You Can Grow In Evangelism in 2026. Here's How!
With the year stretched out before us, we wanted to ask, what are your evangelism plans? How can we make the most of every opportunity this coming year? Here are our top tips for serving God in the area of evangelism in 2026.
Plan
Like so many things in life, without intentional planning, important goals often get overlooked. Why not set aside some time to think and pray about how you can share Jesus with others this year? Making a firm plan today could make all the difference in the opportunities God opens for you!
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21
Prepare
Have you considered arranging evangelism training for yourself or your church? Being well-prepared ensures that when opportunities to share the gospel arise, you’re ready to respond confidently. Explore training opportunities like A Passion for Life, Sow to Reap, Come and See or Share the Gospel to equip yourself and others for effective outreach.
Do you also have a small stock of bibles, tracts or evangelistic books ready to give to someone who is seeking? If not, what’s stopping you from getting prepared? Having these resources on hand can make all the difference when the moment comes to share the hope of Christ.
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15
Partner
As Christians, we are part of the body of Christ—both within our local communities and across the world. When planning your evangelism efforts this year, think about how you can collaborate with others:
Partner with local churches: Join hands with other congregations in your area to amplify your reach and impact.
Work with specialized organizations: Consider teaming up with groups that focus on evangelism and are experienced in hosting outreach events. They can provide valuable resources and expertise to help you share the gospel effectively.
Together, we can make a greater impact for the Kingdom! Who could you partner with this year?
“...in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Romans 12:5
Be Proactive
When emergency or unexpected situations arise in your community are you proactive in finding ways to step in and point to Jesus, both practically and spiritually? Being prepared and connected with local partners will help you be proactive when evangelism opportunities arise.
“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21
Pray
Whether as individuals or as a church, let’s commit to sharing Jesus with those around us—and let’s cover every step in prayer:
Pray before you plan: Ask for God’s guidance and wisdom as you consider how best to reach others.
Pray during preparation: Lift up yourself, your team, and the people you’ll encounter. Pray that the Holy Spirit would go ahead of you, preparing hearts to receive the gospel.
Pray during the event: Seek to glorify God in everything you say and do. Pray that the gospel would be proclaimed clearly, faithfully, and powerfully.
Let’s trust God to use our efforts for His glory!
“Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.” Ephesians 6:19
Where to Start?
The frequency and type of evangelism you’re able to do will vary depending on your church size and who is able to join you. As a starting point, think through how you might incorporate a mixture of small, medium and large events this year. If this is your first time planning an event, start small and work up from there.
Small Events - Monthly. Events which require a small amount of planning and yet have a regular impact.
Medium Events - 1-3 per year. These require a smaller team, and 1-2 months planning.
Large Events - 1-2 per year. These will require a dedicated planning team to arrange all the resources and activities. Most large events require 3-6+ months planning time.
When thinking about evangelism there are events which take place inside the church buildings, or outside, but beyond that, events fall into roughly 2 categories: national events, or church specific events.
National Events
You may already plan evangelism around the key church dates and Christmas, but have you thought about how other major events could be a catalyst for your evangelism? You may also have very specific local events that you could get involved in. More ideas about creating evangelistic moments at secular events can be found from our UK team here.
Key Dates for 2026
February 18th - Lent begins
April 5th - Easter
May 10th - Mother's Day
June 21st - Father’s Day
October 31st - Halloween
November 26th - Thanksgiving
November 29th - Advent Begins
Learn more here about using tracts throughout the year.
Church Specific Events or Missions
These are events that are standalone and not necessarily linked to any outside event (although you could definitely run some of the following events linked to a national event!).
You can use a short gospel talk or testimony interview at the following events, and have goodie bags or giveaway books, plus follow up information, ready to give away at the end:
Quiz night - Medium
Pick a theme, or just go for general knowledge. This is a really easy event to invite people along to, and the addition of a testimony from a church member, or guest, which links to the quiz theme. Kahoot has lots of free quizzes already there which you can use or edit. You may need to pay for a license for a month depending on how many teams you'll be having.
Special guest event - Large/Medium
People are interested in people, and not just celebrity people. There are many Christians who have fascinating stories to share about how God has been at work in their lives. Whether you plan an event with a guest sports person, scientist, apologist, or someone you know has a story that will gain interest; a sofa and a mic are often all you need.
Business lunch - Medium/Small
There are many business men and women who have areas of expertise which would interest others in business. Could you combine a free lunch and short interview/testimony? These are particularly popular for churches in city centers.
Musical event - Large/Medium/Small
If you have a talented group of musicians--or even just one--who could perform a set of music one afternoon or evening it is a very straightforward event to coordinate. Think through what type of people may be interested to come and listen, and advertise accordingly.
Craft event - Medium/Small
Food events - Medium/Small
Family fun events (outdoors or indoors) - Large/Medium
We pray that you would be encouraged and inspired to reach out this year for God’s glory and would love to hear what events you’re planning.