By Joelle Anderson
Although the prospect of evangelizing may evoke dread, discomfort, and discouragement among many worshipers, some evangelize with enthusiasm. These worshipers are not professional evangelists like Billy Graham. They are "grassroots evangelists"—typical worshipers with an atypical passion to share their faith. They are comfortable talking about their faith and seek opportunities to do so, and report inviting at least one non-churchgoing friend or relative to a worship service at their congregation in the previous year. How are "grassroots evangelists" different from other worshipers?
Grassroots evangelists have strong personal faith. Grassroots evangelists are more likely to have had a conversion experience (70% vs. 45% of other worshipers), which may motivate them to share their faith with others. They are also more likely to make their faith development a priority by spending time in private devotional activities every day or most days (74% vs. 48%).
Grassroots evangelists attend congregations where evangelism is a priority. Nearly all grassroots evangelists heard a sermon at their congregation in the past year about why worshipers should invite others (97% vs. 67% of other worshipers). More grassroots evangelists say that inviting others or sharing faith is a top priority at their congregation (50% vs. 19%) and that their congregation's members relate openly and warmly to new people (60% vs. 35%). Nearly half of grassroots evangelists (44%) attend a conservative Protestant congregation; 31% attend a Catholic parish; and one-quarter attend a mainline Protestant congregation.
Grassroots evangelists are connected to their congregation. Compared to other worshipers, more grassroots evangelists strongly agree that their spiritual needs are being met in their congregation (69% vs. 31%) and more have a strong and growing sense of belonging to their congregation (74% vs. 37%). The enrichment and connecting these grassroots evangelists derive from their congregation may motivate them to invite others to worship.
Most grassroots evangelists invite friends. Among worshipers who invited at least one person to worship or another activity in the past 12 months, most grassroots evangelists—like other worshipers—invite a friend. More grassroots evangelists than other worshipers invited a co-worker or a stranger.
Most grassroots evangelists invite others to worship. Of those who invited someone, grassroots evangelists and other worshipers most often invited someone to a worship service (90% of grassroots evangelists; 86% of other worshipers). Grassroots evangelists were more likely than other worshipers to invite someone to Sunday school, church school, or Sabbath school (19% vs. 8% of other worshipers) or to a prayer, discussion, or Bible study group (23% vs. 8%).
Enhancing grassroots evangelism. Grassroots evangelists' deep inner faith and congregational connections are associated with their evangelistic activities, which may in turn promote congregational growth and vitality. How can your congregation encourage grassroots evangelism among its attenders?
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