he Great Commission calls us to make disciples, to baptize them and teach them about Christ.

Christ did not say to us ,"Go introduce people to me, leave, and I'll do the rest." He called us to prolonged nurturing relationships. He called us to make friends, to be friends -- discipling and nurturing -- and to bring our friends to be baptized and to know Him.

In this Decade of Evangelism, we often get turned off by baggage, that naturally comes up when we hear the "E" word, evangelist. A lot of people have, rightly or wrongly, used the word evangelist to legitimatize their ministry. We now have tele-evangelists, radio-evangelists, stranger- evangelists, street-evangelists, and even friendship-evangelists.

In the narrowest sense of the word, evangelist, means "to announce the news", to preach the Gospel. Therefore it is technically correct to use the term "evangelist" for a radio, television, or street preacher.

However, Jesus repeatedly calls us to minister in relationships. The fullness of the Gospel is found in the corporate body of Christ, the Church, the relationship among the members of the body.

It has been well said; "Christianity that does not begin with the individual does not begin; Christianity that ends with the individual ends."

To be involved in evangelism means to be a friend who nurtures his/her friend into a relationship with God. Often when I tell someone that I teach evangelism techniques, they say, "Oh I tried evangelism once," or "I could never try that".

I am often tempted to ask, "When you were a child, if someone rebuffed your attempt at friendship, would you have stopped trying to make friends for the rest of your life?" I hope, for most of us, the answer would be a resounding, "No!"

Yet a great number of people have never tried to evangelize, or tried it once, did not see any results and stopped. I think this is natural. Because they do not know what it would mean for them to be involved in evangelism, they are apprehensive and fearful of the unknown.

Many teachers of evangelism unknowingly support these fears, because they teach a narrowly defined technique, or set of steps. Most of these techniques, sets of steps or rules are, in fact, successful for a particular group of people.

Evangelism means inviting individuals into community. It is therefore corporate. However, the ways people reach out to others is as different and unique as each individual.

I like to have people consider their own journey to Christ. Ask yourself, "Who was it that brought me into a relationship with Christ?" If you are one of the few people who have always been in church, and never left, ask yourself, "Who helped me to stay in a relationship with Christ, even when I had questions and doubts?"

If you left a loving Christian relationship as a youth, and returned in later years, ask, "Who helped me to return?" Think of all of the people -- the evangelists -- who helped you along on your journey.

Now think about their qualities. How did they reach out to you? What worked to bring you into a relationship with Christ? I have noticed that quiet people often had a quiet experience. Athletic people were brought to Christ by athletes. People who love music were nurtured by music lovers.

You do not need to change -- you should not change -- your personality to evangelize. Only someone with your personality can reach someone who is similar to you.

Instead, get in touch with what worked for you. Add to your experiences new teachings that feel right for you. Just as a skilled carpenter would use a different hammer for finished work than for rough framing, you must collect your tools.

But do not wait until you feel you have all the tools you need. You will never reach that point. Start today. Make a friend. Develop a relationship. Share -- by your words and deeds -- in your own unique style, the love you have for Jesus.

If your friend sees a love that is genuine, and sees that the joy of your life is the Lord, then the introduction of your earthly and heavenly friends will follow naturally.

Evangelism will become a lifestyle, not a technique or set of steps taken with timidity. There will be no fear of failure.

This article was written by Bob Wyatt The Missioner for Evangelism for the Dioceses of Maryland.