What is Success in Evangelism?

Wise Words for Careful Thought

“What is success in evangelism? Is it when the person
you witness to comes to Christ? Certainly that’s what
we want to happen.

"But if this is success, are we failures whenever we share the gospel and people refuse to believe?

"Was Jesus an “evangelistic failure” when people like the rich young ruler turned away from Him and His message?

"Obviously not.

"Then neither are we when we present Christ and His message and they turn away in unbelief. We need to learn that sharing the gospel is successful evangelism.

"We ought to have an obsession for souls, and tearfully plead with God to see
more people converted, but conversions are fruit that God alone can give.

"In this regard we are like the postal service. Success is measured by the careful and accurate delivery of the message, not by the response of the recipient. Whenever we share the gospel (which includes the summons to repent and believe), we have
succeeded.

"In the truest sense, all biblical evangelism is successful evangelism, regardless of the results.”

Donald Whitney