Why Study the History of Evangelism?

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

We are not the first Christians to face the challenge of proclaiming Christ in a hostile or indifferent world. For two thousand years, believers have carried the Gospel across continents, through empires, into prisons, and sometimes to their deaths. They have faced persecution from Rome and apathy from Christendom, rationalism from philosophers and superstition from peasants, state opposition and cultural accommodation. And through it all, the Gospel has advanced.

The history of evangelism is not merely an academic subject for the historically curious. It is a treasury of wisdom, a source of encouragement, and a necessary context for understanding our own moment. Those who ignore history are condemned to repeat its mistakes; those who study it gain wisdom for the present and hope for the future.

The author of Hebrews calls us to remember those who proclaimed God's Word before us, to consider their lives, and to imitate their faith. This is precisely what the study of evangelism history enables us to do. We look back so that we can move forward more faithfully.

Why the History of Evangelism Matters

Some Christians are skeptical of historical study. "Why look backward when we need to move forward? Why study dead people when living people need the Gospel?" These questions deserve serious answers. Here is why the history of evangelism matters for evangelism today:

1. History Reveals What Works and What Doesn't

The church has been evangelizing for two millennia. In that time, countless approaches have been tried. Some have borne tremendous fruit; others have proven ineffective or even counterproductive. History is a laboratory of evangelistic experimentation, and we are fools if we ignore its lessons.

When Constantine made Christianity the official religion of Rome, the church grew numerically but often at the cost of genuine conversion. When the medieval church relied on coercion and political power, it produced nominal Christians but few true disciples. When the Reformers recovered the preaching of the Gospel in the vernacular, spiritual awakening followed. When the Great Awakening preachers combined doctrinal substance with emotional appeal, thousands were genuinely converted. These lessons matter.

2. History Provides Models to Imitate

We learn not only from principles but from people. The history of evangelism introduces us to remarkable men and women whose lives embody faithful witness:

• The Apostle Paul — who became "all things to all people" that he might save some, adapting his approach without compromising his message.
• Patrick of Ireland — who returned to the land of his captivity to bring the Gospel to his former captors.
• Francis of Assisi — who preached to the Sultan during the Crusades, choosing persuasion over violence.
• George Whitefield — who pioneered open-air preaching and demonstrated that the Gospel could reach the masses outside church walls.
• William Carey — the "father of modern missions," who persevered for seven years before seeing his first convert in India.
• Hudson Taylor — who adopted Chinese dress and customs to remove unnecessary barriers to the Gospel.
• Billy Graham — who preached to more people than anyone in history while maintaining personal integrity throughout a long ministry.

These are not plaster saints but real people with real flaws who nonetheless accomplished remarkable things for the Gospel. Their stories inspire and instruct us.

3. History Warns Against Recurring Errors

Certain mistakes recur in every generation. By studying history, we can recognize these patterns and avoid them:

• Confusing conversion with cultural conformity — pressing people to adopt Western culture rather than simply embrace Christ.
• Relying on political power — using coercion or state support instead of persuasion and prayer.
• Neglecting discipleship — counting decisions without making disciples.
• Abandoning doctrinal substance — reducing the Gospel to emotional appeal without theological content.
• Retreating into the Christian ghetto — withdrawing from engagement with the broader culture.
• Accommodating to the culture — compromising the Gospel's distinctives to make it more palatable.

History shows us that these errors have been made before—and what happened when they were. Forewarned is forearmed.

4. History Gives Perspective on Our Own Moment

Every generation is tempted to think its challenges are unprecedented. "The world has never been this secular." "People have never been this hostile to Christianity." "The cultural obstacles have never been this great." History corrects this chronological snobbery.

The early church faced a pagan empire that considered Christianity a dangerous superstition. Medieval missionaries evangelized barbarian tribes that practiced human sacrifice. Reformers proclaimed the Gospel under threat of execution by both Catholic and Protestant authorities. Missionaries entered regions where predecessors had been martyred. Compared to many eras, our challenges are modest.

At the same time, history helps us see what is distinctive about our moment. The global scope of secularism, the influence of digital technology, the speed of cultural change—these are genuinely new. Historical perspective helps us discern what is perennial and what is particular to our time.

5. History Encourages Faith in God's Sovereignty

When we study the sweep of evangelism history, we see God's hand at work across centuries. The Gospel spreads despite persecution. The church grows even when human leadership fails. Revivals come when least expected. The gates of hell do not prevail.

This perspective breeds confidence. If God sustained the church through Roman persecution, the collapse of civilization, the corruption of the medieval papacy, and the hostility of communist regimes, He will sustain it through whatever we face. History is the story of God's faithfulness, and that faithfulness continues today.

A Brief Overview of Evangelism History

In the lessons that follow, we will explore the history of evangelism in detail. Here is a brief overview of the terrain we will cover:

Evangelism in the Life of Jesus

All Christian evangelism begins with Jesus Himself. He is not only the message we proclaim but the model we follow. His methods—personal conversation, public preaching, compassionate service, disciple-making—establish the pattern for all subsequent witness. We will examine how Jesus evangelized and what we can learn from His approach.

