It may be one of the most important things that I have ever read. . .

It was in a book called “What’s Gone Wrong with the Harvest?” by James F. Engel and Wilbert Norton.  It has become known as the Engel Scale and you can see it above.

This simple chart has the power to release you into ministry that will change people’s lives.  It has power to cancel out your excuses and dissolve your fears.  It can change your definition of successful evangelism.

First, let me clearly state the problem:  95% of us who love Jesus Christ will never lead another person to faith in Him.  This has to change.

We are paralyzed by our definition.  We believe evangelism must lead to the person receiving Jesus Christ on the spot for it to be successful.

Now let me explain the Engel Scale.  10 at the top represents the person who is the farthest from a relationship with Jesus Christ.  The number 5 might be a person who is willing to listen to you tell them about Jesus.  A 2 or a 1 is someone who is ripe to receive Christ and encounter salvation.

Here’s the amazingly freeing truth of the Engel Scale:  Successful evangelism is moving someone from a 10 to a 9!  Did you know that on average, 26 people have shared the love of Jesus with an individual before they received salvation?  The person that helped them move from a 7 to a 6 is no less important than the person who helped them move from a 1 to salvation!

So let’s just do it!  Let’s share the love of Jesus freely and feel the success of faithfulness!

Oh, and by the way, salvation is not the end of evangelism.  We are called to make disciples, not just converts!  Let’s help people move all the way down the scale to -10…a fully mature, wholly sanctified, reproducing follower of Christ!

We get to do this!