Follow Me
on an Evangelism Journey
Conversations
Written on August 13, 2026 || Trey Hensley
This Week’s Bible Reading: Acts 6:1-8:1
*With the corresponding section in the Life Application Bible Study.
This Week’s Book Reading: Sharing Jesus without Freaking Out, (Chapter 3)
Conversations, Not Presentations. Reid talks about the importance of moving away from Gospel presentations and toward Gospel conversations. We’ve all tried to memorize The Romans Road, The Way of the Master, F.A.I.T.H. Evangelism, The 4 Spiritual Laws, and those Gospel presentations have their strengths, but Reid asks, “What if you could just talk about Jesus to others simply because you love Him and you love them and you want to introduce them to Him?” (p.40).
A Conversation Challenge. Reid challenges me to pay closer attention to my conversations this week. As Jim Gillespie likes to say, “Every conversation is a ministry opportunity” (p.46). “Over the next few days listen to the things people you meet talk about, ” listen for their pain and their passion (p.47). This goes for conversations with other Christians too since “a big reason we don’t talk to unbelievers about Jesus is because we don’t talk to one another about Jesus” (p.41). (*This is also my answer to Lesson 4, Question 11 in the Life Application Bible Study.)
Written on August 13, 2026 || Trey Hensley
This Week’s Bible Reading: Acts 6:1-8:1
*With the corresponding section in the Life Application Bible Study.
This Week’s Book Reading: Sharing Jesus without Freaking Out, (Chapter 3)
Conversations, Not Presentations. Reid talks about the importance of moving away from Gospel presentations and toward Gospel conversations. We’ve all tried to memorize The Romans Road, The Way of the Master, F.A.I.T.H. Evangelism, The 4 Spiritual Laws, and those Gospel presentations have their strengths, but Reid asks, “What if you could just talk about Jesus to others simply because you love Him and you love them and you want to introduce them to Him?” (p.40).
A Conversation Challenge. Reid challenges me to pay closer attention to my conversations this week. As Jim Gillespie likes to say, “Every conversation is a ministry opportunity” (p.46). “Over the next few days listen to the things people you meet talk about, ” listen for their pain and their passion (p.47). This goes for conversations with other Christians too since “a big reason we don’t talk to unbelievers about Jesus is because we don’t talk to one another about Jesus” (p.41). (*This is also my answer to Lesson 4, Question 11 in the Life Application Bible Study.)
Follow Up on the Evangelism Opportunity Today
Written on July 30, 2026 || Trey Hensley
That was a great time. Two of us visited two neighborhoods in Stephens City distributing Camp Equip and FZF invites. We distributed a nice stack of invites, but we talked to a total of 10 people: One rejected us, 8 were glad to receive the invite, and 1 heard the Gospel. Please pray for James' salvation.
Written on July 30, 2026 || Trey Hensley
That was a great time. Two of us visited two neighborhoods in Stephens City distributing Camp Equip and FZF invites. We distributed a nice stack of invites, but we talked to a total of 10 people: One rejected us, 8 were glad to receive the invite, and 1 heard the Gospel. Please pray for James' salvation.
Turning Up the Spiritual Barometer
Written on July 28, 2026 || Trey Hensley
This Week’s Bible Reading: Acts 4:32-5:42 (With the corresponding section in the Life Application Bible Study.)
This Week’s Book Reading: Sharing Jesus without Freaking Out, chapter 2
When we already know the story, maybe we just need to pray for God to turn up the heat. The Bible tells the grand story, and we know what it is. The Bible tells mankind’s most important story, and we already know it. The story goes like this: Creation—We know where everything came from, many people don’t. Fall—We know why there is suffering and evil in the world, so many people do not. Rescue—We know how to be rescued from sin and death, but a lot of people don’t. Restoration—We know what will happen to us after death, and hardly anyone knows this. We know the story. I know the story. I know how to have a conversation about it. I’d love to have a conversation about it. I just need God to turn up the heat a bit for me. Then, maybe I’d boil over. Maybe if He lit a fire under me and around me like He did in Acts…
In Acts 4:32-5:42 God turned up the spiritual barometer. There were powerful testimonies being shared, great blessings falling down, great terror and fear coming over everyone, miracles, persecution, defiance. What a time! It definitely wasn’t boring. It definitely wasn’t lukewarm. It was hot, and the Acts church was on fire. They “filled Jerusalem with your teaching about Him” (Acts 5:28). What if we filled Stephens City with that teaching? What if He set us on fire?
