Chapter 4 — The Two Phases of an Evangelism Team
Most teams want to move immediately into projects and visible activity. That desire is understandable. But lasting fruit usually comes when a strong foundation is laid first.
For that reason, it helps to think of an evangelism team’s life in two phases: a season of foundation and a season of action. The goal is to grow steadily from learning into faithful evangelism.
Phase One: Foundation
What This Phase Is For
Phase One is a season of formation. Before a team can act wisely, it needs to develop a shared understanding of what Orthodox evangelism truly is — common language, shared vision, and practical clarity.
This phase typically lasts six to twelve months, depending on the parish, the consistency of meetings, and the readiness of the team. During this time, at least half of each meeting should be devoted to education and discussion.
This is also the right season to gather ideas without pressure to act on everything immediately. Encourage members to notice opportunities, discuss possibilities, and collect useful observations. Those ideas will be organized and acted upon in Phase Two.
The goal of Phase One is to become rooted before trying to grow outward.
What to Examine During Phase One
Use this season to look honestly at the current life of the parish. These four areas deserve careful attention:
Parish Website
Suggested Resource: How to Create an Evangelistic Website
- What is the current state of your parish website?
- Is it welcoming, clear, and helpful to newcomers?
- Does it create a strong first impression?
- What improvements could be made?
Social Media Presence
- Is your parish active on social media?
- Does your content speak to seekers and visitors, or mainly to existing parishioners?
- What could be improved?
Welcoming Newcomers
Suggested Resource: How to Start A Welcoming Ministry
- Does your parish have a welcoming team or system in place?
- How are first-time visitors greeted and cared for?
- Are there ways to improve hospitality and follow-up?
Understanding Your Community
- What groups or demographics are present in your area?
- What makes your local community unique?
- What questions or spiritual needs are common among the people around you?
- What local events or gatherings could create opportunities for connection and conversation?
This is also a good time to begin making practical improvements in these areas, not just identifying needs. Before larger evangelism efforts begin, the parish should be ready to receive visitors well. If people come and find a confusing website, a closed atmosphere, or no one to welcome them, many opportunities will be lost before they begin.
Personal Formation During Phase One
In addition to team meetings, members should spend personal time with books, articles, podcasts, and videos on evangelism and the Orthodox faith.
It is also highly recommended that every member read one chapter of the Gospels each day. As people study evangelism alongside the life and teachings of Christ, they begin noticing how consistently the Gospels reveal principles of invitation, compassion, discipleship, and the call to follow Him.
Phase One Checklist
Before moving into Phase Two, these foundations should be in place or moving in a strong direction:
- Our parish website is welcoming, clear, and ready to receive new visitors
- We have a welcoming system prepared to receive first-time visitors well
- Our social media presence is active and mindful of seekers and newcomers
- We have developed a basic shared understanding of Orthodox evangelism
- Our team has established a regular meeting rhythm and healthy communication
- We have identified practical evangelism opportunities in our local community
- We have gathered and organized ideas to act on in Phase Two
- We have the priest’s blessing and clear communication with parish leadership
Perfection is not the goal. Readiness is. When these foundations are reasonably in place, the team is ready to move forward.
Phase Two: Action
What Changes
Once a strong foundation is in place, the focus shifts toward implementation, planning, and intentional evangelism. The team is no longer only learning what evangelism is. It is now practicing it together in a deliberate and organized way.
Meetings change in emphasis. In Phase One, education and discussion may have taken 30 to 35 minutes. In Phase Two, that becomes 10 to 15 minutes. The remaining time is used for planning, coordination, evaluation, and action.
The team moves from collecting ideas to implementing practical plans.
What to Focus On
Your local team knows your community better than anyone else. The ministry can provide ideas, resources, and encouragement, but it is your team that must look beyond the walls of the parish, understand the local mission field, and determine the best ways to share the Orthodox faith where you live.
Practical focus areas in Phase Two may include:
- Strengthening the welcoming ministry and visitor follow-up
- Parish events that invite seekers and newcomers
- Building a stronger presence in the local community
- Service opportunities that create natural relationships
- Educational opportunities for inquirers
- Digital evangelism through the website and social media
- Relationship-based invitation and personal witness
- Participation in local events and festivals where conversations can begin
The purpose of Phase Two is not activity for its own sake. It is to help the parish become more intentional, more outward-facing, and more faithful in sharing the Orthodox faith with the people God has placed around it.
Final Encouragement
Do not rush Phase One, and do not remain there forever.
Take the time to build well. A strong foundation makes future efforts healthier, wiser, and more fruitful. Then, when the time is right, move forward with courage, humility, and consistency.
Strong roots support healthy fruit.