Evangelism: Whose Job Is It Anyways?

The Global Need for the Gospel

As of 2025, over 2.5 billion people—that’s nearly 30% of the world’s population—have never heard the gospel. Not even once.

Even more sobering: about 10% of these unreached people live in Pakistan.

So the question naturally arises: Whose job is it to evangelize?
Is it just the pastor’s job? The evangelist’s job? The missionary’s job?

Let’s explore what evangelism really is—and who is called to do it.

What Do These Words Really Mean?

• Evangelist – From the Greek euangelion, meaning “good news.” An evangelist is someone who brings the good news.
• Evangelism – The act of sharing the gospel with the intent of leading others to Christ.
• Missionary Work – An organized effort to evangelize, especially cross-culturally.
• Missionary – Someone engaged in mission work.

So, evangelism is not confined to a special group of “professional Christians.” It’s simply telling someone about Jesus.

Did Jesus Actually Command Us to Evangelize?

Let’s ask a few questions:

• How many of us consider ourselves followers of Jesus?
• If we follow Him, are we obeying His commands?
• What did Jesus command?

The Great Commission

Jesus’ most direct instructions to His followers after His resurrection were all about evangelism:

• Matthew 28:19 – “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations…”
• Mark 16:15 – “Go into all the world and preach the gospel…”
• Luke 24:47-48 – “…repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in His name to all nations…”
• John 20:21 – “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
• Acts 1:8 – “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses…”

If you are a follower of Jesus, these words are your mission.

Why You’re Here Today

Let me ask you:
How many of you were alive when Jesus walked the earth?

None of us, right?

Yet, you are a Christian today because the first disciples shared the gospel. The 120 shared with the 3,000. The 3,000 shared with others. And eventually, someone shared it with your ancestors.

Repeat after me: “I am here because someone fulfilled the Great Commission.”

The Story of Ditt: Evangelism in Action

In 1873, a young Chuhra man named Ditt, from Shahab Dike in Pakistan, was introduced to Christianity by a recently converted Hindu named Nathu Lal. Intrigued, Ditt traveled to Sialkot, was baptized by Rev. Samuel Martin, and returned to his village.

He was rejected by his own family. Yet, he kept preaching.

Within 11 years, over 500 Chuhras had come to Christ through his ministry.
By 1915, nearly the entire Chuhra population in the Sialkot district had embraced Christianity.

Evangelism doesn’t require a title. It requires a heart on fire.

Why Do We Need the Holy Spirit?

We’ve spent the past month discussing the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. But why do we even need it?

Yes, the Spirit empowers us for transformation, unity, and prayer.
But Scripture emphasizes one major reason for His power:

Acts 1:8 – “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses…”

If we are asking for the Spirit’s power but not planning to witness, we may be missing the point.

Evangelism = Loving Your Neighbor

Some of you may say, “But Jesus commanded us to love our neighbor.”

Exactly!
But what does real love look like?

1 John 3:16 – “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us…”

As Christians, we’ve already died to this world (Galatians 2:20). So what can we give?

Eternal life.

And how do we offer eternal life?
By sharing the gospel.

Romans 10:14 – “How are they to believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?”

Evangelism is the most radical act of love you can show your neighbor.

Is Evangelism an Individual or Church Responsibility?

We often talk about “Evangelical Churches,” but what does that mean?

What Is the Church?

The word church today often means a building. But in the New Testament, the word used is ekklēsia, meaning “called out ones.”
The church isn’t bricks—it’s people with a mission.

And without a mission, the church becomes just another social club.

What’s Our Mission?

Just like you can’t book a ride without choosing a destination, or win a game without aiming for the goalpost, a church without evangelism has lost its purpose.

Becoming an Evangelical Church

When an individual evangelizes, they become an evangelist.
When a church evangelizes, it becomes evangelical.

But that doesn’t mean everyone has to do the same thing.

Think of a football team—not everyone is a striker. There’s a goalkeeper, defenders, and midfielders.

Or think of a software company—not everyone is in sales. There are developers, testers, and project managers.

Likewise, every member of the church should have a role that contributes to the shared mission of evangelism.

Every church member should be actively engaged in ministry. Every church member should know how they are contributing to the team goal.

So, Whose Job Is It?

Evangelism is not just the evangelist’s job.
It is the job of every believer—individually and collectively as the church.

Jesus has commanded it. The Spirit empowers it. The world desperately needs it.

And if we truly love our neighbor, we will not withhold from them the one thing that can save them: the gospel of Jesus Christ.