Pastor Shawn Bowman was invited by Bethesda LBC in Westby, WI to assist the church in reaching out to its community. Two weeks prior to his visit to Westby, Shawn wrote about their planned approach to evangelism.

Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house,
they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news
that Jesus is the Christ.
- Acts 5:42

This August, Bethesda Lutheran Brethren Church in Westby, Wisconsin is stepping out in faith to try an experimental method of community evangelism. Much like the apostles in Acts 5:42, Shawn Bowman and Adam Berge, pastor of Bethesda, intend to travel from house to house to visit with friends and neighbors of the church family. The church has been praying for hearts to be converted, and each member was encouraged to pray for specific individuals. During the week of August 14-22, the church family will invite those for whom they’ve been praying to come over for coffee and meet their pastor and visiting evangelist.

Why would anyone want to meet with these pastors, whether in a home or a coffee shop? This experimental method has no hope of overcoming that very obstacle unless the promise of Jesus in John 6:44a can be relied upon: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” So with a mustard seed of faith, the Westby church is willing to pray, invite and believe that God will draw people unto himself. Will you also pray for this evangelistic endeavor?

Imagine the following conversation taking place in Westby: “Hello, Mrs. Olson, we are glad you have invited us to your home. Is your guest here yet?” “No, not yet. I sure am worried about this meeting… What are you going to talk about, pastor?” “Well, as I said before, we will talk about the issue your friend Ella dealt with a year ago when she was diagnosed with a life-threatening aneurism. I am going to listen to her story and see where she has put her faith during this time of pain. You told me earlier that you didn’t think she was a churched person, so it will be good to find out where she has put her faith.” Imagine the end of the conversation with Ella: “Ella, I am so grateful to hear how the doctor and your family were by your side as you were going through the most traumatic experience of your life. You were really knocking on the door of eternity when the doctors lost all vitals on the operating table. Ella, that night when you died on the table for two minutes, were you ready to stand before God and see if you were going to get into heaven or not?” Based on Ella’s response to this question, the gospel is close at hand.

Groups of people from the church will gather each evening of the week for prayer. Then on Saturday, Bethesda is hosting a community celebration event with inflatable games for the kids, face painting and other outreach opportunities pointing people to the cross of Christ throughout the day. The week will conclude with a meal for everyone in the big tent and an evangelistic message following the meal. Please pray for us as we step out in faith believing God will convert souls in Westby.

Rev. Shawn Bowman serves as pastor of Victory LBC, Jamestown, ND (www.findvictory.org).