Well we're coming down the home straight of missions month now and this week we are focussing on Jesus as the centre of God's mission. This brings up the dreaded subject of evangelism!

As soon as you even mention the "E" word (evangelism) most Christians go running for cover. It has such negative connotations these days, such as street-corner preachers and tele-evangelists; and for many Christians evangelism conjures up feelings of guilt because of our general reluctance to share our faith.

But what about a relational approach to evangelism that simply seeks to maximise our relationships and interactions with others for the benefit of the kingdom? It's not about moving people from A-Z, but just from A-B, through shared interests, lending practical support, extending an invitation to a Christian event, giving a book or CD away, or having a good old chat over coffee. These are the means by which we can move people closer to Christ in our everyday lives.

Why are Christians so scared of evangelism? How can we change the stereotypes of what it has become? Have you seen relational evangelism at work?

Just as we're trying to gain a more holistic perspective of mission in terms of what God is doing on earth, we also want to gain a more holistic perspective of where God is at work. That's why this week we're talking about God's heart for all nations and taking a more global perspective on God's mission.

One of the significant shifts happening at the moment within Christendom is that the whole centre of gravity of the Christian movement is shifting to the Global South (Latin America, Africa, parts of Asia). This is where the Evangelical movement is booming, while in its traditional strongholds (Europe and North America) it is waning. This is bringing new emphases (e.g. the power of the Holy Spirit) and new opportunities, but also new challenges, especially in the area of discipleship and leader-training.

How do we/should we respond to all this as Western Christians?

Thanks for the comments...good to get a bit of discussion going

One of the pertinent issues that is coming up is how the different parts of holistic mission relate to each other. As I see it, there are broadly three arenas of Christian mission - creation-care, social action and evangelism. This reflects the reality that sin has affected not just individuals, but society as a whole and even creation.

So the question is, are these three areas equally important or does one (evangelism) trump the others? Chris Wright, in his book The Mission of God, argues that we should think of evangelism not as the primary aspect of mission, but as the ultimate aspect. It does not trump the other categories, but it is the ultimate goal toward which mission is intended. What do you reckon?

Even if we hold that evangelism is primary or central in mission, does this mean social and creational mission should be neglected? Does it have to be either/or? Could we involve ourselves in the world's great causes and still seek opportunities to share Christ with our workmates?

Food for thought...