Jim Henderson, Evangelism Without Additives: What If Sharing Your Faith Meant Just Being Yourself? Waterbrook Press, 2007.
Referenced in: Approaches to Evangelism – Conversational/Relational
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
This text is sometimes referred to as “a. k. a. lost,” and is from the same author as Jim and Casper Go to Church. It presents the antithesis of bold, proclamation-based witnessing. Henderson says he “resigned” from this practice with all its “fake evangelistic caring.” He says, “finding the people Jesus misses most isn’t about boldness; it’s about love.” With that in mind, he began focusing on “the small attempts to connect with people in ways that were natural and had context in our ordinary, everyday lives.” He calls this “Ordinary Attempts.”
An Ordinary Attempt is just what the name implies. It’s something that anyone can do. You don’t need special skills or experience; you just have to be aware and available. It’s an attempt, not an accomplishment, so no extra credit is awarded for succeeding, and no demerits are given for failing. Ordinary Attempts are this easy: They are nothing more than free attention giveaways.
People crave attention. In our cultural setting it’s like the cup of cold water Jesus referred to in Matthew 10:42, where he said, “If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple…he will certainly not lose his reward.” When we pay attention to people because we want to nudge them toward Jesus, it refreshes them. It becomes the connecting bridge between them and God. Best of all, instead of asking them for something – their time, attention, and interest – we give them something – our time, attention, and interest. We serve them a small taste of Jesus’ desire to attend to them.
…I want to be like Jesus. I want to be friends with the people Jesus misses most, the people formerly known as “lost.” I want missing people to like me, to want to hang out with me. I want to partner with Jesus in seeing them cross the starting line into the kingdom of God.
This book is an excellent guide to engaging authentic relationships that create the soil for evangelism. It provides encouragement and tangible suggestions on how to begin evangelistic conversations, a special help for those who shy away from evangelism to become meaningfully involved.
From the Publisher
What if “evangelism” meant just being yourself?
If the gospel really is good news, why do most Christians avoid evangelism? Why is “witnessing” often a negative experience, for both the sender and receiver? Wouldn’t it be great if you could communicate the good news without having to become a spiritual salesperson?
What if…
- you didn’t have to make a speech in order to “witness”?
- you could use everyday experiences to nudge others closer to Jesus?
- the things you’re already doing counted as evangelism?
Evangelism can be as normal as asking great questions and paying attention to the people Jesus misses most. It involves doing things you already do, but with a little more intentionality. Just by being yourself and becoming unusually interested in others, you can discover that people will ask you about Jesus.
This isn’t another program or pitch. It’s a handbook on how to make real connections with the people formerly known as lost.
Think of it as evangelism for the rest of us.
About the Author
Jim Henderson is executive director of Off The Map, an organization committed to normalizing evangelism for ordinary Christians. Off The Map’s live events help Christians think and feel differently about the people Jesus misses most. Visit www.off-the-map.org to find exclusive book-related resources, including video interviews, discussion guides, and information on Ordinary Attempts–a unique approach to connecting with non-Christians.
***For additional information on this resource, including reviews, click the bookstore links. Check the reference at page top or the links below for resource guides on related topics.***
Related Areas
See Other Resources on Evangelism:
See Resources on Over 100 Areas of Ministry Leadership: