Harvest Impact: Different Strokes for Different Folks!

By Wayman Ming Jr., General Secretary
“Different strokes for different folks”! Have you ever heard that saying before? If so, you know that it is often used to describe the reality that everyone is different. What a liberating and freeing fact! We didn’t all come off of an assembly line looking and acting the same. We are God’s custom design.

I believe that one of our greatest assets in effective evangelism is reaching different people in different ways. Is it possible that we have not been able to get “outside the box of evangelism” because we have operated with some misconceptions toward the dreaded “E” word?

Allow me to illustrate! What image comes to mind when you think of the word “evangelism?” Does it invoke enthusiasm for reaching your friends and family members? Or does it overwhelm you with negative connotations? Are you excited about sharing your faith? Or do you think of infamous televangelists, known primarily for extracting large sums of money? The stereotypical street preacher, megaphone in hand, blaring and bellowing out indictments about the end of the world? Or the “never say no” Mormon at your front door seeking to proselyte you?

The enemy of our soul has literally hindered the expansion of God’s kingdom because we haven’t realized that evangelism is not built upon a “megaphone in hand,” but a commitment to strategically being ourselves in evangelism.

Some people may be a megaphone blower while others may not. Some may be a door-to-door knocker while others may not. Some may be an apologist or someone who can merge faith with fact while others may not. Some may be a servant who provides random acts of kindness to win others to Christ while others may not. Yet, the important truth is allowing God to use our gifts, talents, personality and temperament in expanding His kingdom. Different strokes for different folks!

Simon Peter used a “confrontational” approach. On the Day of Pentecost he proclaimed the gospel with such boldness that he confronted his own people with crucifying the Messiah! He reached 3,000 for the Lord in one day. Some people in our world today won’t come to Christ until someone like Peter confronts them with the gospel.

The Apostle Paul used an “intellectual” approach. Read any of his letters in the Bible, especially Romans, and you will see that he was a master at laying out a sound explanation concerning the truths of God. In his writings his natural tendency was to argue point-counterpoint with imaginary foes who might challenge his positions. He was a master at crafting a road to Christ. Without a doubt, there are people who must connect with an evangelist like Paul who will not give them easy answers or platitudes such as “You’ll just have to accept everything by faith.” In our educated society today, some people need to hear the gospel not only declared, but defined and defended.

The blind man used a “testimonial” approach. The blind man was effective just like Peter and Paul; yet, he refused confrontation like Peter and intellectualism like Paul. He simply spoke from experience and said, “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see.” How many people will come to Christ simply because someone is able to say, “I don’t understand a lot of things, but one thing I do know; I once was blind, but now I see.” They don’t need confrontation or debate; they simply need a testimony.

The Samaritan woman used an “invitational” approach. When she experienced Christ, she immediately went to her town, loaded up her van, and brought a bunch of people to hear Jesus for themselves. Her simple invitation brought salvation to her city. How many people in America would experience Christ if someone would just go to the special effort of inviting them to a credible life-giving church or outreach event?

Dorcas used a “service” approach. She was constantly performing loving acts of service to those who were in need in her community. In fact, her work was so special to God that when she died a premature death, God sent confrontational Peter to raise her from the dead and put her back into the evangelistic ministry. Although the service approach to evangelism tends to get less press than the others and is often longer in producing fruit, it is one of the most important of all the evangelistic approaches. Dorcas is able to reach people that nobody else can reach.

Friend, your greatest asset in the kingdom of God is to strategically be yourself! You may preach it from the housetops like Peter. Or define and direct people into the Kingdom like Paul. Or testify from experience like the blind man. Or bring a van full of people to church like the Samaritan woman. Or draw people to the feet of the Master with your kindness and generosity like Dorcas. Or perhaps . . . you may simply reach people in your own unique way like none of the above. Remember, when it comes to evangelism, there are “different strokes for different folks”!