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The Four Evangelists









Christians would clearly distinguish between evangelism and proselytism, with the latter being viewed as unethical because it involves the abuse of people’s freedom and the distortion of the gospel of grace by means of coercion, deception, manipulation, and exploitation.[3] Within Christianity, the label of ‘proselytism’ generally arises when one group does not approve of the missional activities of another, particularly when one group is losing members or the potential exists for this to occur.[4]


Catholic missionary work in Russia is commonly seen as evangelism, not proselytism. Archbishop Kondrusiewicz openly stated, "that proselytism is absolutely unacceptable and cannot constitute a strategy for the development of our structures either in Russia or in any other country in the world".[6] Especially regarding claims by the Orthodox church that spreading the faith and receiving converts amounts to proselytism,[7] the Catholic Church's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a document called "Doctrinal Note on some Aspects of Evangelization"[8] which states that evangelism is "an inalienable right and duty, an expression of religious liberty ...", and added, "The incorporation of new members into the Church is not the expansion of a power group, but rather entrance into the network of friendship with Christ which connects heaven and earth, different continents and age. It is entrance into the gift of communion with Christ...."



— Matthew 28:19,20 NIV


Modern methodsEdit

On Ash Wednesday, the first day of the Christian penitential season of Lent, an Anglican priest has a Ashes to Go station for commuters at the Metro-North Railroad in the American state of Connecticut.

Breaking from tradition and going beyond television and radio a wide range of methods have been developed to reach people not inclined to attend traditional events in churches or revival meetings.

Dramas such as Heaven's Gates, Hell's Flames have gained enormous popularity since the 1980s. These dramas typically depict fictional characters who die and learn whether they will go to heaven or hell.

The child evangelism movement is a Christian evangelism movement that originated in the 20th century. It focuses on the 4/14 Window which centers on evangelizing children between the ages of 4 and 14 years old.[9]

Beginning in the 1970s, a group of Christian athletes known as The Power Team spawned an entire genre of Christian entertainment based on strong-man exploits mixed with a Christian message and usually accompanied by an opportunity to respond with a prayer for salvation.[10]

Other entertainment-based Christian evangelism events include comedy, live theater and music.


Evangelists such as Reinhard Bonnke conduct mass evangelistic crusades around the world. Hundreds of church denominations and organizations participate in an evangelism movement known as the Billion Soul Harvest, which is a comprehensive initiative to convert a billion people to Christianity.

New opportunities for evangelization have been provided in recent decades by increased travel opportunities and by instant communications over the internet.[11]


Billy Graham in Düsseldorf (1954)


The title of evangelist is often associated with those who lead large meetings like those of Billy Graham, Luis Palau and J.A. Pérez, possibly in tents or existing church buildings, or those who address the public in street corner preaching, which targets listeners who happen to pass nearby. It can also be done in small groups or even on a one-to-one basis, but actually it is simply one who spreads the gospel. Increasingly, the internet enables anyone to become an Internet evangelist.

Missionary workEdit

The New Testament urges believers to speak the gospel clearly, fearlessly, graciously, and respectfully whenever an opportunity presents itself, incumbent upon a commitment to hold and revere God as the core/center of their lives (see Colossians 4:2-6, Ephesians 6:19-20, and 1 Peter 3:15).


Catholic EvangelismEdit

Evangelism in Vatican II DocumentsEdit

In the very first sentence of its Constitution on the Church, Lumen gentium, the Vatican II Council affirmed that Christ had sent the Church to preach the gospel to every creature (LG 1; cf. Mk 16:15). Evangelism is a theme in multiple Vatican II documents. These documents mentioned “gospel” 157 times, “evangelize” 18 times, and “evangelization” 31 times.[12]

New EvangelizationEdit

For several decades, the magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church has been promoting a theme of New Evangelization.[13] This includes re-evangelism of Christian people as well mission Ad gentes to reach new regions and cultures.

See alsoEdit


  2. ^ Bible as a Second Language Archived 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine., webpage, retrieved November 5, 2008
  3. ^ A. Scott Moreau, Harold Netland, and Charles van Engen, Evangelical Dictionary of World Missions, Baker Reference Library (Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria, UK: Baker Books; A. Scott Moreau, 2000), p.213, 794 .
  4. ^ Evangelical Review of Theology, Proselytism or Evangelism?, Cecil Stalnaker, Vol. 26, January 2002, Published by Paternoster Periodicals for World Evangelical Alliance Theological Commission, ISSN 0144-8153
  5. ^ "Curb proselytism in Andhra Pradesh". News Today. 4 July 2006. Archived from the original on December 27, 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2009. 
  8. ^ "Doctrinal Note on some Aspects of Evangelization" (PDF). Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. 3 December 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 December 2007. 
  9. ^ Luis Bush (June 18, 2013). "4/14 Window - a Golden Age of Opportunity" (PDF). 4/14 Movement. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-14. 
  10. ^
  11. ^ Dulles SJ, Avery. Evangelization for the Third Millennium (Kindle Locations 781-782). Paulist Press.
  13. ^ "New Evangelization". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved 2018-07-02.