The Neglected Tools of Evangelism, Part 2

Author - Umn ministry

May 28, 2021

Useful tools for the ongoing task of witness into the world; prayer, listening, and thanksgiving.

In the first part of this three-part series, we considered prayer as being a neglected tool for evangelism. In this second part, we will explore another practice all too often neglected in our witness to the world: listening.

Neglected Tool Two: Listening

Have you ever been in conversation with someone where you couldn’t get a word in edgeways?

In You’re Not Listening Kate Murphy recounts a story about Richard ‘Dick’ Bass, known for going on ambitious expeditions and talking about them at length with any in earshot. On one particular flight, he chatted for the duration to a gentleman next to him about his exploits climbing Everest and his plan to do so again. As the flight was landing Bass realized he hadn ’t made time for his new travel companion to introduce himself. “That ’s okay,” the man said, “I’m Neil Armstrong. Nice to meet you.”

Dick Bass missed out on a great conversation, however, when we fail to listen to those we speak with we are likely to miss more than an interesting anecdote or two— we risk missing the person themselves.

It can be deeply frustrating to feel spoken at rather than with; to be the recipient of a monologue versus the partner in a dialogue. For most of us, to not be heard is worse than being misunderstood, it is tantamount to not being seen or valued.

Unfortunately, evangelism can too often be expressed as a one-way communique. There will always be a place for public evangelism from the platform, stage, or pulpit; but when it comes to personal evangelism (the daily opportunity for most Christians), a one-way communique is a poor practice on a number of levels, especially as it positions those we speak to as evangelistic targets ...