Competent disciplemaking ministers share in Jesus’ heart of love for sinners expressed through his priority to ‘seek and save what was lost’ (Luke 19:10) and his command to “go” beyond the limited confines of Jesus’ group and their comfortable locale in order to “make disciples of all nations” (Mat. 28:19). Motivated by Jesus’ heart of love for the lost, these ministers develop friendships with non-believers and share with those new friends the love of God in ways that convey Jesus’ gospel accurately, clearly and attractively. Equippers assist emerging ministers to grow in this area of competency by providing training and coaching related to relational evangelism, which we refer to as eternal CPR.

Eternal CPR

A disciplemaking minister actively and skillfully participates with Jesus as he shares God's love and life with non-believers. We participate by reaching out to non-believers through what we refer to as eternal CPR (cultivating, planting and reaping). Following is a list of knowledge, skills and tools related to this aspect of the ministry we are called to share with Jesus:

Essential knowledge

How to cultivate friendships with non-believers using TLC (targeting, listening and caring) skills without compromising one’s commitment to Christ
How to plant truths about Jesus into the life of this new friend
How to reap a new follower of Christ by clearly presenting the gospel and calling upon the friend to respond in repentance and faith

Essential Skills

Making contact with and developing friendships with non-believers
Ability to assess and then ‘speak the language’ of that friend in accordance with their ‘mindset’ (culture, worldview, etc.)
Sharing personal testimony about the positive difference Christ makes in one’s life
Presenting the gospel clearly, accurately and attractively, and then inviting a response of repentance and faith
Following up to disciple a new believer
Interceding in prayer for non-believing friends

Equipping Toolbox

Seminar: Relational Evangelism (contact CAD to schedule this seminar in your area)
Video/print small group curriculum: Living Proof Evangelism by Jim Petersen
Book: The Celtic Way of Evangelism by George Hunter
Book: Evangelism Without Additives Jim Henderson
Book: More Ready Than You Realize by Brian McLaren
Book: Irresistible Evangelism by Steve Sjorgren, Dave Ping and Doug Pollock
CCBT study guides:
- Book 2, issue 9: How Can Churches Reach Out to the World and Not Become Part of the Culture?
- Book 4, issue 8: How Can We Overcome Barriers to Share the Good News?
- Book 4, issue 9: What is the Relationship between Evangelism and Social Concern?
Online Evangelism Toolbox www.wcg.org/MinDev/Web Documents/EVANGELISM TOOLBOX.pdf
Online articles on evangelism www.wcg.org/lit/gospel/evang/
Website: off-the-map.org
"Belonging Before Believing" - a paper from the folks at Mosaic on including pre-believers in the life of the church