Believe in Jesus is an outreach campaign which takes the gospel to local highways and byways in Tower Hamlets. It gathers, trains, and sends Christians from local churches to take the message of hope to local marketplaces through Book Tables.
This year the Campaign also included knocking on doors of homes in nearby housing blocks. In Tower Hamlets, 80% of people live in flats. On the one hand, we don't know who we will meet. On the other hand, we believe the Word is powerful.
On the Saturday mornings of the Campaign, Churches of the East End gather for training led by the local LCM Missionary Team. The Campaign combines learning with going whilst being accessible to those new to evangelism.
It provides the opportunity for even the curious to experience evangelism for the first time. It may be in an unfamiliar area, but with a community where friends can invite friends to come.
People also learn from each other, and this year we've involved churches to deliver some training. By being involved, some have discerned their calling into full-time mission.
In a nutshell, this environment gets congregation members experiencing outreach afresh and learning how to start Gospel conversations with new people.
In Acts 4, we see Philip meeting an Ethiopian travelling on the same road.
The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth.”
The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
As they travelled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptised him. (Acts 4:29-37)
We see three helpful evangelism reminders in this story.
Learning how to get to the moment where you can have a gospel conversation is a highly transferrable skill that any friendly neighbourhood Christian can use.
Our vision is to see churches confidently pursue moments where they talk about Jesus with neighbours in their communities.
Some Christians may struggle to explain the gospel. But the more significant issue is knowing how and finding where to share it.
The Believe in Jesus campaign aims to show churches it is possible to use simple ways to engage strangers in spiritual conversation about Jesus. During the campaign, LCM missionaries are on tables and standing at the door, showing practically how to go. After a few conversations, by observing, church members start chipping in and leading parts of the discussions.
Before you know it, they are knocking on the door themselves and starting by introducing themselves first.
The LCM missionary should know when to step back and watch the church members step out and trust their own creativity.
Part of the conversation is about helping people realise there is a church around the corner with lots of things going on (and if they are interested, they are welcome to come). Part of that is also about asking them what faith (or religion) they personally identify with and why.
All sorts of conversations happen with everyone – from Atheists to Muslims. Churches become more aware of who is around them, so they can pray and follow up where there has been a fruitful conversation.
A lady who lives near Mile End lost her job again. She felt helpless, carrying a sense of shame and financial worry, wondering what her family would think when they found out.
When a local church volunteer and I knocked on the door on our way up the block on the morning of 11 March, she almost immediately invited us in, simply wanting someone to talk to.
Eventually, another pair on the way down the block knocked on the same door, and before you knew it, five of us were crowded in her lounge.
As we sat in her lounge, she spoke about her situation, quickly leading to spiritual things. I'll leave the rest of the conversation to your imagination. But the point is, much like Philip was invited into the chariot, we had found ourselves receiving an invitation and honouring her with our time by doing so.
I'm convinced this is why Jesus told the disciples to "not take anything with you on the journey" (Luke 9). Rather, be willing to put yourself in a weakened position where you could receive from others, and see the doors that open there.
Some people in your community want to talk. Who knows what situation you might be walking into or what they might invite you into?
The following week, other team members met a grandparent at the door who had lost their grandchild two days before. Another week we met a Muslim man who seemed uninterested in talking about Jesus. Still, he turned up the next week with his elderly mother at a church event, to our surprise.
If we are willing to go, things like this happen in every community which can lead to further conversations along the way.
We often see two opposite reactions when it comes to evangelism. Each church has a few people who are constantly sharing stories of who they share the gospel with unbelievable coincidences that just seem to happen around them. Whilst others feel left on the side-lines, often watching on while thinking "It never happens to me" or "That's just not my gifting".
A healthy Biblical perspective of evangelism is where the whole church is responsible for seeing evangelism happen one way or another. Much like attending a bring-and-share buffet, it only works if everyone brings something to the table. Some may contribute Pringles, whilst others bring home-cook Michelin-grade biryani. But that’s ok.
It goes wrong when the burden of evangelism gets divided. Some members feel it's not their area to own, and evangelists feel under-supported with little shared awareness about what is happening around them.
Most of the fruit in my ministry comes from being aware of others and willing when a moment to share the gospel presents itself. But nearly always, the fruit comes from perseverance and going, rather than from gifting alone.
Diverse church communities can connect with a wide range of people from various backgrounds and languages. One evangelist alone can only go so far and be in one place at one time. Communities need whole churches to get involved, not just one evangelist.
May we continue to be bold to share the Gospel as churches together but have the same sensitivity as Philip, the individual evangelist, to receive invitations to explain the Gospel to people who otherwise will remain confused.
Let us serve our communities well without overlooking where God may be leading.
How about starting with your neighbour?
For more information on how LCM can support your church reach your community with the good news of Jesus Christ, visit here!
LCM shares the gospel alongside the local church of London, equipping everyday Christians to lovingly bring a message of hope in Christ to those least likely to hear it.
Registered Charity No. 247186
