Fear is an element to contend with in personal evangelism. In practicing personal evangelism in many venues during my fifty years as a regular gospel preacher, I will readily confess that fear was never absent even as my knowledge and technique continued to grow. While you may never eliminate fear, there are ways that will help you reduce it.
Reduce Fear By Being Prepared
I rarely have bad dreams, but every once in a while I do. It invariably is the same one. I am scheduled to address a large assembly of the Lord's people. I am the featured guest speaker. Suddenly I realize I do not have my notes and I am frantically trying to find them or put together something for these brethren who are expecting so much from me. During my introduction, I wake up trembling at the thought of not being prepared. In many cases personal evangelists have fear, because they are ill prepared.
I used to tell my students, when I taught at Florida College, that there are two things you will never do: (1) Tell something you don't know and (2) Explain something you don't understand. If you are going to do personal evangelism, an absolute necessity is to put together and learn a lesson. Having a lesson available on a moment's notice will help you overcome fear in personal evangelism. I've talked with many gospel preachers who say they prefer to "wing it" instead of using a prepared lesson. However, any good school teacher will tell you he would never enter a classroom without a lesson plan. That's why I put together the lesson I use entitled, In the Same Hour of the Night.
I've heard good cooks have white sauces from which they prepare many entrees. Similarly, a lesson plan that's put together well will equip you for many teaching opportunities. Preparing a lesson could take several hours, but once you learn the lesson, it is yours to teach continually for life.
Reduce Fear By Soliciting the Lord's Help Through Prayer
It is a lonely feeling sometimes seeking the lost, but Jesus said He would never leave us (Matt. 28:20). The early disciples saw a need to enlist the Lord's help in their ministry. "...we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word" (Acts 6:4). We must realize that "Christ has no hands but our hands." Conversions come through providence and prayer. We must pray for courage. Paul said, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God..." (2 Tim. 1:7-8). The apostle Paul was apprehensive at times: "I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling" (1 Cor. 2:3). The Lord was with him and supported him in his anxiety. Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city" (Acts 18:9-10).
Reduce Fear By Utilizing Wisdom in Making the Lost Aware of Their Being Lost
Overcoming fear in getting a lesson set up requires wisdom as well. Some fear losing a friend whose soul is lost. Wisdom is required in approaching the matter. If you love someone, and his soul, you should not be fearful. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love" (1 John 4:18). A conversation pattern of complimenting and questioning should lead to an issue that requires or invites formal study. A mutual arrangement should be made. If they reject your best prayerful effort, so be it. "As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse - for they are a rebellious house - yet they will know that a prophet has been among them" (Ezek. 2:5).
When teaching the lost, your lesson should reveal your prospect's condition without you having to tell him. Many people I have taught have simply said, "I need to be baptized." A prospect needs to hear a lesson from God's word if conversion is realistically expected. We can't expect anyone to be converted simply because we talk with them casually and then ask them if they want to be baptized. They need to be taught basic Bible principles first. That means a lesson of some kind, formal or informal.
Be Proactive in Dealing With Fear
There is a certain amount of anxiety in reaching out to strangers in personal evangelism. Sometimes we just have to accept the reality of a situation and deal with it. We do this every day. It may be bitter cold outside but when we have things to do, we put on the proper clothing and go do what needs to be done. When we have enemies who are envious of us and treat us spitefully, we love them anyway and treat them with kindness. I never was able to eliminate the butterflies I felt when I approached a stranger's door. Sometimes I faced the temptation of not following through with the study if I thought they might not be home. In that case, I would simply get out of the car and without hesitation ring the doorbell. Once the study was underway, there could be a temptation to not ask the person if he would like to be baptized. If he does not want to be baptized, let him tell you that. It is your responsibility to give him the chance. If he turns down the opportunity, he is not rejecting you; he is rejecting the gospel.
Reduce Your Fear by Breaking Your Comfort Zone Frequently
Since letting people know they are lost will sometimes produce avoidance behavior, we tend to let our fear build up by procrastinating in breaking our comfort zones around others. We can break that comfort zone by involving the Lord in our everyday conversations. That is not to suggest that we should adopt the persona of the Pentecostal with a "praise the Lord" in every sentence, but we do need to make those who are around us aware that this world is not our home. It is refreshing to have someone approach you with a dialogue like: "You know Mary, I have always admired you. Not just because you are a nice person, and you are, but because you seem to have it altogether as to what life is all about and what you want out of it. What is this you have? I don't have it. I would like to be just like you."
Conclusion
Jesus implored His followers on numerous occasions by the simple appeal: "Be not afraid." He was very explicit about the need to put aside fear in every obstacle of life we encounter no matter how extreme. "And I say to you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do" (Luke 12:4). Our encounters in evangelism are mild compared with other things faced by Christians around the world. It is our lot to take our place in seeking and saving the lost. Christ would have us to put our fear aside and rescue the perishing.
- Truth Magazine, February 2015