COMMUNITY TAKING STRATEGIES: Community Evangelism

As followers of Christ, we have been called to shine His light in a dark world. Evangelism is not just a program—it is the heartbeat of the Church. Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19). This great commission is not only for pastors or evangelists, but for every believer who has experienced the saving grace of God.

Community evangelism is about stepping out of the four walls of the church and carrying the gospel to the streets, homes, schools, and workplaces of our neighborhoods. It means building bridges to the unsaved, identifying their spiritual and physical needs, and showing them the love of Christ in both word and deed.

This guide is designed to help your local church prayerfully and effectively fulfill its mission to reach the lost—starting with your immediate community. As you read and apply these principles, may the Holy Spirit empower you with wisdom, boldness, and compassion for souls.

A. PLAN EFFECTIVE OUTREACH

As the Body of Christ, your local church is the vessel carrying the Good News of Jesus Christ to your neighborhood. The gospel is life-changing, and it’s our duty to make sure we’re reaching the unsaved in the most effective ways possible. That means regularly checking and evaluating how we are doing outreach and whether our methods are bearing fruit. Here are some Spirit-led principles to guide your planning:

1. Learn from Experience

It’s okay to try new methods of outreach, but every method must be tested to see if it actually works. Let wisdom and discernment guide your efforts. Don’t repeat unfruitful strategies simply out of tradition or routine.

For example, one pastor once mobilized church members to distribute Christian literature door-to-door. In the first three months, they visited 2,000 homes. When asked about the results—how many people engaged meaningfully—the answer was “none.” Yet, instead of adjusting the strategy, the decision was to double the effort and visit 4,000 homes next quarter.

Lesson: We need Spirit-led strategy, not just increased effort. Evaluate and adjust according to fruitfulness.

2. Know the Felt Needs of the Unchurched in Your Community

To effectively reach people, understand their real-life struggles and heart cries. One of the easiest and most insightful ways is by conducting a community opinion poll.

How to do it:

Survey at least 100 households around your church. Choose households that are demographically similar to your congregation—think ethnicity, economic level, education, age, and location. Knock on doors and respectfully ask for their opinions. Most people are willing to share if you approach in love.

Ask the following questions:

a. Are you actively involved in any local church? (If yes, thank them and end the interview.)
b. What do you believe is the greatest need in this community?
c. Why do you think most people don’t attend church?
d. If you were searching for a church, what kind of qualities would you look for?
e. As a nearby pastor, what advice would you give me? How could our church serve you better?

Be humble and attentive. Jot down responses prayerfully, and leave them with a church brochure or gospel tract. Allow the Holy Spirit to give you insight as you study their answers.

3. Target Your Outreach to the Responsive

Don’t spread your efforts thin—be wise and strategic with the people and energy God has entrusted to you. Here are proven biblical strategies:

Begin with friends and family members of church members. Especially those connected to new converts. This is often called “oikos evangelism” (from the Greek word oikos, meaning household). These close connections are often more receptive and are key to church growth.
Reach out to newcomers in the community. It might take some extra research to identify these people, but the harvest will be worth the labor.
Follow up with visitors to your church. Make contact within 24–48 hours. Prioritize those who live nearby and have attended a service or Sunday school.
Focus on people whose needs your church can meet. Your community survey should reveal needs. Choose a few key areas where your church can shine and minister excellently.
Reach people facing major life transitions. Those going through grief, job loss, divorce, or illness often have hearts ready to receive God’s love. Be sensitive and offer compassion.
Create outreach events to connect with unchurched families. Ideas include:
- Children’s fun fairs
- Christmas community celebrations
- Music or drama nights with a gospel message

Let the love of Jesus shine through everything you do.

B. PRACTICAL STEPS TO COMMUNITY EVANGELISM

1. Pray for More Faith

The foundation of fruitful evangelism is fervent prayer and fasting. These spiritual disciplines break strongholds and clear the way for church growth and revival. Both the pastor and the congregation must commit to interceding for souls.

The lead pastor especially must develop greater faith. According to author C. Peter Wagner, faith operates at different levels:

a. First Level: Saving Faith

This is the foundational faith that believes in Jesus Christ for salvation.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith…” (Ephesians 2:8)

b. Second Level: Sanctifying Faith

This faith helps believers grow in holiness, overcome sin, and be powerful witnesses. It’s a daily, Spirit-filled Walk of trust in God’s transforming power.

c. Third Level: Possibility-Thinking Faith

This is visionary faith. It dreams and plans under God’s inspiration. It’s the kind of faith that says, “With God, all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)
Hebrews 11:1 describes it as the substance of things hoped for, even when we can’t see them yet.

d. Fourth Level: Fourth-Dimensional Faith

This is faith for supernatural breakthrough—signs, wonders, and miracles. It’s the faith that confronts and overcomes demonic opposition as described in Ephesians 6:10–17.
This faith tears down spiritual strongholds and believes God for divine encounters in evangelism.

Remember: The stronger your faith, the bolder your outreach.

2. Be Ready to Solve Problems

Vision attracts challenges. Leading your church into growth doesn’t mean everything will go smoothly. As you walk by faith, you’ll learn to see problems as opportunities for God’s glory to be revealed.

As a leader, you must be prepared to:

Face difficulties head-on.
Allocate time to problem-solving and spiritual leadership.
Rely on God’s wisdom and the counsel of godly advisors.

Key principles for navigating problems:

Have clear, Spirit-led goals. When vision is clear, direction is easier.
Recognize problems early. Don’t ignore warning signs.
Act promptly. Delaying only deepens the issue.
Track progress. Continual evaluation ensures growth is maintained.
Make mid-course corrections. Be flexible. Adjusting your methods under the Holy Spirit’s guidance keeps you moving forward.

CONCLUSION: LIVING OUT THE GREAT COMMISSION

Community evangelism is more than a church activity—it is a spiritual calling. It is the Church becoming the hands and feet of Jesus to a world that is broken, lonely, and lost. As we intentionally reach out to our communities with wisdom, love, and Spirit-led strategies, we fulfill our divine mandate.

We are not called to simply fill pews—we are called to make disciples. We are not building our church’s name—we are advancing the Kingdom of God. Every soul matters to Jesus, and every act of outreach, no matter how small, has eternal value.

So rise up, Church! Let us pray boldly, love deeply, and go fearlessly into our communities, knowing that “he who wins souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30) and that God is with us, confirming His Word with signs following.

“The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” — Matthew 9:37–38