytising]], which is illegal in many countries.}} Evangelism can take several forms, such as personal conversations, [[preaching]], [[Christian media|media]], and is especially associated with [[Christian mission|missionary work]].

Christians who specialize in evangelism are often known as '''evangelists''', whether they are in their home communities or living as [[Christian mission|missionaries]] in the field, although some Christian traditions refer to such people as ''missionaries'' in either case. Some Christian traditions consider evangelists to be in a leadership position; they may be found preaching to large meetings or in governance roles. In addition, Christian groups who encourage evangelism are sometimes known as evangelistic or ''evangelist''.

==Etymology==
{{main|The gospel}}
The word ''evangelist'' comes from the [[Koine Greek]] word {{lang|grc|[[wiktionary:εὐανγέλιον|εὐανγέλιον]]}} (transliterated as ''euangelion'') via Latinised ''evangelium'' as used in the canonical titles of the [[Four Gospels]], authored by (or attributed to) [[Matthew the Evangelist|Matthew]], [[Mark the Evangelist|Mark]], [[Luke the Evangelist|Luke]], and [[John the Evangelist|John]] (also known as the [[Four Evangelists]]). The Greek word {{lang|grc|εὐαγγέλιον}} originally meant a reward given to the messenger for good news ({{lang|grc|εὔ}} = "good", {{lang|grc|ἀνγέλλω}} = "I bring a message"; the word "[[angel]]" comes from the same root) and later "good news" itself.

The verb form of ''euangelion'',<ref>The 7 Principles of an Evangelistic Life, p. 32, Douglas M. Cecil, Moody Publishers</ref> (translated as "evangelism"), occurs rarely in older Greek literature outside the [[New Testament]], making its meaning more difficult to ascertain.  Parallel texts of the Gospels of Luke and Mark reveal a synonymous relationship between the verb ''euangelizo'' ({{lang|grc|[[wiktionary:εὑαγγελίζω|εὑαγγελίζω]]}}) and a Greek verb ''kerusso'' ({{lang|grc|[[wiktionary:κηρύσσω|κηρύσσω]]}}), which means "to proclaim".<ref>[http://www.truevictories.com/2007/10/downloads.html Bible as a Second Language] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201171636/http://www.truevictories.com/2007/10/downloads.html |date=December 1, 2008 }}, webpage, retrieved November 5, 2008</ref>

==Methods==
{{See also|Approaches to evangelism}}
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 194-0798-41, Düsseldorf, Veranstaltung mit Billy Graham.jpg|thumb|[[Billy Graham]] in Düsseldorf (1954)]]

Common forms of spreading Evangelism include [[preaching]] or distributing bibles; in tracts, newspapers, and magazines; through the electronic media; and by street evangelists.<ref>Roswith Gerloff, Afe Adogame, Klaus Hock, ''Christianity in Africa and the African Diaspora: The Appropriation of a Scattered Heritage'', Continuum, UK, 2011, p. 190</ref><ref>George Thomas Kurian, James D. Smith III, ''The Encyclopedia of Christian Literature, Volume 2'', Scarecrow Press, US, 2010, p. 95</ref><ref>Martin I. Klauber, Scott M. Manetsch, Erwin W. Lutzer, ''The Great Commission: Evangelicals and the History of World Missions'', B&H Publishing Group, US, 2008, p. 123</ref> The Bible records that Jesus sent out his disciples to evangelize by visiting peoples homes in pairs of two believers (cf. {{Bibleverse|Luke|10:1–12|KJV}}).<ref name="Rainer1989">{{cite book |last1=Rainer |first1=Thom S. |title=Evangelism in the twenty-first century: the critical issues |date=1989 |publisher=H. Shaw Publishers |isbn=978-0-87788-238-1 |page=148 |language=English}}</ref> In the same text, Jesus mentioned that few people were willing to evangelize, despite there being many people who would be receptive to his [[the gospel|Gospel message]].<ref name="Muzorewa2005">{{cite book |last1=Muzorewa |first1=Abel Tendekayi |title=Evangelism That Decolonizes the Soul: Partnership with Christ |date=December 1, 2005 |publisher=[[Wipf and Stock Publishers]]|isbn=978-1-59752-445-2 |page=9 |language=English}}</ref>

