How Can Confessionally Presbyterian and Reformed Churches Grow in Evangelism?

Are you eager to grow in obedience to the Great Commission? If so, you won’t want to miss this two-part podcast interview with Reverend Chris Byrd, the first-ever Regional Home Evangelist in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) Presbytery of New Jersey and Puerto Rico.

Hosted by Brad Hertzog of Outward OPC, these episodes offer valuable insights into personal and church-based evangelism. Listen in to learn from Chris Byrd’s experiences and be encouraged in your own efforts to share the gospel.

• Chris Byrd – Part 1
• Chris Byrd – Part 2

Chris Byrd’s Journey in Evangelism

Chris Byrd’s passion for evangelism began at the Boardwalk Chapel in New Jersey. The Boardwalk Chapel, a longstanding customer of Five More Talents, has faithfully carried out street evangelism for years. Chris shares how his summers of witnessing there prepared him for a broader evangelistic ministry.

Later, Chris served as an evangelist at Grace OPC in Westfield, New Jersey, under the leadership of Pastor Tim Ferguson. There, he witnessed the power of a simple yet profound approach: inviting people to church. While outreach programs have their place, he emphasizes that personal invitations to worship services were by far the most effective means of connecting people to the gospel.

“Why Don’t I Invite People to Church?”

Chris’s reflections raise an important question: Are we regularly inviting our friends, family, and neighbors to church? If not, why? This is a question every believer should consider.

Evangelism is not just about structured programs—it’s about personal relationships. If we, as church members, aren’t actively inviting people, we need to ask what is holding us back.

Equipping the Saints for Evangelism

In the second episode, Chris highlights his primary role as a regional home evangelist: equipping church members for evangelism. His work aligns with Ephesians 4:12, which calls church leaders to equip the saints for ministry. Evangelism is a team effort, and each member of the body of Christ plays a role:

• Some have the gift of hospitality, welcoming visitors and creating a warm environment.
• Others are good at conversation, breaking the ice with new people.
• Still others have a gift for clearly sharing the gospel.

When these gifts work together, churches can effectively reach lost souls for Christ.

Encouraging Evangelistic Stories

Chris also shares inspiring accounts of gospel conversations. This reminded me of 2 Corinthians 4:6, which describes how God, who created light, also shines His truth into darkened hearts. Hearing these testimonies can encourage us all to step out in faith, trusting that God is at work.

Join the Conversation on Biblical Evangelism

If you want to learn more and discuss evangelism with Chris Byrd, consider signing up for the Biblical Evangelism Today discussion group. This monthly gathering provides a place to exchange ideas, ask questions, and grow together in the mission of making disciples.

Register here to be part of the conversation!

Note: Generative AI was used in creating this post. First, I made an audio recording of what I wanted to say. Then, I transcribed the audio using TurboScribe.ai. Finally, I transformed the transcript into a blog post using ChatGPT.