Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult

  • Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult

    About the Author:

    Nick Pollard’s experience in evangelism sums up what practical evangelism is all about. This book, published in 1997 by InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois, encapsulates his rich evangelistic-field work. 

    About the Book:

    The title of the book is at once insightful, Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult. How to Interest People Who Aren’t Interested. Pollard does not assume that evangelism is entirely easy, instead he seeks to demonstrate how its complexities can be lessened. His focal thesis is to advance principles that can stir interest for the gospel in uninterested people. 

    Pollard has categorized evangelistic prospects into four groups – those who are ready to become Christians, but just waiting for someone to encourage them to make the decision; those who really want to become Christians, but want their doubts and questions cleared; those who are genuinely committed to becoming Christians, but don’t know where to begin; and those who are not just interested in whatever the gospel has to offer. The first three categories fall in the minority of prospects, while the fourth group represents the majority. Pollard reasons that being effective in evangelism demands that people in all four categories are adequately ministered to. 

    Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult. How to Interest People Who Aren’t Interested is divided into four sections and each section discusses in detail each of the four categories. The fourth category is the discussed in the first section and is the longest part of the book. Obviously, engendering interest in the gospel is the springboard for any meaningful discussion. Pollard discovered that forming strong relationships and spending time with those who are not interested help in arousing their interest. 

    One major strength of Pollard’s book is the logical and unobtrusive arguments he advances in winning prospects to the gospel all through the book. It is about meeting people where they are, understanding and empathizing with them, lovingly demonstrating the beauties of having a loving relationship with Jesus, and lovingly persuading them to accept Jesus. This process takes time, so no fast accession should be expected. In fact, if it is fast, then it could be shallow. The evangelism that arouses interest in indifferent prospects is process-oriented instead of being result-oriented. 

    Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult. How to Interest People Who Aren’t Interested is a treasure chest for those in desperate need of tools in ministering to a postmodern generation. Pollard himself worked as an evangelist in colleges and universities, so he understands how indifferent young people can be to the gospel. In an age when being a Christian is less fashionable than being a social media star, how can the Christian faith be contextualized and presented in a most appealing way to people? True to his statement, Pollard does not suggest that everyone can be made to develop interest in the gospel. But he believes that much can be done to help the many who might be convinced, converted, and convicted through what the Holy Spirit can do with the practical application of Pollard’s counsels. 

    This one hundred and seventy-eight page evangelism manual is highly recommended to all who engage in campus ministry, city witnessing, youth evangelism, and evangelism to non-Christians. In fact, anyone who has anything to do with evangelism in this ever-increasingly secular, relative, pluralistic, and postmodern age, would find in this book a gold mine. 


    Reviewed by John Okpechi