Chapter 5 — Obstacles to Starting an Evangelism Team
Nearly every parish that considers starting an evangelism team faces similar concerns. These obstacles are real, but they should not become permanent reasons for inaction.
“We’re Not Ready”
No parish ever feels fully prepared. Readiness rarely comes before action. More often it comes through taking small, faithful steps, learning through experience, and adjusting along the way.
If a parish waits until everything feels ideal, it may wait indefinitely.
“Our Parish Isn’t Welcoming Yet”
It is wise to take this concern seriously. But perfection is not required before progress begins.
Very often a parish becomes more welcoming through the process of beginning. Once attention is given to first impressions, visitor care, follow-up, and parish culture, real growth starts to happen. Improvement often comes because you begin, not before you begin.
“We Don’t Have Enough People”
Many imagine they need a large committee or significant manpower before anything can happen. In reality, many fruitful ministries begin with only one to three committed people who are willing to pray, meet regularly, and remain faithful.
Numbers may grow later. Commitment matters first.
“We Don’t Know What to Do”
That is normal. Most people begin without a clear roadmap. The purpose of an evangelism team is not to have every answer on day one. It is to learn together, pray together, and discover practical next steps over time.
Clarity often comes through movement.
What Success Actually Looks Like
It is easy to assume success means larger attendance, many visitors, or rapid parish growth. Those may come as blessings. But they are rarely the first signs of progress, and they are not the only ones worth watching for.
The earliest signs of success are usually internal. More parishioners begin thinking seriously about evangelism. There is greater willingness to invite others. Concern for visitors and seekers grows. Confidence in speaking about the faith increases. These changes matter deeply, even when they are invisible to outside observers.
As time passes, more people in the surrounding community begin to know the parish exists, that it is welcoming, that questions are welcome, and that visitors can come without pressure. Awareness often comes before attendance.
The deepest success is cultural. Over time, evangelism stops being seen as unusual, optional, or something for a few gifted people. It becomes understood as part of normal Orthodox life. That shift can be one of the greatest long-term victories a parish achieves.
Some fruit will not appear for months or even years. Seeds planted through conversations, kindness, invitations, and faithful witness are never wasted.
Our Role and God’s Role
The Church has always understood that our responsibility is faithfulness. We pray, labor, invite, welcome, teach, and persevere. Visible increase belongs to God.
As Scripture says, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6).
We work seriously, but we do not carry the burden of outcomes alone. Our task is to be faithful. God is responsible for the fruit.