The Rev. Dr. Ray Jones III, director of Theology, Formation & Evangelism in the Presbyterian Mission Agency, leads the “Evangelism and Ministry in the 21st Century” workshop. Photo by Randy Hobson.
If the Rev. Dr. Ray Jones III had a goal for the workshop he offered Wednesday during the Policy, Benefits and Mission Conference, it was this: “I want us to see the deep connection between evangelism and justice.”
“Evangelism isn’t something to make the church work,” said the director of Theology, Formation & Evangelism in the Presbyterian Mission Agency. “It’s part of being the body of Christ.”
Jones called his workshop “Evangelism and Ministry in the 21st Century.” Jones laced his hour-long workshop with Scriptures and a moving pair of Matthew 25 videos, which can be seen here and here.
What does it look like, he asked, to be good news people?
“The early church was not perfect,” Jones said, “but it was a lifestyle that made a difference to people. How does that happen, that we bring life by the power of the Holy Spirit?”
Jones quoted the Jake Meador article published in July in the Atlantic, which included this sobering statistic: over the past quarter-century, 40 million Americans have left the church, some because of they hypocrisy they experienced, others for not feeling included. “But the main reason is the toxic culture of U.S. capitalism,” Jones said. “We are on this hamster wheel of success, trying to get better and to make it, and we just don’t have the time.”
What are people looking for? Meador says it’s “a community where they can experience care and where they can care for others and feed people who are hungry,” Jones reported. “They are looking for a community where the powerful are brought low and the meek are lifted up. Who does that sound like? Mary talked about that. John talked about Jesus coming. It’s what people are looking for.”
When we long for the past, “it prevents us from seeing the possibility that will lead to growth and unrealized potential,” Jones said. “Longing for the past and renewal don’t go together. You can’t have them both.”
Jones resonates with theologian David Bosch’s definition of evangelism: It’s “that dimension and activity of the church’s mission which by word and deed … offers every person in communities everywhere a valid opportunity to be directly challenged to a radical reorientation of their lives.”
“I believe that’s the call,” Jones said, “a radical reorientation of our lives.”
For the church, there’s plenty of work to go around, and at least five categories of workers to get it done, according to Ephesians 4:11-13: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.
Jones wondered: What if we took all five seriously? “It’s for all of us to care about people in our communities and to go to them, not wait for them to come to us. What if we took the prophetic role seriously? We know God has a heart for the poor and marginalized and is about justice. Evangelists can communicate how we do what we are doing. Shepherds care for one another, and teachers instruct us in the faith. What if we see evangelism as part of the whole ministry of the church?”
Growing up as an evangelical, Jones considered evangelism a private act. Now he calls it a communal activity. “When we are in practice together,” he said, “we engage in God’s story over and over.”
“I think the world is in search of kindness,” Jones said, relaying the story of a video featuring singer/songwriter Lewis Capaldi, who suffered an attack of Tourette’s during a concert and then watched in amazement as the crowd completed the song for him.
“It’s just kindness,” Jones said of the video. “I pray all goes well for you on this journey. It’s a beautiful and difficult and terrifying journey, but we’ve got each other.”
Learn about the 8 Habits of Evangelism here.