The Reluctant Witness
New research finds that Christians are less involved in spiritual conversations today than we were twenty-five years ago.
As society has changed, it seems we have become more uncomfortable talking with people about our faith. We are reluctant conversationalists. The reality is that many of our churches and communities are shrinking instead of growing. What can we do about this?
Don Everts, himself a reluctant witness, grew up assuming that spiritual conversations are always painful and awkward. But after falling into one spiritual conversation after another, he was surprised to discover that they aren't. Don's surprising—and sometimes embarrassing—stories affirm what Scripture and the latest research reveal: spiritual conversations can actually be a delight. Unpacking what God's Word says about spiritual conversations and digging into the habits of eager conversationalists, Everts describes what we can learn from Christians who are still talking about their faith.
With original research from the Barna Group and Lutheran Hour Ministries on spiritual conversations in the digital age, this book offers fresh insights and best practices for fruitful everyday conversations.
"Don lets us walk in his shoes, beginning with shy Don who avoids spiritual conversations, to open Don who finds great joy in the simple conversations of life. In addition, the book is rooted in thoughtful statistics, helping us see how faith today is different from twenty-five years ago. Don's style is folksy, winsome, insightful, convicting, and even fun. Enjoy!"
"I have long admired the life, work, and writing of Don Everts (I Once Was Lost). The Reluctant Witness now adds to my admiration. I was moved by it. Why? Over my forty years of ministry, I have seen spiritual conversations go from cool or hip to something as awkward as kids at their first junior high dance to it now being assumed that spiritual conversations will automatically get mixed up in our coarse, even hateful, civil discourse. Don cuts through all this. Using easily digestible data, he shows us that we really don't have to be so guarded, so afraid, so on our heels. Don gently leads us toward renewed confidence as spiritual conversationalists. I can't think of a more timely and well-aimed book on evangelism."