Ethical Evangelism: Sharing Faith with Integrity

In my role as the Director of Innovative Evangelism in the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Area, I have the privilege of working with a diverse group of congregations throughout Maryland, Delaware, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. Since we are located in an incredibly diverse region, I do get asked a lot for help with leading evangelism …

The Impact of One

In a world filled with billions of people, it’s easy to feel insignificant, like a single drop in an ocean too vast to impact. But history and storytelling remind us time and again of the profound influence one person can have. As I was flying home from vacation, I had the opportunity to watch the …

Relational Evangelism

In our last post (you can read it here), I shared the dangers and pitfalls of Transactional Evangelism, which I also refer to as “Vampire Evangelism. As United Methodists, we are called to share the love of Christ with others, not just through words but through our actions and relationships. One of the most effective …

The Harm of Vampire Evangelism

Mainline Protestant denominations have long been pillars of American religious and cultural life. These denominations have been deeply influential, not only in shaping the spiritual landscape of the nation but also have shared a deep commitment to social justice and community betterment. However, in recent decades, these once-dominant religious bodies have faced substantial declines in …

Reclaiming Evangelism

Evangelism is a word that often elicits mixed emotions, especially for those of us who are United Methodists. For many, it conjures memories of encounters with judgmental zealots, overly aggressive preachers, and individuals who seem more focused on converting others than on genuine connection. Consequently, it’s not surprising that some of us, and particularly millennials, …

Never Underestimate the Importance of Prayer

Recently I reread a classic text, “The Way of the Pilgrim.” This work was written by an unknown Russian author and is a profound exploration of spiritual searching and devotional practices. It is set against the backdrop of 19th-century Russia, and follows an unnamed pilgrim, who describes himself as one who: “by the grace of …

Still More Lessons in Hospitality

This is my third post in a random series of articles dealing with hospitality. I’ve spent time on this topic because it is so critical to church renewal and vitality. How we welcome the “other” is a foundational lesson of both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament. A few weeks ago my wife and …

The Spiritual Discipline of Receiving Help

I’ve just been through a humbling season in my life. After 54 years roaming this planet, I fractured some bones for the very first time. At the end of September, as a result of a fall during my morning run, I fractured my big toe in two places and my left collarbone in two places. …