1210 Locust St., St. Louis, MO 63103  ·   (314) 231-1220  ·     Contact Us

Episcopal Diocese of Missouri
  • Welcome
    • About Us
    • Episcopal Beliefs
    • Diocesan History
    • Governance
    • Bishop & Staff
    • Find a Church
    • COVID-19
  • Ministries
    • All Ministries
    • Creation Care
    • Evangelism, Formation & Discernment
    • Fellowship & Community Service
    • Pastoral Care & Spirituality
    • Social Justice
    • Women's Ministry
    • Affiliated Ministries
  • Clergy
    • Priests
    • Deacons
    • Supply Clergy
    • Retired Clergy
    • Clergy Resources
    • Clergy Job Openings
  • Resources
    • 2022 Diocesan Convention
    • Financial
    • Forms
    • Parish Leadership
    • Public Advocacy Resources
    • Worship
    • All Resources
  • Connect
    • Communications
    • News
    • Events
    • Calendar
    • Branding & Logo
    • Diocesan Shop
    • Strategic Visioning
    • Lay Job Openings
  • Give

Evangelism: Depth Leads to Invitation

by the Rev. Canon Whitney Rice,
Canon for Evangelism & Discipleship Development

In previous weeks, we’ve talked about what evangelism looks like grounded in our values. Moving away from coercion and fear-based motivations, we want to connect with others to recognize and celebrate Good News wherever we find it. Our goal is to divorce evangelism from institutional self-interest and practice it in a way that is life-giving to ourselves and others.

So what does evangelism as reducing fear and building spiritual intimacy look like in real life, inside and outside the congregation?

There are two types of evangelism conversations: Depth Conversations, and Invitation Conversations. A Depth Conversation takes us into territory beneath small talk, to an event or struggle or idea that really matters to us. We’re seeking to get below the surface level of talking about weather or sports, and get to a place where we’re sharing emotion, values, and experiences that impact us.

Depth Conversation topics include life events and relationships and their struggles and blessings. Where do we see God in the important things that happen to us? Where is it hard for us to see God? Where does God feel close and where does God feel far away? In Depth Conversations, we seek to share with each other our spiritual questions, conflicts, and insights over time.

An Invitation Conversation is exactly what it sounds like: a conversation that includes an invitation. That invitation could be to worship or to a parish event, or it could be to further conversation, or to go to a movie or an exercise class or a cultural event. And invitation conversation opens a door to a next step in relationship.

Try an experiment this week with a fellow member of your congregation or other friend or family member. Have a Depth Conversation with them, and try to end with an Invitation Conversation. Start with asking them about something important, going deeper, and showing you care. (Remember our opening question last week: what’s been on your mind lately?) By the end of the conversation, consider some activity you could invite the other person to attend with you — at church or somewhere else, or even on Zoom! Then switch roles.

This kind of role-playing exercise is exactly the kind of training we evangelism-shy Episcopalians need! Don’t be afraid to make “mistakes” or feel awkward — this takes practice. We have the blessing of creating for each other a safe, welcoming atmosphere to experiment and take risks as we prepare to be bold and loving evangelists out in the world.

Once you try this exercise, reflect on how it feels. Do you feel closer to the person you had this conversation with? Do you feel called to pray for them? Do you feel supported in prayer by them? Once you start living life intentionally as an evangelist, always on the lookout for the opportunity to listen to someone’s spiritual journey and search for Good News together with them, you’ll find that this facet of discipleship is not scary or a burden but incredibly nourishing. This is God’s dream for us — to share the hopes and longings of our souls and name the presence of Christ among us.

Did you cop out and not try this exercise? That’s okay! It really is tough to break out of the habits of small-talk if that’s what you’re most used to. But I encourage you to take some time this week in prayer and ask: what does it take to trust God to empower you as an evangelist? The smallest baby step into being a detective of grace, a messenger of Good News, could be a linchpin in the Kingdom of God arriving among us. So step out and try!


