Rick Richardson, Reimagining Evangelism: Inviting Friends on a Spiritual Journey. Annotated Edition. IVP Books, 2006.
Referenced in: Theology and Practice of Evangelism – Emergent
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
In relation to other books on evangelism by emergent authors, Richardson’s contribution stems from his experience as a national director of evangelism with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and his academic appointment at Wheaton Graduate School. George Hunter’s editorial review is accurate that Richardson “gives language to the emerging forms of evangelism we see surfacing in many places.” What Brian McLaren says about evangelism prosaically in More Ready Than You Realize, Richardson explains more formally and structurally. McLaren writes the foreword. If one reads McLaren and wants a model to follow and duplicate, Richardson is a good place to start. Also, while there is some overlap, this volume builds on Richardson’s earlier work, Evangelism Outside the Box.
Richardson is quasi-emergent, and as such stresses evangelism that is a relational, conversational, community-based, holistic, and non-propositional exchange of stories between people as they traverse their faith journeys. Yet, Richardson is more focused on actual conversion and less averse to propositions and the idea of absolute truth that other emergent authors. This hybrid is reflected in the two forewords, one by Brian McLaren, but then the other by Luis Pulau. Still, conservative readers may experience him as too accommodative to the postmodern ethos, and may benefit from the interpretive essay, Evangelism in the Postmodern Ethos.
Richardson reacts against the intrusive practices of evangelism that “you wouldn’t do to your dog, much less a person you like.” (15) Over against images like traveling salesman, he suggests new images such as travel guide, detective, collaborator, listener, story-teller and matchmaker. He demonstrates keen awareness of the way our culture is shifting to prefer more spiritual, imaginative, experiential, and story-oriented approaches. He suggests this is actually encouraging, as it allows those who are not especially gifted in evangelism, but who are genuinely interested in others, to know that they can join God in his work rather than having to become conflict-ready gospel force-feeders. He offers a way for us to “collaborate” with the Spirit’s movement in others as we relate to them authentically, both as individuals and, perhaps more importantly, as faith communities. The appendices are very helpful, including sections on building trust in a multiethnic world, presenting the gospel through the “What’s at the Center” story, understanding the process of conversion, and assessing one’s spiritual gifts relative to evangelism.
This volume is the base for a number of curriculum resources by the same title:
- Rick Richardson, Reimagining Evangelism: Inviting Friends on a Spiritual Journey. DVD Curriculum Set. InterVarsity Press, 2008.
- Judy Johnson and Terry Erickson with Rick Richardson, Reimagining Evangelism Participant’s Guide. InterVarsity Press, 2008.
From the Publisher
Sometimes talking about Jesus with friends can feel like trying to close a deal on a sales call, pushing something on people they may not really want. But what if we thought of it more like inviting friends on a spiritual journey?
Instead of trying to create restlessness in others, we respond to it. Instead of offering to ease their pain, we invite them to engage more deeply in what is real. Instead of taking their questions personally, we encourage them to take their own questions seriously and go on their own quest.
Image being free to be yourself and free for the Spirit to work in you. Imagine that it doesn’t depend on you alone but that you can be an important part of a witnessing community. Imagine telling people stories instead of trying to download content.
Back Cover
Discover the Difference Between Christian Salespeople and Travel Guides
“The time has come to reimagine how we picture and practice sharing the good news about Jesus. The time has come because the old pictures and practices aren’t wearing well and aren’t working well. People in our culture aren’t responding. And people in the church aren’t excited or engaged….The time has come because our culture is shifting.”
Christians and non-Christians alike have been turned off by the model of evangelism that mirrors selling a product rather than sharing a gift. In Reimagining Evangelism, Rick Richardson notes that as followers of Christ, there is nothing about the gospel that we need to sell. The Holy Spirit is the one who changes hearts and “has been pursuing conversations with people he loves on a spiritual journey for the past two millennia.” We are called to partner with the Holy Spirit by journeying alongside of others, by being both listeners and truth-tellers.
Richardson does caution his readers. Relational evangelism can become stagnant and false just as easily as other models can. A person may build trust and friendship with another soul but never get to the point of challenge. “People are not loved when we build trust but never communicate truth… . Reimagining evangelism can help set us free for authentic and Spirit-empowered witness. But risk is inescapable. If we are looking for risk-free evangelism, we will never influence people toward Christ.” This book is for those who are looking for a fresh way to share their faith that will require more—not less—of them.
About the Author
Rick Richardson (M.Div., Northern Baptist Seminary) is associate professor and director of the masters in evangelism program at Wheaton Graduate School, associate national director for evangelism with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA and an ordained priest with the Anglican Mission in America.
His book Evangelism Outside the Box: New Ways to Help People Experience the Good News has been widely used by campus ministries, by Emergent churches and in seminary classes on evangelism. Richardson has also published four Bible discussion guides for seekers and skeptics: Sex, Spirituality, Finding God and Following After God. With Brenda Salter McNeil, he is the coauthor of The Heart of Racial Justice: How Soul Change Leads to Social Change.
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