During 2023, I led a district Youth Alive event in Georgia, training students to share the gospel with their friends.

Rogelio was among those in attendance. This teen embraced the challenge and immediately started outreach efforts at his school.

The first week, Rogelio led a friend to Christ. Within three weeks, 20 of Rogelio’s classmates had become new believers.

As Rogelio and other students from his church continued sharing their faith, they made converts almost weekly.

A few months later, I organized another training event at Rogelio’s church. By the end of that school year, more than 100 teens had accepted Christ as Savior in response to evangelism efforts from Rogelio and his friends.

About a dozen of these students regularly attend church with Rogelio today, and the congregation’s youth ministry continues to grow.

One of the best ways to reach young people for Christ is through other members of their generation. Teenagers interact with, and influence one another, every day during school hours and beyond. That’s why a gospel presentation from a peer can be more effective than one from a pastor.

While serving as youth pastor at a small, rural church, I started teaching students to share their faith with friends. Within three years, our youth ministry had more than tripled in size — from 10 regular attendees to 35.

Teenagers who are passionate about reaching others for Christ can make an eternal difference in the lives of those around them.

When students catch a vision for evangelism, they see the world differently. Their lives become purpose-filled. They view their schools not just as social and academic centers, but as mission fields.

Following are five ways to help students develop that kind of evangelistic mindset.

1. Offer Training

Even if students are eager to share their faith, they probably don’t know where to begin or how to lead such conversations.

Most teenagers have never engaged in evangelism. The thought of explaining their beliefs or answering questions about the Bible can be intimidating for Christians of any age. For young people who are unsure about their ability to communicate the gospel, it is especially unnerving.

However, evangelism doesn’t have to be weird or awkward. Host a training event for students that will help them learn to navigate gospel conversations effectively and confidently.

Start by making sure each teen knows how to share his or her personal testimony. Ask students to write down the highlights of their salvation story. They could do this by filling out a questionnaire, answering questions about when and where they made a decision for Christ and how that experience has shaped them.

Then have students practice telling their stories in two minutes, briefly describing what their lives were like before coming to Christ and how following Jesus has changed them.

If teenagers are reluctant to share, leaders can go first. Emphasize that every believer has a story worth telling.

This exercise gives students an opportunity to reflect on what God has done for them and practice talking about it publicly. Hearing stories from others also cultivates a sense of community and boosts the faith of everyone present.

During the training event, have each student pair up with a friend to practice sharing his or her faith conversationally. This exercise builds confidence, helping teens realize they can talk about Jesus.

2. Share Tools

Students may feel some initial anxiety about sharing their faith. Providing an evangelism template they can easily follow helps many young people overcome those fears.

Teach teenagers to
ask thoughtful
questions and listen empathetically.

There are several resources for guiding students toward thoughtful gospel conversations. One of my favorites is Alive in Five, a Youth Alive booklet that points students to biblical truths, such as, “Our sin divides us from God.”

The Alive in Five booklet also includes the sinner’s prayer and next steps for discipleship.

Having an outline helps students focus their gospel presentations, making it easier for them to transition from one point to the next. Teenagers can memorize the statements and practice using them in conversations.

3. Encourage Listening

Evangelism usually starts with relationship building. Encourage students to get to know those they hope to reach for Christ.

Asking questions is a good first step. Students might inquire about a classmate’s day at school. They can ask about sports, extracurricular activities, hobbies, or college plans.

Being curious and friendly helps build rapport. Learning about someone’s home life, interests, or struggles can open doors for further discussion. It can also help students find common ground.

Teach teenagers to ask thoughtful questions and listen empathetically. When it comes to forming relationships, these skills are often more important than talking.

As trust begins to grow, deeper discussions will flow more naturally. Open-ended questions can nudge conversations in a spiritual direction. For example, a student might ask, “What do you believe about God?”

While listening, students should remain sensitive to opportunities for pointing friends toward Jesus.

A comment about love, for instance, could lead to a discussion about God’s love. This would be a great time for a student to share his or her personal testimony, explaining how God’s love and grace have made a difference.

4. Pray for Opportunities

Help students identify friends they can evangelize, and encourage them to pray for those individuals regularly.

I suggest focusing on five friends at a time. Have students write down the names of five classmates and begin praying for them daily.

As they seek God, teens should look for opportunities to share Jesus with at least one of these friends each week. The Lord is faithful to orchestrate redemptive moments when students ask.

5. Provide Support

Evangelism requires patience and persistence. Students may become discouraged if nothing seems to happen when they step out to share their faith with friends.

Check in with teens at least twice a month to ask how they are doing in their evangelism efforts. Take time to hear their questions and concerns, responding sincerely and empathetically.

Provide guidance, resources, and support to help students work through whatever challenges they are facing. Encourage them to keep trying.

Remind young people that while giving up is easy, remaining faithful to the mission of sharing the gospel will one day reap rewards. Every redemptive conversation can help their friends come a little closer to putting their faith in Jesus.

Pray with students, and assure them you are backing them in prayer throughout the week.

I have seen many young people lead their friends to Jesus by following these steps. It is life changing and energizing for everyone involved.

Once students experience positive results, they will be eager to participate in evangelism again. And making disciples who make disciples is what ministry is all about.

This article appears in the Fall 2024 issue of Influence magazine.