A Chance to Turn Up the Heat. Meet me at The Camp at 2:00 this Thursday afternoon (July 30), and we’ll spend 30 minutes filling Stephens City with Fun Zone Friday invites. 30 minutes. (If that doesn’t work for you, no worries. Post up an invite or some invites around Winchester or Stephens City on your own. Maybe even take a pic of them and post them in the app to fire the rest of us up too.)
Written on July 28, 2026 || Trey Hensley
This Week’s Bible Reading: Acts 4:32-5:42 (With the corresponding section in the Life Application Bible Study.)
This Week’s Book Reading: Sharing Jesus without Freaking Out, chapter 2
When we already know the story, maybe we just need to pray for God to turn up the heat. The Bible tells the grand story, and we know what it is. The Bible tells mankind’s most important story, and we already know it. The story goes like this: Creation—We know where everything came from, many people don’t. Fall—We know why there is suffering and evil in the world, so many people do not. Rescue—We know how to be rescued from sin and death, but a lot of people don’t. Restoration—We know what will happen to us after death, and hardly anyone knows this. We know the story. I know the story. I know how to have a conversation about it. I’d love to have a conversation about it. I just need God to turn up the heat a bit for me. Then, maybe I’d boil over. Maybe if He lit a fire under me and around me like He did in Acts…
In Acts 4:32-5:42 God turned up the spiritual barometer. There were powerful testimonies being shared, great blessings falling down, great terror and fear coming over everyone, miracles, persecution, defiance. What a time! It definitely wasn’t boring. It definitely wasn’t lukewarm. It was hot, and the Acts church was on fire. They “filled Jerusalem with your teaching about Him” (Acts 5:28). What if we filled Stephens City with that teaching? What if He set us on fire?
A Chance to Turn Up the Heat. Meet me at The Camp at 2:00 this Thursday afternoon (July 30), and we’ll spend 30 minutes filling Stephens City with Fun Zone Friday invites. 30 minutes. (If that doesn’t work for you, no worries. Post up an invite or some invites around Winchester or Stephens City on your own. Maybe even take a pic of them and post them in the app to fire the rest of us up too.)
Evangelism Prayer Is a Good Way to Start
Written on July 22, 2026 || Trey Hensley
Praying for Boldness. Yes, we know that evangelism needs to begin in prayer, continue in prayer, and end in prayer; prayer, prayer, prayer. And I love this early prayer meeting in this week’s reading: “After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the Word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31). The Life Application Bible Study notes challenge me to “pray that your boldness may increase” and “to pray with others” and to “pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to give you courage” (p.15). Prayer, prayer, prayer.
Boldly Praying for an Opportunity. I think the next step on my evangelism journey needs to be a step of prayer, right? So… “Father God, I’d love to take the worry and stress out of evangelism by making You responsible for it. Would you mind being responsible for it, at least here at the beginning? I want to pray a bold prayer of opportunity that puts today’s evangelism in Your hands." Reid shapes the prayer this way: “God, give me today (1) an opportunity to speak with someone about Jesus; (2) the wisdom to see it; and (3) the courage to take it,” (pp.17-18). It’s risky. It’s bold. It’s a start.
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This Week’s Bible Reading: Acts 3:1-4:31
This Week’s Book Reading:
--Sharing Jesus without Freaking Out, (Chapter 1, continued yet again)
--Life Application Bible Study (Speak Up! Acts 3:1-4:31)
Written on July 22, 2026 || Trey Hensley
Praying for Boldness. Yes, we know that evangelism needs to begin in prayer, continue in prayer, and end in prayer; prayer, prayer, prayer. And I love this early prayer meeting in this week’s reading: “After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the Word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31). The Life Application Bible Study notes challenge me to “pray that your boldness may increase” and “to pray with others” and to “pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to give you courage” (p.15). Prayer, prayer, prayer.
