‘Evangelistening’ – Listening as Evangelism in Caring Concern for Community

‘Evangelistening’ – Listening as Evangelism in Caring Concern for Community

By Nyasha Gumbeze, 2020 -- "Anglican congregations throughout Western countries are struggling with the decline of membership numbers as the societal context becomes more secular. Members at Henderson Anglican Church in Auckland, New Zealand, are faithfully seeking their spiritual growth as they experience God in a Christian context. The members are evangelical in that they are welcoming to the community and hoping for new members that they might experience the blessings of the Christian life. Listening is an evangelism tool that works well in a secular and increasingly multi-cultural society like New Zealand. Church members can share the Christian experience without needing to assert Christianity's preeminence, and it has the added benefit of encouraging the Christian community and personal growth.
My thesis does not intend to redefine evangelism or the call of the church anew; instead, it provides some practical guidelines to help the church fulfill its vocation. My parish benefitted from learning to listen with one another. My goal for this thesis project is to offer a method through which churches might approach evangelism for ministry and mission to their members as well as connecting them to the broader community. The title itself “Evangelistening” is a direct reference to a book by Tim Sumpter Evangelistening: Recovering the Art of Listening in Evangelism."

Gumbeze, Nyasha J.

Virginia Theological Seminary

January 2020

Copyright 2020, the author.

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Project thesis.