(Editor’s Note: Dr. Hulse presented this material as a series of addresses he gave to The Carey Conference in 1975. We believe this material has as much, if not more, application to the church today and are reprinting it with the permission of the author. We have devided it into six separate postings: the introduction and five major points. We will run 2 of these a week over the next three weeks.)

These are days in which there is great stress on organization, including the organization of great world congresses to talk about evangelism. What are we to think of these huge affairs? Where does the local church figure in evangelism? What is evangelism? Does theology have anything to do with evangelism? And what about the relationship of preaching to evangelism?

These are some of the issues which I wish to address in the following article. To begin with an issue might be discussed which is highly relevant and which affects most local churches. I refer to evangelistic organizations outside the churches. Let us look at an example.

An article in Crusade magazine, November 1973, is devoted to a description of a new evangelistic project. Conscious of the fact that this new organised effort, nicknamed Power, is not the first scheme to descend on the churches from an organisation outside the churches, the writer declares: “Whilst it is true that Power cannot be described as a truly ‘grass roots’ movement (can anything?), it is doubtful if any project has been the subject of such widespread and intensive discussion at all levels as this one.” Several comments are called for. The project, it is claimed, is the subject of “widespread and intensive discussion”.

This generation has talked more about evangelism than any other, with massive amounts of money being spent on yet more discussion. World Congresses on evangelism and about evangelization have multiplied words about this subject. Yet talking about evangelism has not arrested spiritual declension going on around us. Furthermore, modem evangelism, particularly as practised in America, has not arrested the awful moral decline and darkness of the world whereas the teaching ministry exercised in times of reformation has dispelled darkness and brought light to the nations.

Turning to the Crusade article again the comment about “grass roots” needs analysis. “Power cannot be described as a truly ‘grass roots’ movement (can anything?)”, says the writer. In reply I would assert the claim that Christians of previous generations did indeed practise “grass roots” evangelism, rather than merely talking about it. They practised it spontaneously because their roots were in theology. They drew their spiritual life from the Word and hence evangelism was a way of life, rather than a technique to be learned. They could do no other than witness to the Lord Jesus Christ and teach his salvation to others.

The roots of evangelism are embedded in the local church which derives its life from Christ, as he is set forth in the whole of Scripture. The members evangelise as they are nourished by the preaching, strengthened by the corporate prayer and worship of the church and encouraged by fellowship. Christians who abide in Christ by abiding in a true local church will evangelise spontaneously. They can do no other.

If the churches are not producing evangelism in this spontaneous way, the way to recovery is not by the imposition of organised efforts upon the churches from without. The only way is by reformation and revival taking place within. The new organisation called Power, like all its predecessors, is superficial for it ignores the urgent need for reformation and revival in the churches. Moreover having attended the Berlin World Congress for Evangelism and spent time analysing its effects and writing an appraisal of it, I feel very strongly that such Congresses do more harm than good. Not only is ecumenical evangelism promoted, but Arminian teaching and apologetics are encouraged.

The overall tendency is for churches to continue to depend on extramural efforts, i.e. efforts coming in from the outside. We should rather devote our time and energy to “grass roots” evangelism, evangelism that springs up all the year round—not just an annual effort, but outreach from healthy, scripturally governed churches. I propose to deal with the subject in the following way:

1.Evangelism defined from the New Testament in which we also see what evangelism is not.

2. A dynamic theology is the foundation of evangelism.

3. A dynamic Church is the agent of evangelism.

4. Dynamic preaching the chief instrument of the Church’s evangelism.

5. A dynamic communication of the Gospel to every creature springs from local churches.

Rev. Erroll Hulse, who worked with the Banner of Truth Trust, serves on the pastoral team of Leeds Reformed Baptist Church, Leeds, England, and is editor of Reformation Today, a valuable publication for those interested in reformation worldwide. He is also the author of The Believer’s Experience, published by Carey Publications.