Boldly Praying for an Opportunity. I think the next step on my evangelism journey needs to be a step of prayer, right? So… “Father God, I’d love to take the worry and stress out of evangelism by making You responsible for it. Would you mind being responsible for it, at least here at the beginning? I want to pray a bold prayer of opportunity that puts today’s evangelism in Your hands." Reid shapes the prayer this way: “God, give me today (1) an opportunity to speak with someone about Jesus; (2) the wisdom to see it; and (3) the courage to take it,” (pp.17-18). It’s risky. It’s bold. It’s a start.
........................................................................
This Week’s Bible Reading: Acts 3:1-4:31
This Week’s Book Reading:
--Sharing Jesus without Freaking Out, (Chapter 1, continued yet again)
--Life Application Bible Study (Speak Up! Acts 3:1-4:31)
What Does Success at Evangelism Look Like?
Written on July 6, 2026 || Trey Hensley
Success at Evangelism? Today I’m thinking about success. What is success when it comes to evangelism? We know it’s not just being good, being a nice person, or just being an example. It’s not just doing good to others. Those are all fine, but they are not evangelism wins. But neither can I save anyone. I can’t make them get saved. I can't change their hearts. So what does evangelism success look like? What am I responsible for? I found these two quotes to be true and helpful…
Written on July 6, 2026 || Trey Hensley
Success at Evangelism? Today I’m thinking about success. What is success when it comes to evangelism? We know it’s not just being good, being a nice person, or just being an example. It’s not just doing good to others. Those are all fine, but they are not evangelism wins. But neither can I save anyone. I can’t make them get saved. I can't change their hearts. So what does evangelism success look like? What am I responsible for? I found these two quotes to be true and helpful…
Operation Saving Sam Was a Huge Success. It was inspiring to see my brothers and sisters working in a variety of ways all around me to bring the Gospel to hundreds of our Frederick County neighbors (and even beyond). It was so fun to be surrounded by brothers and sisters all filled with the Spirit to do evangelism together. Like Peter said in Acts 2, in these last days the Lord “will pour out [His] Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on My servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy” (Acts 2:17-18). These are those last days! All believers are filled with the Spirit of evangelism. And that’s got to excite you, Trey.
Doing evangelism, real evangelism sure does bring the Book of Acts to life. It’s one of the ways that our Christian experience becomes much more real to us. We all find this to be true at events like Operation Saving Sam, Harvest Fest, and mission trips. Whenever and however we find ways to share Jesus with others, that is success, a big win!
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This Week’s Bible Reading: Acts 2
This Week’s Book Reading:
--Sharing Jesus without Freaking Out, chapter 1 (continued)
--Life Application Bible Study (Acts 2)
Doing evangelism, real evangelism sure does bring the Book of Acts to life. It’s one of the ways that our Christian experience becomes much more real to us. We all find this to be true at events like Operation Saving Sam, Harvest Fest, and mission trips. Whenever and however we find ways to share Jesus with others, that is success, a big win!
........................................................................
This Week’s Bible Reading: Acts 2
This Week’s Book Reading:
--Sharing Jesus without Freaking Out, chapter 1 (continued)
--Life Application Bible Study (Acts 2)
The Evangelism Power of the Holy Ghost Is All Over the Map
Written on June 30, 2026 || Trey Hensley || Acts 1:1-8
To the Edge of the Map. Man, I love a map! Especially when I encounter places, travelogues, geography, topography in Scripture. It’s just another reminder that these are real people, real places, real events (Acts 1:1; Luke 1:1-4). And as early as Acts 1:8, Jesus, our Master Missionary, has a map in mind—Jerusalem, Judea & Samaria, the ends of the earth. But how will the Good News travel like that? I mean, these men took off and hid as soon as Jesus was arrested. How are they going to take the Good News to the edges of the map? (How am I going to take the Good News to Operation Saving Sam this weekend?) They will need help. I will need help. All of us always need help. The Holy Ghost is going to give them evangelism power like the world has never seen. He’s the same way today, which means that we can “decide to be a twenty-first century version of those men and women of God” (Life Application Bible Study). “God’s plan continues today, and He gives us opportunities [like Operation Saving Sam] to spread the Word . The Resurrection is real, and the Holy Spirit’s power is available. What’s stopping us?” (Life Application Study Bible, Lesson 1).