The [[child evangelism movement]], which focuses on evangelizing children between the ages of 4 and 14 years old, originated in the 20th century.<ref name="4-14core">{{cite web|url=http://www.4to14window.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/4-14-Window-Golden-Age-of-Opportunity-Brochure.pdf |title=4/14 Window – a Golden Age of Opportunity |author=Luis Bush |publisher=4/14 Movement |date=June 18, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014194751/http://www.4to14window.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/4-14-Window-Golden-Age-of-Opportunity-Brochure.pdf |archive-date=2013-10-14 }}</ref> Beginning in the 1970s, a group of Christian athletes known as [[The Power Team]] spawned an entire genre of Christian entertainment based on strong-man exploits mixed with a Christian message and usually accompanied by an opportunity to respond with a prayer for [[salvation]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://journalstar.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/coming-on-strong-power-team-lifts-weights-and-spirits/article_dbe77b67-99ce-59f4-b994-d0c0e5891228.html|title=Coming on strong: Power Team lifts weights and spirits|last1=Reeves|first1=Bob|website=Lincoln Journal Star|date=July 30, 2004 }}</ref> New opportunities for evangelism have been provided in recent decades by increased travel opportunities and by instant communications over the internet.<ref name="Dulles">[[Avery Dulles|Dulles SJ, Avery]]. Evangelization for the Third Millennium (Kindle Locations 781–782). Paulist Press.</ref>
[[File:Francisco Papa Jornada Mundial de la Juventud Rio de Janeiro Julio 2013 A.JPG|thumb|[[World Youth Day]], an evangelistic event, in [[Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil, in 2013.]]

==Missionary work==
{{Further|Christian mission}}

===Catholicism===
{{Main|New evangelization}}

===Protestantism===
In 1831, the [[Presbyterian Mission Agency]] was founded by the [[Presbyterian Church in the United States of America]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Parker |first=Michael |title=History of World Mission |url=http://www.history.pcusa.org/history-online/topics-note/history-world-mission |website=Presbyterian Historical Society |year=2012 |access-date=June 7, 2014}}</ref>

==== Evangelicalism ====
[[File: Georgia Dome - Passion Conference.JPG|thumb| [[Passion Conferences]], a music and evangelism festival at [[Georgia Dome]] in [[Atlanta]], Georgia, United States, in 2013]]
{{Further|Evangelicalism}}
Various evangelical mission organizations have specialized in evangelism throughout history. In 1792, [[BMS World Mission]] was founded in [[Kettering, England|Kettering]], England by [[William Carey (missionary)|William Carey]].<ref>Robert E. Johnson, ''A Global Introduction to Baptist Churches'', Cambridge University Press, UK, 2010, p. 99</ref><ref>J. Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann, ''Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices'', ABC-CLIO, US, 2010, p. 292</ref> In 1814, the [[American Baptist International Ministries]] was founded by the [[American Baptist Churches USA]] in United States.<ref>George Thomas Kurian, Mark A. Lamport, ''[[Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States]], Volume 5'', Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2016, p. 63</ref> In 1865, [[OMF International]] was founded by [[Hudson Taylor]] in England.<ref>Mark A. Lamport, ''Encyclopedia of Christianity in the Global South, Volume 2'', Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2018, p. 148</ref> In 1893, in [[Lagos]] in Nigeria, [[SIM (Christian organization)|SIM]] was founded by [[Walter Gowans]], [[Rowland Bingham]], and [[Thomas Kent]].<ref>J. Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann, ''Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices'', ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 2738</ref> Samuel E. Hill, John H. Nicholson, and William J. Knights founded [[Gideons International]], an organization which distributes free Bibles to hotels, motels, hospitals, military bases, prisons, schools, and universities, in [[Janesville, Wisconsin|Janesville]] in Wisconsin, United States, in 1899.<ref>George Thomas Kurian, Mark A. Lamport, ''[[Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States]], Volume 5'', Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2016, p. 962</ref>

