Got Any Time for Evangelism?
By Ron VandenBurg
Summary
You can be so busy "doing evangelism" that you don't evangelise. This script
asks, what is evangelism?
Characters
Two church-goers
Script
P1: (with a clipboard) Hey, glad I caught you! After church can be such
a busy time.
P2: Sure. I know what you …
P1: (interrupting) Say, I’m wondering if you could help the church
out. I’m on the evangelism committee, and we are looking for people to
do some work this coming Friday. We are arranging a youth movie night for
the neighbourhood kids. You know, we’ll invite them to the church to show
some of the latest videos, popcorn, candy, the whole bit, wondering if
you would be willing to help with food serving and security. What do you
say?
P2: (after a pause) I’d really like to help, but this Friday is my
Big Brother night. I’ve been working with a really great kid name John.
Actually, he’s planned for us to go play some volleyball at the rec center.
So sorry, I can’t help you.
P1: (nodding. Writing notes) O.K., well how about helping to organize
a new idea that we have. It’s called our Monthly Single Mom Sing-Along.
We invite ladies from our neighbourhood to come to the church, and as an
activity that they can share, we gather around the piano to sing. Oh, not
just hymns and such, but show tunes and the latest top 40. Have to be current,
you know. Who knows? We may have a group to sing at church in the near
future.
P2: (after a pause) Sounds interesting, but I’ve already committed
to once a month, a bunch of us do free oil changes for community folks,
Bethlehem Place and such. It keeps me really busy that day.
P1: (Searching the clipboard, somewhat irritated) How about, ah, here
it is. On October 10th, we’ve got an evangelism team coming from Southern
North Carolina. They do a drama production called, “Repent or Forever Burn
in the Fires of Hell”. It’s a very effective ministry for neighbourhood
outreach. We need ushers to hand out flyers after the performance to visitors,
encouraging them to join some our church programs.
P2: Sorry. October 10th, I’m doing prison ministry up in Kingston.
P1: (Angrily) O.K. Fine. Here’s something far in advance. In January,
we are have a four week church retreat every weekend to study Evangelism
and to brainstorm some of the ways that we can get people to come to our
church. We need kitchen servers to make snacks and sandwiches. Can you
do that?
P2: (Apologetically) I am really sorry, but I am involved in the Out
of the Cold program and I am kitchen captain for some of the weekends in
January. Sorry, I can’t help. (Exits stage right)
P1: (Directed to the congregation) Boy, some people just don’t understand
evangelism. (Exits stage left looking over clipboard)
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Copyright Ron VandenBurg, all rights reserved.
This script may be used free of charge, provided no charge is made for admission
to the performance. In return, the author would like to be told of any performance.
He may be contacted at: ronvandenburg@crcna.org