Written on June 30, 2026 || Trey Hensley || Acts 1:1-8
To the Edge of the Map. Man, I love a map! Especially when I encounter places, travelogues, geography, topography in Scripture. It’s just another reminder that these are real people, real places, real events (Acts 1:1; Luke 1:1-4). And as early as Acts 1:8, Jesus, our Master Missionary, has a map in mind—Jerusalem, Judea & Samaria, the ends of the earth. But how will the Good News travel like that? I mean, these men took off and hid as soon as Jesus was arrested. How are they going to take the Good News to the edges of the map? (How am I going to take the Good News to Operation Saving Sam this weekend?) They will need help. I will need help. All of us always need help. The Holy Ghost is going to give them evangelism power like the world has never seen. He’s the same way today, which means that we can “decide to be a twenty-first century version of those men and women of God” (Life Application Bible Study). “God’s plan continues today, and He gives us opportunities [like Operation Saving Sam] to spread the Word . The Resurrection is real, and the Holy Spirit’s power is available. What’s stopping us?” (Life Application Study Bible, Lesson 1).
Diving in Slowly
Written on June 25, 2026 || Trey Hensley
Diving in. I mean, in a perfect world, all water—pools, lakes, oceans—would be such a perfect temp that you could walk right into it, no getting used to it. So when it comes to chilly water, I prefer just to dive in. I know that I said that this would be a “slow evangelism journey,” but sometimes even a slow journey is started by just doing it, just pulling the trigger on it, just diving in. After all, evangelism, like all the other “cold water” activities in our life, is also something that takes some getting used to.
For me, this dive was a bit of door-to-door canvasing in Stephens City. It’s a quick, easy way for me to get my feet wet again and get myself back into some intentional evangelism. (Need a dive-in activity? Consider joining our Operation Saving Sam evangelism event at Sherando Park on July 4.)
Slowly. I believe in door-to-door evangelism as an outreach event, but, like I said below, I’m slowly looking around for my own evangelism niche, my own regular way of talking to others about Jesus that fits me.
Written on June 25, 2026 || Trey Hensley
Diving in. I mean, in a perfect world, all water—pools, lakes, oceans—would be such a perfect temp that you could walk right into it, no getting used to it. So when it comes to chilly water, I prefer just to dive in. I know that I said that this would be a “slow evangelism journey,” but sometimes even a slow journey is started by just doing it, just pulling the trigger on it, just diving in. After all, evangelism, like all the other “cold water” activities in our life, is also something that takes some getting used to.
For me, this dive was a bit of door-to-door canvasing in Stephens City. It’s a quick, easy way for me to get my feet wet again and get myself back into some intentional evangelism. (Need a dive-in activity? Consider joining our Operation Saving Sam evangelism event at Sherando Park on July 4.)
Slowly. I believe in door-to-door evangelism as an outreach event, but, like I said below, I’m slowly looking around for my own evangelism niche, my own regular way of talking to others about Jesus that fits me.
Starting a Slow Evangelism Journey
Written on June 16, 2026 || Trey Hensley
I know that I’m in need of growth when it comes to evangelism. (Maybe you are too.) I’ve known it for some time. I’ve witnessed to many people. I get to preach the Gospel regularly and at special things like weddings and funerals as part of my job. I’ve even been on mission trips. But evangelism has just never become a solid part of my lifestyle. It’s not in my heart like it should be. Father God, I want to see if You will help me with that. And I’m starting this summer.
Follow me in this slow evangelism journey. Read these books with me slowly. Experiment with me. And may we find our own evangelism niche, our own way of talking to others about Jesus that fits us.
(Let’s just start by ordering the books.)
Sharing Jesus without Freaking Out, Alvin Reid
Life Application Bible Studies: Acts
Written on June 16, 2026 || Trey Hensley
I know that I’m in need of growth when it comes to evangelism. (Maybe you are too.) I’ve known it for some time. I’ve witnessed to many people. I get to preach the Gospel regularly and at special things like weddings and funerals as part of my job. I’ve even been on mission trips. But evangelism has just never become a solid part of my lifestyle. It’s not in my heart like it should be. Father God, I want to see if You will help me with that. And I’m starting this summer.
Follow me in this slow evangelism journey. Read these books with me slowly. Experiment with me. And may we find our own evangelism niche, our own way of talking to others about Jesus that fits us.
(Let’s just start by ordering the books.)
Sharing Jesus without Freaking Out, Alvin Reid
Life Application Bible Studies: Acts
