On Saturday, 30 Auckland leaders gathered to hear Dr Darrell Bock discuss the challenge of evangelism in secular New Zealand and the importance of elders and leaders understanding and adapting to cultural ‘scripts’ and differences while maintaining core values.
Some of the strategies discussed included building relationships, explaining the gospel's relevance, and avoiding the trap of polarisation.
For Karl Udy (Northcross Church), a key takeaway was the call for Jesus' ambassadors to "bring a message of hope to the world with gentleness and respect." He said the seminar gave "insightful guidelines on how we can do that, and avoid common pitfalls, by listening well and loving those we engage with" —something he sees as much needed.
Hayden Johns (Auckland Bible Church) liked Darrell's insights on sharing about the uniquness of Jesus: "Many people don't have the categories for grasping what the gospel is about when we talk to a non-Christian about Jesus."
"That's why I think the Apostle Paul used sports metaphors to explain salvation and the life of faith," said Hayden.
