For Christians, evangelism is not an optional religious activity; it is essential to our calling. As Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, we recognize this essential activity in our statement of purpose and understand what it means to be “called to discipleship in Jesus Christ.”

Our foremothers
Historically, telling others about Jesus has been a central purpose for women’s organizations in the church. Our foremothers supported overseas missionary activities, assisted in urban mission work and ministered to immigrant families in the languages of their hearts.

These women studied God’s Word together in order that they might more effectively tell God’s story to their own families and friends. These women’s organizations accomplished other goals as well. They provided leadership training and experience for women who had few opportunities. They provided essential medical and social services. They offered fellowship and support.

Our challenge
Today, women’s groups continue to provide leadership training, social services, and opportunities for fellowship and support. However, as Christian women, we can never be content with an organization that only provides leadership, social, and educational opportunities. Valuable as those are, they do not serve our calling if the focus remains only on what we receive from the organization. We cannot be content with service that only mirrors the service of secular or civic organizations.

To be true to our calling, our activity must ultimately point to God. Whatever we do, we must do it in the name of Jesus and bear witness to the gospel.

Our plan
We need an evangelism strategy, or plan, to keep us on course and move us to action. Evangelism won’t happen without some intentional planning and commitment. We need to commit ourselves to grow in our faith and act upon our faith. We need a strategy to help us see how to take action. The Witness of Women is that strategy.