Lead pastors: Join a cohort

Converge president John K. Jenkins Sr. has made it his signature priority to invest in helping churches across our movement develop a culture of evangelism and discipleship. To move this initiative forward, Converge has partnered with the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center’s Church Evangelism Institute, which has a proven record of success in helping approximately 600 churches grow in conversion and evangelism. Enjoy this testimony from a Converge pastor who has participated in a Church Evangelism Institute cohort and is seeing his church’s culture shift into one with a much greater emphasis on evangelism and discipleship and equipping everyone in the congregation to share God’s love effectively.

Evangelism isn’t a program. 

Evangelism is a mindset. 

It’s a prayer life. 

It’s everyday life — especially in the culture of a church.

Not everyone has the spiritual gift of evangelism, but evangelism is part of every believer's calling.

We are good at running programs at Sylvan Way Church in Bremerton, Washington, where I pastor. 

Ensuring that our new evangelistic efforts do not become another one of our programs is the biggest challenge I face in seeking to implement what I’m learning through the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center’s Church Evangelism Institute Cohort.

We will reach people not through a new program but by infusing evangelism into who we are and all we do.

Here in the Northwest, 90% of our community is unchurched. But God is at work: We recently had a woman from our community receive Christ. She, in turn, shared the gospel with her sphere of influence and has since brought her extended family and friends to church. 

God has begun infusing Sylvan Way Church's efforts with an evangelistic mindset. That is why we exist— to bear spiritual fruit. Thank you, President Jenkins!

Converge pastors: register for a Wheaton College Billy Graham Center Church Evangelism Institute Cohort cohort this fall or early in 2025 and see what God will do in and through your church.

Pastor Ian O’Meara

Sylvan Way Church

Bremerton, Washington

Are you interested in helping your church create a culture of evangelism and discipleship in which your leaders and members become equipped and excited to share God’s neverending hope and love with others in your church and community? Join us for a free one-hour online event to learn more about how you can participate in a Wheaton College Billy Graham Center Church Evangelism Institute cohort and help your church make a greater gospel impact. Learn more & register >