Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. - Colossians 4:5

​

Join us for the Equip Evangelism Conference as we kick off Missions Week at ABF. This one-day conference will equip you to effectively proclaim the gospel through a variety of sessions, panels, and workshops. Let us grow together into a family of joyful, confident witnesses of Jesus Christ.

 

-------------------

 

Main Session 1 - The Most Important Question in Evangelism | Michael Talley
There are many questions we must ask before we can engage in effective evangelism. Why do we share the good news? What is the gospel? How can we share the gospel in a secular world? But the most important question, and one that is often neglected, is Who? If the goal of evangelism is union with Christ, we must start and end with this essential question: Who is this God who saves? Psalm 117 is the shortest psalm in the Bible, but it provides a compelling answer. 

​

Main Session 2 - Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God | Scott Andrews
One of the core principles of our Evangelical heritage is God’s sovereignty in salvation: we are saved by Christ alone through faith alone, by God’s grace alone. In this way God alone receives the glory. And yet, if we believe that God is sovereign in our salvation, does it really matter if we share the gospel? This has been one of the biggest criticisms of Reformed theology. It is also one of the most misunderstood. In this main session, we will explain how God’s sovereignty in our salvation is not a hindrance to our evangelism, but the only proper motivation for us to preach the gospel. 

​

Panel Discussion - Reaching the High Country with the Gospel
How can we effectively reach the high country with the gospel? What are the unique challenges that we face and how can we overcome them? What are the unique opportunities that we have and how can we lean into these? 

 

BREAKOUTS

Sharing the Gospel with your Roman Catholic Friends | Joe & Stefania Hunziker
Roman Catholicism is the largest religion in the world, reaching over 1.3 billion people on six continents. While many people think that Roman Catholicism is merely another denomination, there are significant theological differences between Catholicism and Evangelicalism. The most important distinction is the gospel itself. In this breakout session, Joe & Stefania Hunziker will provide a few compelling ways to tell the gospel to your Roman Catholic friends. 

Answering the Difficult Questions in Evangelism | Barrie Winn
One of the greatest fears that many Christians experience when they share the gospel to their unsaved friends is the difficult questions that might arise. What happens if they ask a deep theological or philosophical question that you are not prepared to answer? In this breakout session, Barrie Winn will explore some of the most common questions nonbelievers ask in a secular age, and teach you how to navigate these challenges with biblical clarity and winsomeness. 

​

How to Have Compelling Gospel Conversations | Hunter Coultrap
Colossians 4:6 teaches us to season our speech with salt when we walk with outsiders. What does this mean, and how can we begin to season on our gospel conversations? How can we move past small talk into deeper topics? And where should these conversations take place? Evangelism training often trains people to have scripted conversations, but in this breakout session, Hunter Coultrap will fill your conversational spice drawer with creative ideas to engage your nonbelieving friends in gospel conversations. 

​

Conversion: Transferred to the Kingdom of Jesus | Cam Lloyd
Our ultimate goal in evangelism is to see people saved by the power of the gospel. Colossians 1:13 says that the Lord has delivered us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son. This is the goal, but when and how does conversion happen? Should we expect our friend’s conversion to happen in stages, or immediately? Should we expect this to happen outside of our church building? Do we lead them in the “sinner’s prayer”? Cam Lloyd will concentrate this breakout session at the goal line and help you understand what you’re aiming for in evangelism.

​

Getting Out of Your Christian Bubble | Sam Shuttleworth & Dom Joseph
Before you can effectively share the gospel with your unsaved friends, you must have unsaved friends. But as our world becomes more polarized and fragmented, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find ways to meet nonbelieving friends. Even more, in our high-speed society, where will we even find the time to invest in friendships with nonbelievers? In this breakout session, Sam Shuttleworth will show you where to look - both in our community and on our calendars - to find and develop relationships with nonbelievers. 

​

How to Use the Bible in Evangelism
If someone asked you to share the gospel with them, what would you say? Are you prepared to share the simple truth of the gospel of Jesus with your friends? Much evangelism training tends to focus on tools or scripted conversations to convey the big picture of the gospel. These are extremely helpful, and yet, the most important tool that we have is the Bible itself. This workshop will explore a few easy ways to use the Bible in your evangelism. We will explore how to read through a gospel with a nonbeliever and share a few key passages that outline the essential truth of the gospel.