Evangelism
MID-AMERICA MESSENGER
7
CAN THE GOSPEL OVERCOME SOCIAL D I S T A N C I N G ? CREATIVE EVANGELISM IN A COVID-19 WORLD BY DR. MATTHEW AKERS In Matthew 28:18–20, Jesus instructed His followers to proclaim the Gospel to every people group in the world. But how do we accomplish this crucial task in a COVID-19 world when many Christians are practicing social distancing, sheltering in their homes, or are quarantined?
THANKFULLY, WE LIVE IN A TIME WHERE TECHNOLOGY allows us to reach out beyond the confines of our homes in ways that previous generations did not have available to them. Anyone with a smartphone has a versatile device that allows users to engage others remotely. Coupled with earnest prayer and the Holy Spirit’s wisdom, we can reach out with these tools in ways that help us to share the love of Christ with people who do not yet know Him. For example, if you want to spread the seed of the Gospel as widely as
possible, one idea is to select the “live
an excellent way to “cast the net.”
video” option that is a part of your
Thankfully, other technological options
Facebook account. Enabling this feature
do allow for a more personal touch.
lets all of your Facebook friends hear a message about Jesus in real-time.
ONE OF THE BEST INTERACTIVE TOOLS that allow
Once your presentation ends, you have
private conversations to take place is
the option of saving and archiving the
Facebook Messenger video call. This
evangelistic message for future use.
option is preferable to standard phone
Facebook also has an option that allows
calls because it will enable you to hear
you to organize a watch party with your
and see the person with whom you’re
friends at a later date.
communicating. The more of our
ANOTHER IDEA IS TO SELECT
senses we can engage in evangelistic
the option that makes the video you
opportunities, the better, because
recorded with Facebook Live viewable
the information we glean helps us to
to anyone outside of your circle of
gauge the person’s interest and level of
acquaintances. This feature gives
understanding.
your friends permission to share the
In many ways, the world has been
evangelistic video with anyone they
put on hold by COVID-19, but God has
know, even if that person does not have
not ceased His work. In fact, in times
a Facebook account. Furthermore, you
of crisis, the Lord often uses problems
can make the video available to even
to draw people to His Son. Scripture
more potential hearers by sharing the
is perfect and powerful because it
link on other social media sites such as
proceeds from the Holy Spirit, and
Twitter.
God promises that His Word will not
One disadvantage of this manner
return void (Isaiah 55:11). May we take
of distributing the Gospel is that it does
advantage of the technology we have
not allow hearers to engage in a two-
at our fingertips to share God’s offer of
way conversation such as Jesus had
salvation with a world that desperately
with Nicodemus and the Samaritan
needs Him.
woman (John 3–4). It is, however,
