By Heather Hahn/ United Methodist News Service
Holston's 2015 winners of the Denman Evangelism Awards will be named on Tuesday, June 9, at the Holston Annual Conference.
PORTLAND, Ore. (June 4, 2015) -- Grandparents eagerly share pictures of their grandchildren. Puppy owners gush about their pooch’s adorableness. Still, many Christians struggle to talk about their most important relationship — the one they have with God.
The good news is that many United Methodists are very effective at sharing the Good News of God’s transforming love. Their experiences show that evangelism need be neither intimidating nor intrusive.
“There are such amazing ministries going on in evangelism,” said Jane Boatwright Wood, president of the United Methodist Foundation for Evangelism in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina.
She ought to know. Every year, the foundation works with conferences to honor United Methodist youth, lay people and clergy with Harry Denman Evangelism Awards.
These Christians work in a variety of ministries and contexts. The common ground is commitment.
“They genuinely want to share the news of Christ, and they do this through their actions, through their ministry and through their words,” Wood said.
United Methodist News Service asked for evangelism advice from five 2014 Harry Denman lay winners as well as last year’s distinguished evangelist, Holston native Richard Looney.