Follow Me
on an Evangelism Journey
What Does Success at Evangelism Look Like?
Written on July 6, 2026 || Trey Hensley
Success at Evangelism? Today I’m thinking about success. What is success when it comes to evangelism? We know it’s not just being good, being a nice person, or just being an example. It’s not just doing good to others. Those are all fine, but they are not evangelism wins. But neither can I save anyone. I can’t make them get saved. I can't change their hearts. So what does evangelism success look like? What am I responsible for? I found these two quotes to be true and helpful…
Written on July 6, 2026 || Trey Hensley
Success at Evangelism? Today I’m thinking about success. What is success when it comes to evangelism? We know it’s not just being good, being a nice person, or just being an example. It’s not just doing good to others. Those are all fine, but they are not evangelism wins. But neither can I save anyone. I can’t make them get saved. I can't change their hearts. So what does evangelism success look like? What am I responsible for? I found these two quotes to be true and helpful…
Operation Saving Sam Was a Huge Success. It was inspiring to see my brothers and sisters working in a variety of ways all around me to bring the Gospel to hundreds of our Frederick County neighbors (and even beyond). It was so fun to be surrounded by brothers and sisters all filled with the Spirit to do evangelism together. Like Peter said in Acts 2, in these last days the Lord “will pour out [His] Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on My servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy” (Acts 2:17-18). These are those last days! All believers are filled with the Spirit of evangelism. And that’s got to excite you, Trey.
Doing evangelism, real evangelism sure does bring the Book of Acts to life. It’s one of the ways that our Christian experience becomes much more real to us. We all find this to be true at events like Operation Saving Sam, Harvest Fest, and mission trips. Whenever and however we find ways to share Jesus with others, that is success, a big win!
........................................................................
This Week’s Bible Reading: Acts 2
This Week’s Book Reading:
--Sharing Jesus without Freaking Out, chapter 1 (continued)
--Life Application Bible Study (Acts 2)
Doing evangelism, real evangelism sure does bring the Book of Acts to life. It’s one of the ways that our Christian experience becomes much more real to us. We all find this to be true at events like Operation Saving Sam, Harvest Fest, and mission trips. Whenever and however we find ways to share Jesus with others, that is success, a big win!
........................................................................
This Week’s Bible Reading: Acts 2
This Week’s Book Reading:
--Sharing Jesus without Freaking Out, chapter 1 (continued)
--Life Application Bible Study (Acts 2)
The Evangelism Power of the Holy Ghost Is All Over the Map
Written on June 30, 2026 || Trey Hensley || Acts 1:1-8
To the Edge of the Map. Man, I love a map! Especially when I encounter places, travelogues, geography, topography in Scripture. It’s just another reminder that these are real people, real places, real events (Acts 1:1; Luke 1:1-4). And as early as Acts 1:8, Jesus, our Master Missionary, has a map in mind—Jerusalem, Judea & Samaria, the ends of the earth. But how will the Good News travel like that? I mean, these men took off and hid as soon as Jesus was arrested. How are they going to take the Good News to the edges of the map? (How am I going to take the Good News to Operation Saving Sam this weekend?) They will need help. I will need help. All of us always need help. The Holy Ghost is going to give them evangelism power like the world has never seen. He’s the same way today, which means that we can “decide to be a twenty-first century version of those men and women of God” (Life Application Bible Study). “God’s plan continues today, and He gives us opportunities [like Operation Saving Sam] to spread the Word . The Resurrection is real, and the Holy Spirit’s power is available. What’s stopping us?” (Life Application Study Bible, Lesson 1).
Written on June 30, 2026 || Trey Hensley || Acts 1:1-8
To the Edge of the Map. Man, I love a map! Especially when I encounter places, travelogues, geography, topography in Scripture. It’s just another reminder that these are real people, real places, real events (Acts 1:1; Luke 1:1-4). And as early as Acts 1:8, Jesus, our Master Missionary, has a map in mind—Jerusalem, Judea & Samaria, the ends of the earth. But how will the Good News travel like that? I mean, these men took off and hid as soon as Jesus was arrested. How are they going to take the Good News to the edges of the map? (How am I going to take the Good News to Operation Saving Sam this weekend?) They will need help. I will need help. All of us always need help. The Holy Ghost is going to give them evangelism power like the world has never seen. He’s the same way today, which means that we can “decide to be a twenty-first century version of those men and women of God” (Life Application Bible Study). “God’s plan continues today, and He gives us opportunities [like Operation Saving Sam] to spread the Word . The Resurrection is real, and the Holy Spirit’s power is available. What’s stopping us?” (Life Application Study Bible, Lesson 1).
