Mission and evangelism

• Mission


  The vocation or calling of a religious organisation/individual to go out into the world and spread the faith
• The Great Commission


  Jesus' instruction to his followers that they should spread his teachings to all nations of the world
• Missionary


  A person sent on a religious mission, especially to promote Christianity in a foreign country through preaching or charitable work
• Evangelism


  Spreading the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness
• Convert


  Someone who has decided to become committed to a religion and change their religious faith
• Some Christians' beliefs

  • Only those who believe in God and Jesus can get into heaven, all non-believers will go to hell, as such they see their role to evangelise (convert) non-believers to be saving them in the afterlife
• Some Christians' beliefs


  • They may feel called to go to other countries and become missionaries, which involves evangelism. The main aim is to persuade people to accept Jesus as their Saviour and to extend the Church to every nation of the world
• Ways Christians might help with Church growth

  1. Join the Church Army to help people find faith

  2. Work with vulnerable/marginalised people in society to bring them into the Church

  3. Show commitment by talking to people about their faith, inviting them to special events and services (Alpha Courses)

  4. Give money to the Church
• Reasons mission/evangelism is significant/important

  • Evangelism is spreading the faith of the Church to people who do not share it currently/and it is a duty of all Christians. They must spread the faith otherwise people will not be taught how they can get to heaven
  • In Britain today fewer people go to Church so it is important that those who do get involved in active evangelism otherwise the Church will have fewer and fewer members
• Reasons mission/evangelism is not significant/important

  • Evangelism is important work, but it is not the most important/other duties are equally/more important e.g., developing one's own spiritual life and/or participating in the sacraments
  • Evangelism and working for social justice spring from loving one's neighbour – this love is the most important duty for Christians wherever they are in the world. Helping the marginalised is more important than conversion
• The Bible: 'go and make disciples of all nations. This shows Christians that they are not only called to know Jesus in their lives but also to tell others of their faith'
• The Bible: 'the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats in which the sheep represent heaven, and the goats represent hell. Christians believe that God will judge people based on their actions and behaviour so they must carry out their duty of spreading the gospel'
• The Bible: 'faith without action is dead. This shows Christians the importance of helping others in spreading the gospel as many believe that salvation can be achieved through works (doing good and following God's laws)'