Evangelism Resources

By W. Stephen Gunter

Each of the contexts in which we do ministry is different, but there are some common themes or strands of thought that probably ought to tie our various ministry contexts together. After giving this some consideration, I have come to the conclusion that our most effective leaders are Wesleyan AND Evangelical. It is ironic that we find ourselves in a situation theologically where it has become necessary to re-connect these two adjectives. There was time, actually most of our history as descendants of the Wesley brothers, when Wesleyan and Evangelical went together.

Of course, historically the word Evangelical simply meant Protestant, and the Lutheran wing of the Reformation in Germany identified their church as the Evangelische Kirche – the Evangelical Church. In North America the word Evangelical began to change in noticeable ways about fifty years ago, as the word came to be increasingly identified with Calvinistic and Neo-Calvinistic Reformed theology. The standard bearer for this emphasis was the periodical Christianity Today. Increasingly the word came to take on connotations of social and political conservatism, and by the latter part of the twentieth century, the words Evangelical and Fundamentalist had become synonyms in the press and public parlance. This is unfortunate, and a really important word is threatened to be lost among Wesleyan Christians who do not wish to be identified as Calvinist, and certainly not as Fundamentalist!

When we tie the words Wesleyan and Evangelical together, we have important theological motifs in mind that are absolutely essential to evangelism. More freight is loaded in these terms than I can unpack here, but let’s open up two of the most important. When we say that our best leadership is Wesleyan, we have in mind the universal offer of the Gospel best encapsulated in John Wesley’s words to the coal miners as he preached to them in the pre-dawn dampness as they made their way to work: For all! For all! Christ died for all. The saving work of Christ is not limited to a select few. This universal offer is absolutely essential to Wesleyan leadership. With regard to the word Evangelical, the heart of the word is Evangel – Gospel. It is the Good News – proclaimed in Word, Deed and Sign. An Evangelical knows and proclaims the saving work of God in Christ. In other words, our greatest leaders find every way they possibly can to manifest the Saving Work of God in the World to every human being that will hear the call: For All! The Gospel is for every single human being on the face of God’s creation.

Stephen Gunter is the Associate Dean for Methodist Studies and Research Professor of Evangelism & Wesleyan Studies at The Divinity School, Duke University