In 1922, Canadian evangelical evangelist [[Aimee Semple McPherson]], founder of the [[Foursquare Church]], was the first woman to use radio to reach a wider audience in the United States.<ref>Christopher H. Sterling, ''Biographical Encyclopedia of American Radio'', Routledge, USA, 2013, p. 253</ref> In 1951, producer Dick Ross and [[Baptist]] evangelist [[Billy Graham]] founded the film production company [[World Wide Pictures]], which would make videos of his preaching and Christian films.<ref>John Lyden, ''The Routledge Companion to Religion and Film'', Taylor & Francis, Abingdon-on-Thames, 2009, p. 82</ref>

In 1960, more than half of the Protestant American missionaries were evangelical.<ref>Samuel S. Hill, Charles H. Lippy, Charles Reagan Wilson, ''Encyclopedia of Religion in the South'', Mercer University Press, USA, 2005, {{p.|304}}</ref> American and European [[pentecostalism|Pentecostal]] missionaries are also numerous, Pentecostalism can develop independently by non-foreign residents in various regions of the world, notably in Africa, South America, and Asia.<ref>Allan Anderson, ''An Introduction to Pentecostalism: Global Charismatic Christianity'', Cambridge University Press, Royaume-Uni, 2013, p. 175</ref> [[Youth with a Mission]] was founded in 1960 in United States by [[Loren Cunningham]] and his wife Darlene.<ref>Brian Stiller, ''Evangelicals Around the World: A Global Handbook for the 21st Century'', Thomas Nelson, USA, 2015, p. 22</ref><ref>Erwin Fahlbusch, Geoffrey William Bromiley, ''The Encyclopedia of Christianity, Volume 3 '', Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, USA, 2003, p. 584</ref>

The [[Christian Broadcasting Network]] was founded in 1961 in [[Virginia Beach]], United States, by Baptist minister [[Pat Robertson]].<ref>Randall Herbert Balmer, ''Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism: Revised and expanded edition'', Baylor University Press, USA, 2004, p. 157</ref>

In 1974, [[Billy Graham]] and the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization organized the [[First International Congress on World Evangelization]] in [[Lausanne]].<ref>Mark A. Lamport, ''Encyclopedia of Christianity in the Global South, Volume 2'', Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2018, p. 451</ref>

In July 1999, TopChrétien, an evangelical Christian [[web portal]] and [[social networking|social network]], was launched by Éric Célérier, pastor of the [[Assemblies of God]] of France and Estelle Martin.<ref>Michel Béghin, [https://www.christianismeaujourdhui.info/2015/02/15/ce-jour-la-le-15-juillet-1999-nait-le-top-chretien/ Ce jour-là, le 15 juillet 1999, naît le Top Chrétien] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004212827/https://www.christianismeaujourdhui.info/2015/02/15/ce-jour-la-le-15-juillet-1999-nait-le-top-chretien/ |date=October 4, 2021 }}, christianismeaujourdhui.info, Switzerland, February 15, 2015</ref> 

In 2004, South Korea became the second-largest source of missionaries in the world, after the United States and ahead of England.<ref>{{cite web|author-first1=Norimitsu|author-last1=Onishi|author-link=Norimitsu Onishi|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/01/world/asia/korean-missionaries-carrying-word-to-hardtosway-places.html|title=Korean Missionaries Carrying Word to Hard-to-Sway Places|website=The New York Times|date=1 November 2004}}</ref><ref>Quentin J. Schultze, Robert Herbert Woods Jr., ''Understanding Evangelical Media: The Changing Face of Christian Communication'', InterVarsity Press, USA, 2009, p. 244</ref>

In January 2007, [[GodTube]], a site for sharing videos related to Christianity, especially evangelical, was founded by Christopher Wyatt of [[Plano, Texas]], in the United States, then a student at Dallas Theological Seminary.<ref>Heidi Campbell, ''When Religion Meets New Media'', Routledge, Abingdon-on-Thames, 2010, p. 191</ref>

