Arizona Southern Baptist Convention

United Kingdom evangelist Dennis Pethers recently spoke to church leaders about a simple, relational way to share the gospel.

Representing 30 Arizona Southern Baptist churches, pastors and other leaders learned about "More to Life" evangelism materials, developed by Pethers and offered through LifeWay Christian Resources. The four meetings, held April 27 and 28, were sponsored by the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention.

Noting that 95 percent of believers don't share their faith, Eddy Pearson ASBC church ministries facilitator – discipleship, is excited about this new relational evangelistic tool.

Pearson recently gave a "More to Life" DVD to an appliance installer who was at his home. Pearson asked the man to the watch the 18-minute DVD while "he drank his morning coffee." The man promised to tell Pearson his reaction to the stories of 10 people whose lives have been changed since meeting Jesus.

"It's a way to get into conversations about spiritual matters," Pearson said. "Do it over a cup of coffee."

In addition to the DVD, there is a four-week Bible study where seekers can learn about Jesus' conversations with the woman at the well, the man born blind, Thomas and Nicodemus.

To prepare how to lead these studies and to easily share their faith, believers would attend a six-week evangelism training program.

Pastor Dane Miller of Serenity Baptist Church. Tucson, believes this approach is not only "theologically sound," but that it will be effective in Arizona.

"It's more personal," Miller said. "It's a little less programmed than EE (Evangelism Explosion) or older methods. It's flexible. In the smaller church context, you can train folks and turn them loose to use this wherever they are."

"People have a sense of God around them," Miller continued. "One of the real strengths is that he (Pethers) came to faith out of nothing." Pethers grew up in the East End of London and, for the early part of his life, knew nothing of church, Jesus or the Christian faith. He discovered the amazing truth about Jesus while reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, while sitting on a train outside of Liverpool Street Station.

In 1993, Pethers founded Viz-A-Viz Ministries to work alongside churches and Christian organizations to effectively share the gospel.

For additional information about these materials, go to www.lifeway.com or contact Pearson at 520-940-3750 or at the ASBC office at 480-945-0880 or 800-687-2431.