Product Description

About the Book

A Likewise book.

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #41718 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-14
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 167 pages

Review
"A must read for people who are done with programs but need a new paradigm to help navigate cultural twists." -- —Jim Henderson, frontman for Off the Map, and author of a.k.a.

"This book gives language to the emerging forms of evangelism we see surfacing in many places-" -- George G. Hunter, Distinguished Professor of Evangelization, School of World Mission and Evangelism, Asbury Theological Seminary

From the Publisher
Features & Benefits

* Stories that capture the heart of each chapter

* Clear contrasts and comparisons of old and new paradigms

* Biblical illustrations and study questions for the Scripture passages at the end of each chapter

* Clear application to obstacles and opportunities

* Exercises and group discussions

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

Customer Reviews

Compelling new evangelism paradigm
Does your evangelism lack vitality? Do you get turned off by the sales approach to evangelism? Do you struggle experiencing the Good News as good news?

Rick Richardson replaces the old sales image of evangelism with the new images of travel guide, detective, collaborator, listener, story-teller and matchmaker. All these images are more compelling and motivating than selling Jesus to non-Christians!

Rick's thought-provoking presentation of the gospel message gives a fresh vision of God awesome love and desire to transform the whole world. It's a Big Story that you will want to share with your friends.

Reimagining Evangelism will change your evangelism paradigm, and renew your passion for joining the adventure of inviting friends on a spiritual journey.

Giving the "E" word a good name
This book captivated my attention from the moment I opened it. Richardson's analogy of Christians as Travel Guides vs. Salesmen is a perfect frameword in which to examine how we have practiced evangelism in previous generations. Travel Guides help those with whom they travel recognize what is already going on around them and invite them to respond and take next steps. How exciting for the church to understand it's role is no longer to "sell" something (they were never really sure quite what they were supposed to sell anyway) but to simply accompany people in their normal, anything but ordinary lives and....be open.
I personally can't wait until the DVD curriculum comes out in 2007! I know our church will be studying it.

Great Insight
I found this material to be a great and refreshing look into evangelism. As a firm believer and one who loves to talk about Jesus, Life and Love, I began to wonder if anybody else thought the current "system of evangelism" was a bit to strict, legalistic and constricted. Not everyone could deal with this system, and I wanted to figure out if others were out there like me. It was a great way to understand how the author might approach evangelism--more like a tour than a sales pitch--and how to go about telling others about this approachable and tangible lifestyle.
Great for all readers of Christianity, whether you believe in sharing or not. It's a part of life, to share it with others and get them excited.