Big evangelistic events provide creative vehicles for evangelism and your teenagers will use them. These events should be non-intimidating, excellent, exciting and attractive. Your youth will not hesitate to invite their unsaved friends to this kind of event where the Gospel will be preached.

Effective events include at least four key ingredients.

First a vision is needed. You can develop a vision for your community by doing a simple exercise. Make a list of high schools and middle schools that are in your community. Determine the school population at each one. Multiply that number by 80%. This is the potential for ministry to the unsaved in their location. (The percentage may vary according to community, but that gives you a rough figure of the need in your community)

Secondly, there must be an attraction. Reaching students with an event will happen if there is something of interest to them. What will draw students in your community? Factors that attract students are: friends, fun and food. For any activity that you are trying to draw people in, they must be invited by their friends. You can have a great activity, but until you have the power of a personal invitation, you will fail.

Thirdly, the event will not accomplish evangelism unless you present a clear message of the Gospel. So make sure you have someone who can give a clear presentation and practical application with an invitation (Romans 10:17) Have counselors prepared.

Finally, follow up is vital. An evangelistic event held in your local church, gives you special advantage of getting that young person into your local church, because he associates what God has done in his life with the church building or place where your students meets. It is familiar territory to him not intimidating. Do not fail to be aggressive and deliberate with follow up.

Evangelism must be deliberate.

It must be planned and anticipated. Place the events on your calendar a year in advance. Three events each year will be a great goal. This will give your young people opportunities to be involved in reaching out to their friends. You can start promoting early and build the enthusiasm among your group. If you use these events properly, you have the potential of reaching many young people.

There are practical and Biblical benefits for being deliberate about event evangelism. Among them is fulfillment of the Great Commission. It also helps a youth group increase attendance and discipleship ministry. It provides contacts for future events and more exposure of individuals to the Gospel. Contacts for visiting in the homes of visitors and an opportunity to minister to parents are presented. Your church young people are getting involved in reaching the lost.

Evangelism is not an option for the Biblical Evangelical Church. Youth ministry is intended to be fun and active. The church that includes the proper uses evangelistic events will increase the effectiveness of their youth ministry.