In 2007, there were over 10,000 [[baptists|Baptist]] [[Christian missionary|missionaries]] in overseas [[Mission (Christianity)|missions]] around the world.<ref>William H. Brackney, ''Historical Dictionary of the Baptists'', Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 391</ref>

== Controversies ==
Some consider evangelism to be [[proselytism|proselytising]], which is protected in the United States but illegal in some countries,<ref>Galina Lindquist, Don Handelman (2012). ''Religion, Politics, and Globalization: Anthropological Approaches'', p. 224.</ref> while others where it is suppressed argue it is merely [[free speech]].<ref>La Croix, "[https://www.la-croix.com/Urbi-et-Orbi/Documentation-catholique/Actes-du-pape/Le-pape-Francois-denonce-confusion-entre-evangelisation-proselytisme-lapproche-mois-missionnaire-extraordinaire-2019-08-02-1201038923 Le pape François dénonce la confusion entre évangélisation et prosélytisme à l'approche du mois missionnaire extraordinaire]", France, August 1, 2019.</ref><ref name="auto1">Jean-Paul Willaime et Flora Genoux, "[https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2012/02/03/pour-les-evangeliques-l-idee-reste-qu-etre-croyant-cela-doit-se-voir_1637267_3224.html Pour les évangéliques, l'idée reste qu'être croyant, cela doit se voir]", lemonde.fr, France, February 3, 2012.</ref><ref name="auto">Loup Besmond de Senneville, "[https://www.la-croix.com/Religion/Actualite/Les-protestants-evangeliques-revendiquent-d-avoir-le-droit-de-dire-leur-foi-2015-01-25-1272632 Les Protestants évangéliques revendiquent d'avoir le droit de dire leur foi]", la-croix.com, France, January 25, 2015.</ref> The fact that [[evangelical]]s speak about their faith in public is sometimes criticized by the media and it is often associated with proselytism.<ref name="auto1"/> According to the evangelicals, [[freedom of religion]] and [[freedom of expression]] allow them to discuss their faith like they would discuss other topics.<!-- and does anyone disagree with that? --><ref name="auto"/><!-- Having an English-language source for this would be nice. -->

Christian films made by American evangelical production companies are also regularly associated with proselytism.<ref>Barry Hertz, "[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/film-reviews/miracles-from-heaven-religious-film-has-an-insulting-and-forced-message/article29247658/ Miracles from Heaven: Religious film has an insulting and forced message]", ''The Globe and Mail'', Canada, April 18, 2014.</ref><ref>Nick Schager, "[https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/overcomer-review-1203311425/ Film Review: 'Overcomer']", ''Variety'', US, August 22, 2019.</ref> According to Sarah-Jane Murray, screenwriting teacher at the US Film and Christian Television Commission United, Christian films are works of art, not proselytism.<ref>Carl Hoover, "[https://www.wacotrib.com/entertainment/accesswaco/has-hollywood-finally-found-religion-faith-based-films-here-to/article_f3fd04e5-9c4f-5984-8e29-42820f7590e5.html Has Hollywood finally found religion? Faith-based films here to stay]", ''Waco Tribune-Herald'', US, April 18, 2014.</ref> For Hubert de Kerangat, communications manager at SAJE Distribution, a distributor of these American Christian films in France, if Christian films are considered proselytism, all films are a form of proselytism, since films of all genres could each be said to carry a message.<ref>Thomas Imbert, "[http://www.allocine.fr/article/fichearticle_gen_carticle=18678077.html SAJE Distribution : rencontre avec ce distributeur centré sur la foi]", allocine.fr, France, January 9, 2019.</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Christianity}}
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* [[10/40 Window]]
* [[Dawah]]
* [[Open-air preaching]]
* [[Religious conversion]]
* [[Technology evangelist]]
* [[The night of churches]]
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== Footnotes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wiktionary|evangelism|evangelist|εὐαγγέλιον|evangelical|evangelization|proselytism}}

{{Religion topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Evangelism| ]]
[[Category:Christian missions]]
[[Category:Christian religious occupations]]
[[Category:Practical theology]]
[[Category:Religious activism]]