Book Review: Evangelism for the Rest of Us

Evangelism for the Rest of Us by Mike Bechtle focuses on sharing your faith and evangelizing in your own individualized way. This book review was written by Hank Griffith from South Suburban Evangelical Free Church in Apple Valley, Minnesota. This is a good book for those who struggle with sharing their faith in the conventional extroverted way.

I’m an introvert. This comes as no surprise to those of you who really know me. However, it may surprise some of you who don’t because I’ve learned to be outgoing in certain situations … but it doesn’t come naturally. You probably know this, but according to Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator, an introvert is someone who “gains energy from being alone,” whereas an extrovert “gains energy from people.” In actuality most people are somewhere between the two extremes of extroversion and introversion.

The author, Mike Bechtle, who has a seminary degree from Talbot and a doctorate in higher and adult education from Arizona State, is also an introvert. In the past, Bechtle struggled with evangelism because he believed he had to do it like the extroverts do it, and they’re the ones who write most of the books on personal evangelism. He admitted that in the past he evangelized mostly out of guilt. (Many of us do!) However, he eventually came to understand that God in His sovereignty makes us different in personality, and the best way to do evangelism is in accordance with our God-given personality.

Trying to do it like others only wears us down and usually produces no fruit anyway. Betchle believes that “we’ll find our greatest fulfillment and joy in doing things God designed us to do and the greatest frustration when we work outside our unique, God-given design.” For example, the author is gifted in writing so he’s learned to share his faith through emails and other written forms. This is enjoyable to him and fits his personality. It has also produced fruit. In Evangelism for the Rest of Us Bechtle encourages each person to develop his or her own style of evangelism according to his own design.

I won’t give away everything Bechtle writes about evangelism in this practical and easy to read 153-page book because I want you to read it, especially if you’re an introvert. However, let me share a few additional insights.

CONTINUE READING…

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