Evidence Most Churches Don't Truly Care About The Lost; And One Easy Way To Address That
If you want to know what a church values, look at how they invest their time, resources, and people. A quick glance at staffing and budgets of many churches might even bring a sense of pride. Staffing and dollars are invested in many good, righteous areas of Christian development like students, discipleship, and missions. And most churches would claim to care deeply about reaching the lost—yet when you examine their staff rosters, a surprising absence stands out. While it's common to see churches with dedicated pastors for worship, youth, children's ministry, and discipleship, you rarely find a staff position dedicated solely to evangelism and outreach. This raises an important question: If sharing the gospel is central to the mission of the Church, why aren't more churches prioritizing it in their staffing?
What Does the Bible Say About Evangelism?
The Bible is unmistakably clear about the Church's calling to evangelize. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) is not a suggestion; it's a mandate. Jesus commands His followers to "go and make disciples of all nations," a charge that should shape everything the Church does. In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells His disciples they will be His witnesses "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." The early church took this mission seriously. Acts is filled with stories of believers sharing the gospel boldly, resulting in explosive growth (Acts 2:41, Acts 4:4).
Paul's letters also reflect the primacy of evangelism. In 2 Corinthians 5:20, Paul describes believers as "ambassadors for Christ" who are entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation. Romans 10:14-15 emphasizes the need for messengers to bring the gospel: "How can they hear without someone preaching to them?" This consistent biblical witness leaves no doubt—evangelism should be a defining priority for every local church.
Church Hiring Practices: What Do They Reveal?
Despite the biblical emphasis on outreach, most churches do not reflect that priority in their staffing decisions. When a church grows, the first hires often focus on internal ministries: worship, youth, children's programs, and sometimes discipleship. While these roles are valuable, they primarily serve those already inside the church.
A survey of job postings from churches across the country shows that Evangelism and Outreach Pastor positions are rare. Churches may form outreach committees or rely on volunteers to coordinate community efforts, but few commit to a full-time staff member to lead this charge. The message this sends is clear: Evangelism is important in theory, but not important enough to allocate significant resources toward it.
Why is this the case? One reason may be a pragmatic focus on retention rather than expansion. Churches feel the pressure to care for existing members, which leads to staffing positions that directly serve their current congregation. Additionally, outreach can feel abstract or hard to measure compared to the tangible outputs of other ministries. Worship services have weekly deliverables. Youth and children's ministries engage specific age groups. Outreach, on the other hand, involves stepping into the unpredictable world outside the church walls.
Why Every Church Should Prioritize an Evangelism and Outreach Pastor
If churches truly want to fulfill the Great Commission, an Evangelism and Outreach Pastor should be a priority hire—especially for churches with the capacity to maintain multiple staff members. Here's why this role is vital:
Intentionality Breeds Action: When a church employs someone whose primary job is to lead and model evangelism, outreach becomes woven into the culture. Without dedicated leadership, it is easy for outreach to become an afterthought.
Equipping the Church: An effective Evangelism and Outreach Pastor doesn’t just do the work—they train others to share their faith confidently. This aligns with Ephesians 4:12, which calls church leaders to "equip the saints for the work of ministry."
Community Engagement: A dedicated outreach leader helps the church develop strategic, ongoing relationships with the local community. This leads to deeper trust and more opportunities to share the gospel in authentic ways.
Missional Focus: Hiring an Evangelism and Outreach Pastor signals to the congregation that reaching the lost is non-negotiable. It reminds the entire church that their mission extends beyond the walls of the sanctuary.
Growth and Health: Churches that prioritize evangelism are often healthier and more vibrant. Outreach-oriented churches see new believers come to faith, and those new believers bring fresh energy and perspective to the body.
One Easy Way to Address the Evangelism Gap
If hiring a full-time Evangelism and Outreach Pastor feels out of reach, start small. Identify a staff member or lay leader who is passionate about outreach and designate them as the point person. Empower them with the authority and resources to lead evangelistic initiatives. Provide training, support, and regular opportunities to report on progress.
Additionally, consider restructuring existing staff roles to include outreach responsibilities. For example, a Discipleship Pastor could also oversee evangelism efforts, ensuring that spiritual growth and outreach are intertwined.
But let’s be clear; the goal for most medium to larger sized churches should be to put your money where your mouth is and seek to hire a point person to spearhead the evangelistic efforts of their church. It would be better to trim other budgetary areas and create this new position rather than keeping the status quo and hoping lost people miraculously wander into your church. A dedicated, full-time Pastor of Evangelism and Outreach will set your church up to pursue the Great Commission with the passion most Senior Pastor’s dream about.
Final Thoughts
The absence of Evangelism and Outreach Pastors on most church staffs is not a minor oversight—it reflects a deeper issue of misplaced priorities. If the Church is serious about obeying Christ's command to make disciples, then evangelism cannot be left to chance. By investing in a dedicated leader for outreach, churches can foster a culture where sharing the gospel becomes a natural and constant priority.
The solution is straightforward: If evangelism matters, it should be reflected in how a church invests its people and resources. Prioritize the work of making Jesus known, and watch how God moves through a church that takes His mission seriously.