Evangelism is the driving force behind The Table Coalition
The Gospel is all that matters to a hurting world. When people of all races, backgrounds, creeds, and viewpoints find Jesus, it changes everything. Around every table, multiple opinions abound – political and otherwise. Yet, when you experience true unity through the Gospel, there is no greater mission.
The Table Coalition is known for their evangelistic efforts and sharing the Gospel message, a way to unify people under the saving grace of Jesus. The goal is to unite the Church and believers under the banner of Jesus and share the message of hope with as many people as possible.
As the mission for The Table Coalition makes clear: “The Table Coalition, formerly known as Mission America Coalition, exists to catalyze partnership within the American Church so that more people know Jesus.” Echoing that sentiment, the charter profile for The Table Coalition at the ECFA states: “Our unified goal is simple but strategic: to pray for, care for, and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with every man, woman, and young person in the United States.”
What is evangelism?
You might wonder, how should we define evangelism in the first place? If there is unity in the cross of Jesus, and we can all agree on the missional aspects of the Gospel, it’s important to define evangelism in clear terms.
First and foremost, evangelism is a concerted effort and an intentional exercise meant to help the lost find Jesus, confess their sins to Him and turn from their past life to embrace a new life from now until eternity.
Perhaps one of the clearest definitions comes from Cru, a campus ministry organization. “Evangelism is sharing Jesus Christ with people who do not know Him yet.”
How that plays out in daily life depends on who you are, where you live, and who you know. It can mean sharing Jesus with family members before you go to school. It can mean speaking about your faith to those at work. For young adults, it can mean proclaiming the name of Christ to those you know on social media. Evangelism takes many forms in daily life. The one clear directive is to share Jesus in all circumstances and in situations. As it states in 2 Timothy 4:2-5, we are to proclaim the Word no matter what to anyone who will listen!
Fulfilling the call
The Table Coalition is intent on sharing Jesus with the lost and broken, to help them surrender their lives to the Savior. Originally known as Mission America Coalition, the organization now known as The Table Coalition started in 1973 by three important figures in the evangelism movement from that time period.
Dr. Billy Graham founded the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; Dr. Bill Bright founded Campus Crusade for Christ; and Dr. John Perkins founded the Christian Community Development Association. All three came together to form Mission America Coalition, which eventually became The Table Coalition. The organization is now led by the evangelist Nick Hall, who serves as President.
The evangelical mindset and religious belief at the center of The Table Coalition came out of the Great Commision found in Matthew 28:18-20, which states: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The official social media profile for The Table Coalition has this to say about the evangelistic mission: “Join young and seasoned leaders as we empower and equip you to address current social issues through the lens of the Gospel and lead with a bold expression of action-oriented Christianity.”
Evangelism in the modern age
Evangelism and having an evangelical mindset takes on many forms in the digital age of social media, smartphones, and easy access to online information. The Table Coalition is all about unity with the church, and as such, is open to the technology and tools that will be effective in the modern world.
Social media opens the door for people to share Jesus with our personal connections. Sharing on social media can be impactful coming from an official organization like The Table Coalition or through simple individual chats!
Online evangelism is something younger generations do not shy away from. One study of this age group found that Gen Z are more than willing to share their faith online, and don’t come away from faith discussions feeling like there was friction. According to the study, “Gen Z rarely associates negative emotions with discussions across faith lines.”
Generational differences will come and go and so will political debates. Those topics might feel important at the moment. Yet, the truth is that Jesus came to the world to conquer sin once and for all, not to address political grievances. The Gospel shatters all notions of what we consider important to our generation, and eventually what we consider important at one time will seem trivial later on.
The strategies and approaches to evangelism might change as the generations mature and adapt over the years, but the main message of Jesus won’t ever change. Sin came into the world and Jesus came to conquer it for all generations, all people groups, and in all geographic locations.
The challenges ahead
Evangelism is not without some challenges. One challenge has to do with the methods and techniques used in sharing the Gospel with those who do not know Christ yet. Technology changes rapidly, and the methods used in the past might not reach those who are lost and hurting. One challenge is to adapt to the technology and cultural changes, while staying focused on the mission at hand.
We’re also living in a time when cultural divides are more pronounced than ever before, and opinions about how we should live and act in the world come into conflict on a regular basis. The Table Coalition is at the center of these debates, because Jesus is at the center of every debate – He is the solution to the hurt, pain, and suffering we all experience.
Of course, there are also financial challenges. As methods continue to change for interacting with people and practicing evangelism, financial costs can arise. Digital tools in particular, such as creating social media advertising, live-streaming events, and building apps for mobile phones, can require a large financial investment.
Fortunately, the most effective form of evangelism has not changed even as technology has evolved. “Life on life” evangelism means sharing Jesus with people around you, proclaiming the name of Jesus with family members and friends in a way that is authentic and honest. It’s often incredibly effective.
The Table Coalition views evangelism as a way to unify the church and all believers – the basic idea of sharing Jesus with others is not complicated, is independent of technology changes, and won’t give way to any cultural shifts in society, political or otherwise.
What’s ahead for evangelism
The Table Coalition is intentional about the road ahead – the long term strategy is to stay the course, to keep sharing Jesus with those who do not know Him, and to focus on the unity of the church.
The path ahead for evangelism at The Table Coalition is clear.
For starters, the Gospel message will not change. There is no other calling. 1 Corinthians 9:22 states the message clearly – that is, to proclaim Christ to anyone by any means possible. Equal to this is the fact that the Church will continue to thrive under the direction of the Holy Spirit. As stated previously, the methods and strategies of evangelism will shift and change, but the message itself is unchanging. It will never adjust for cultural norms.
That’s the beauty of the Gospel and the beauty of unification – that as humans we all have different personalities and outlooks, we all work in different occupations and have unique circumstances, but the calling of Jesus applies to every living person on the planet.
With a missional mindset, and with the calling to share Jesus with the lost, we can all join at the same table. We can all find unity and grace together, under the banner of Jesus Christ and the Gospel.