Diving in Slowly
Written on June 25, 2026 || Trey Hensley
Diving in. I mean, in a perfect world, all water—pools, lakes, oceans—would be such a perfect temp that you could walk right into it, no getting used to it. So when it comes to chilly water, I prefer just to dive in. I know that I said that this would be a “slow evangelism journey,” but sometimes even a slow journey is started by just doing it, just pulling the trigger on it, just diving in. After all, evangelism, like all the other “cold water” activities in our life, is also something that takes some getting used to.
For me, this dive was a bit of door-to-door canvasing in Stephens City. It’s a quick, easy way for me to get my feet wet again and get myself back into some intentional evangelism. (Need a dive-in activity? Consider joining our Operation Saving Sam evangelism event at Sherando Park on July 4.)
Slowly. I believe in door-to-door evangelism as an outreach event, but, like I said below, I’m slowly looking around for my own evangelism niche, my own regular way of talking to others about Jesus that fits me.
Written on June 25, 2026 || Trey Hensley
Diving in. I mean, in a perfect world, all water—pools, lakes, oceans—would be such a perfect temp that you could walk right into it, no getting used to it. So when it comes to chilly water, I prefer just to dive in. I know that I said that this would be a “slow evangelism journey,” but sometimes even a slow journey is started by just doing it, just pulling the trigger on it, just diving in. After all, evangelism, like all the other “cold water” activities in our life, is also something that takes some getting used to.
For me, this dive was a bit of door-to-door canvasing in Stephens City. It’s a quick, easy way for me to get my feet wet again and get myself back into some intentional evangelism. (Need a dive-in activity? Consider joining our Operation Saving Sam evangelism event at Sherando Park on July 4.)
Slowly. I believe in door-to-door evangelism as an outreach event, but, like I said below, I’m slowly looking around for my own evangelism niche, my own regular way of talking to others about Jesus that fits me.
The Books
Written on June 22, 2026 || Trey Hensley
Okay, the books. I'm keen on the subtitle of Reid's book, "Without Freaking Out." And chapter one, "Spread the Word: Don't Overcomplicate It;" that's a good start.
Like I said, there's no rush here. Some of you are slow readers like me. I just want to take in a couple of things from this first chapter over the next week or so. Here's one: "Despite all the remarkable programs we have in evangelism, a LifeWay study showed 61% of evangelical Christians had not told a soul about Christ in the previous six months" (p.9). That's heavy, but here's some hope: "What if you saw how the passion of your life--those things that bring you joy, that turn your crank, that bring you great satisfaction--were given to you by God to be used for something bigger, to spread His fame?" (p.8).
Written on June 22, 2026 || Trey Hensley
Okay, the books. I'm keen on the subtitle of Reid's book, "Without Freaking Out." And chapter one, "Spread the Word: Don't Overcomplicate It;" that's a good start.
Like I said, there's no rush here. Some of you are slow readers like me. I just want to take in a couple of things from this first chapter over the next week or so. Here's one: "Despite all the remarkable programs we have in evangelism, a LifeWay study showed 61% of evangelical Christians had not told a soul about Christ in the previous six months" (p.9). That's heavy, but here's some hope: "What if you saw how the passion of your life--those things that bring you joy, that turn your crank, that bring you great satisfaction--were given to you by God to be used for something bigger, to spread His fame?" (p.8).
Starting a Slow Evangelism Journey
Written on June 16, 2026 || Trey Hensley
I know that I’m in need of growth when it comes to evangelism. (Maybe you are too.) I’ve known it for some time. I’ve witnessed to many people. I get to preach the Gospel regularly and at special things like weddings and funerals as part of my job. I’ve even been on mission trips. But evangelism has just never become a solid part of my lifestyle. It’s not in my heart like it should be. Father God, I want to see if You will help me with that. And I’m starting this summer.
Follow me in this slow evangelism journey. Read these books with me slowly. Experiment with me. And may we find our own evangelism niche, our own way of talking to others about Jesus that fits us.
(Let’s just start by ordering the books.)
Sharing Jesus without Freaking Out, Alvin Reid
Life Application Bible Studies: Acts
Written on June 16, 2026 || Trey Hensley
I know that I’m in need of growth when it comes to evangelism. (Maybe you are too.) I’ve known it for some time. I’ve witnessed to many people. I get to preach the Gospel regularly and at special things like weddings and funerals as part of my job. I’ve even been on mission trips. But evangelism has just never become a solid part of my lifestyle. It’s not in my heart like it should be. Father God, I want to see if You will help me with that. And I’m starting this summer.
Follow me in this slow evangelism journey. Read these books with me slowly. Experiment with me. And may we find our own evangelism niche, our own way of talking to others about Jesus that fits us.
(Let’s just start by ordering the books.)
Sharing Jesus without Freaking Out, Alvin Reid
Life Application Bible Studies: Acts
