Strengthening Personal Evangelism Through Apologetics at First Baptist Church of Rogersville, Tennessee

Abstract

This project sought to equip the members of First Baptist Church at Rogersville, Tennessee (FBCR) to utilize apologetics in evangelism. A curriculum was developed and taught, applying an evangelistic approach to several common objections to Christianity. Course participants were instructed to go beyond the arguing of an apologetic point to the evangelizing of a person. A pre-project assessment identified some of the most pressing apologetic issues among FBCR membership. It also revealed that high levels of doctrinal orthodoxy do not necessarily translate into evangelistic confidence in a secular society. Post-project measurements indicated increases in levels of knowledge and evangelistic confidence for course participants. Growth in evangelistic competency when dealing with apologetic issues was also evident. While post-project measurements showed only slightly increased frequency in evangelistic encounters between course participants and unbelievers, the overall statistically significant gains indicated a base to build upon in the future at FBCR.