Tags: News / Evangelism

For more info, contact:

The Rev. Canon Whitney Rice
Canon for Evangelism & Discipleship Development
314-231-1220, ext. 1383 

    The Rev. Canon Whitney Rice

    Canon for Evangelism & Discipleship Development
    314-231-1220, ext. 1383 |

    The Rev. Canon Whitney Rice is an Episcopal priest who serves as the Canon for Evangelism & Discipleship Development for the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri. She is a graduate of Yale Divinity School where she won the Yale University Charles S. Mersick Prize for Public Address and Preaching and the Yale University E. William Muehl Award for Excellence in Preaching. She has taught undergraduate courses at the University of Indianapolis and has contributed to Lectionary Homiletics, the Young Clergy Women’s Project journal Fidelia’s Sisters, and other publications. She has served as a researcher and community ministry grant consultant for the Indianapolis Center for Congregations, is currently a staff writer for the Episcopal Digital Network’s Sermons That Work, and is an active participant in the activist clergy community for racial and economic justice in St. Louis. A communicator of the gospel at heart, she writes and teaches at Episcopal, United Methodist, and ELCA churches on a wide variety of topics including rethinking evangelism, stewardship, leadership, women’s theology of the body, mysticism, and spiritual development. When she’s not thinking about theology, particularly the intersection of evangelism and justice work (which is all the time, seriously), you’ll find her swing dancing. Find more of her work at her website Roof Crashers & Hem Grabbers (www.roofcrashersandhemgrabbers.com).

    Her ministries include:

    1. Evangelism
    2. Discipleship Development
    3. Children & Youth
    4. Experimental Ministries/Missional Communities
    5. Fresh Start
    6. Ordination Process
    7. Ordination Redesign
    8. Re-Imagining Task Force
    9. Requiem or Renaissance
    Ministries Creation Care Evangelism Stewardship


    Contact Us

    ​Evangelists Are Born In Crisis

    By The Rev. Canon Whitney Rice, Canon for Evangelism &...

    Read More »

    Evangelism: Depth Leads to Invitation

    by the Rev. Canon Whitney Rice, Canon for Evangelism & ...

    Read More »

    Spiritual Intimacy: The New Evangelism

    By The Rev. Canon Whitney Rice, Canon for Evangelism & ...

    Read More »

    Fear Not: Be an Evangelist

    By The Rev. Canon Whitney Rice, Canon for Evangelism &...

    Read More »

    A Tricky Barrier to Evangelism With Integrity: Institutional Self-Interest

    By The Rev. Canon Whitney Rice, Canon for Evangelism &...

    Read More »

    Why You Think You Don't Like Evangelism

    by The Rev. Canon Whitney Rice, Canon for Evangelism &...

    Read More »

    © 2022 Episcopal Diocese of Missouri
    1210 Locust St. · St. Louis, MO 63103
    (314) 231-1220
    Privacy Policy · Powered by Membership Vision

      View Entire Post

    Service Times

    Location

    Episcopal Diocese of Missouri
    1210 Locust St.
    St. Louis, MO 63103

    Contact Us
    (314) 231-1220

    Newsletter Signup

    Welcome from Our Bishop Find a Church Diocesan Calendar Clergy Resources

    We believe in a loving, life-giving and liberating God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe God loves you -- no exceptions!

    We invite you to be a part of our faith journey.

    The Rt. Rev. Deon K. Johnson is the leader of our diocese. He was elected as our bishop on Nov. 23, 2019, and ordained on June 13, 2020, at Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis.

    Learn More

    Approximately 10,000 people throughout Eastern and Central Missouri find their faith home with us. About three-quarters of our members are in the metro St. Louis area, but our diocese reaches much farther than St. Louis. You will find more than 40 Episcopal churches, missions and faith communities as far north as Kirksville, as far west as Columbia, and as far south as Poplar Bluff (and many points in between).

    If you are looking for a church home or a just a faith community to visit, we invite you to explore The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri.

    Find a Church


    Detailed Calendar

    Suggest an Event

    Specifically of interest to the ordained clergy canonically resident or licensed in this diocese.

    • Diocesan Forms Library
    • Diocesan Clergy Directory
    • Current diocesan supply priest list
    • Missouri Clergy Association email list

    Do you have a question or need more information?

    Send a message to the Offices of the Bishop and we'll get back with you soon!


    Contact Us Bishop and Staff Find a Church