Early Church Evangelism (30-313 AD)

The apostolic and post-apostolic church grew explosively despite fierce persecution. From a tiny band of disciples in Jerusalem, the Gospel spread throughout the Roman Empire and beyond within three centuries. How did this happen? What methods did the early Christians use? What role did persecution, community, and ordinary believers play? The early church provides a master class in evangelism under pressure.

Medieval Evangelism (313-1500)

The medieval period is often overlooked in evangelism studies, but it saw the Gospel reach new peoples across Europe and beyond. Celtic monks evangelized the British Isles. Missionaries like Boniface brought the faith to Germanic tribes. The Eastern church spread Christianity through Eastern Europe and into Asia. At the same time, the medieval period illustrates the dangers of Christendom—when Christianity becomes culturally dominant but spiritually nominal.

Evangelism During the Reformation (1500-1700)

The Protestant Reformation recovered the Gospel of grace and unleashed new evangelistic energy. The Reformers themselves were primarily focused on reforming the church, but their theology laid the foundation for later missionary movements. We will explore how the Reformation's rediscovery of justification by faith alone transformed the church's understanding of evangelism.

The Great Awakenings (1700-1900)

The 18th and 19th centuries saw remarkable revivals on both sides of the Atlantic. The First Great Awakening in the American colonies, the Evangelical Revival in Britain, the Second Great Awakening in America, and subsequent movements brought millions to faith and transformed society. These awakenings also birthed the modern missionary movement, sending the Gospel to the ends of the earth. We will examine the preachers, methods, and lasting impact of these extraordinary seasons.

Recurring Themes in Evangelism History

As you study the lessons that follow, watch for these recurring themes that run through the history of evangelism:

The Sovereignty of God and Human Responsibility

Throughout history, we see both divine initiative and human effort. God sends revival, but He uses preachers and witnesses. The Spirit opens hearts, but believers must speak. Effective evangelism has always held these together.

Contextualization Without Compromise

The most effective evangelists have learned to communicate the unchanging Gospel in culturally appropriate ways. Patrick used Celtic art and culture. The Reformers translated the Bible into vernacular languages. Hudson Taylor adopted Chinese dress. The Gospel message does not change, but its presentation adapts to the audience.

The Cost of Witness

Evangelism has always been costly. Early Christians faced martyrdom. Medieval missionaries died in foreign lands. Reformers were burned at the stake. Missionaries today face persecution in hostile regions. Faithful witness often requires sacrifice.

The Role of Ordinary Believers

While famous evangelists get the attention, the Gospel has primarily spread through ordinary Christians sharing their faith in everyday life. The early church grew through merchants, slaves, and soldiers carrying the Gospel along trade routes. Every era of growth has depended on mobilized laypeople, not just professional clergy.

The Importance of the Local Church

Sustainable evangelism is rooted in healthy churches. Revivals that produced lasting fruit connected converts to local congregations. Movements that emphasized decisions without church connection often faded. The church is both the agent and the goal of evangelism.

The Power of Prayer

Every great evangelistic movement has been preceded and accompanied by earnest prayer. The early church prayed for boldness. The Reformers were men of prayer. The Great Awakenings were born in prayer meetings. History teaches that evangelism without prayer is powerless.

How to Approach These Lessons

As you study the history of evangelism, keep these principles in mind:

Learn, Don't Just Read

Don't rush through the historical lessons to get to the "practical" material. History is practical. Take time to absorb the stories, reflect on the lessons, and consider how they apply to your own context.

Look for Principles, Not Just Methods

Historical methods don't always transfer directly. Open-air preaching worked for Whitefield; it may not work in your suburb. But the principles behind the methods—reaching people where they are, speaking to felt needs, depending on the Spirit—are timeless. Extract principles, then apply them creatively.

Evaluate Critically

Not everything historical Christians did was wise or right. The Crusades were a tragic departure from Gospel witness. Forced conversions contradicted the nature of true faith. Some revivalist methods were manipulative. Learn from the mistakes as well as the successes.

Be Inspired, Not Intimidated

The great evangelists of history were not superhuman. They were ordinary people empowered by the same Spirit available to us. Their stories should inspire us to believe that God can use us too, not intimidate us into thinking we could never measure up.

Give Glory to God

Ultimately, the history of evangelism is the story of what God has done. He raised up preachers. He sent revival. He opened hearts. He built His church. The credit belongs to Him, and our response should be worship.

Conclusion: Learning from the Past for the Sake of the Future

The study of evangelism history is not nostalgia or antiquarianism. It is preparation for the present and the future. By learning from those who have gone before, we become wiser, more effective, and more hopeful witnesses for Christ.

In the lessons that follow, you will meet remarkable men and women, explore dramatic turning points, and discover timeless principles. You will be encouraged by stories of faith, sobered by examples of failure, and challenged to apply what you learn. You will, we pray, emerge better equipped to carry the Gospel forward in your own generation.

Each generation receives the Gospel from the previous one and passes it to the next. We are links in a chain stretching back to the apostles and forward to Christ's return. By studying those who came before us, we prepare ourselves to be faithful stewards of the Gospel for those who come after.

Let us learn from the past. Let us be faithful in the present. And let us trust God for the future of His Gospel.