Bible Study: What Does the Assemblies of God Believe About Evangelism and Missions?
- Boundless Team
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
What does the Assemblies of God believe about evangelism and missions?
The Assemblies of God believes the Church is called to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, make disciples, worship God, and demonstrate His compassion. Evangelism and missions are not optional programs; they are central to the Church’s biblical identity and Spirit-empowered purpose.
A church can be busy without being missional. It can fill calendars, build programs, and organize gatherings while quietly losing sight of the people Jesus came to save.
The Assemblies of God places evangelism and missions near the center of the Church’s calling because the gospel is good news meant to be shared. Jesus saves, restores, and sends His people to bear witness, across the street, across Memphis, and across the world.
Evangelism begins with the mission of Jesus
Jesus clearly described His purpose:
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” , Luke 19:10
The Church does not create its own mission. We receive our mission from Christ.
Before ascending to heaven, Jesus commanded His followers:
“Go and make disciples of all nations.” , Matthew 28:19
This command includes more than inviting people to attend a service. It means helping people encounter Jesus, understand His Word, follow Him, grow in holiness, and become faithful disciples who can help others follow Him too.
That is why the Assemblies of God connects evangelism with discipleship. We proclaim the gospel, but we also walk with people after they respond. We share Christ with compassion, teach Scripture clearly, and help believers grow into mature followers of Jesus.
The Holy Spirit empowers believers to witness
Assemblies of God teaching emphasizes that the Holy Spirit empowers believers for holy living and faithful witness.
Jesus told His disciples:
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses.” , Acts 1:8
This promise is not limited to pastors, missionaries, or public speakers. Every believer can bear witness to Jesus through words, character, prayer, service, generosity, and courageous love.
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is understood within Assemblies of God theology as a distinct empowering experience for Christian service and witness. The Holy Spirit does not make believers spectators. He equips us to participate in God’s work.
Spirit-empowered evangelism is not pressure, performance, or emotional manipulation. It is dependence on God. We ask the Holy Spirit for courage, wisdom, compassion, spiritual gifts, and opportunities to point people toward Jesus.
A brief definition: What is evangelism?
Evangelism is the joyful proclamation of the gospel, the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins, rose again, offers forgiveness and eternal life, and calls us to follow Him by faith.
Evangelism includes:
Clearly explaining who Jesus is
Sharing what Christ has done
Inviting people to repent and believe
Answering honest questions with grace
Demonstrating Christ’s love through practical service
Trusting the Holy Spirit with the results
Evangelism is not earning salvation for someone else. Only God saves. Our responsibility is to faithfully make Jesus known.
What does “missions” mean?
Missions is the Church’s obedience to God’s call to carry the gospel beyond familiar boundaries. Those boundaries may be geographic, cultural, relational, economic, or digital.
Some missionaries cross oceans. Others cross the street.
A missionary may preach in another language, plant a church, train leaders, serve vulnerable communities, minister on a college campus, visit people in crisis, or use digital tools to help isolated believers connect with Scripture and Christian community.
Assemblies of God missions has historically emphasized four connected movements:
Reach people with the gospel.
Plant healthy, reproducing local churches.
Train believers and leaders through biblical discipleship.
Serve people with Christlike compassion.
These priorities reflect the pattern of the New Testament. The Church proclaims Christ, gathers believers, teaches the apostles’ doctrine, and cares for people in practical ways.
Evangelism and compassion belong together
The gospel must be spoken, and it must also be embodied.
John wrote:
“Let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” , 1 John 3:18
Compassion does not replace the message of Jesus. Neither does preaching excuse us from loving our neighbors well.
A family serving someone in need, a believer praying with a hurting friend, a church caring for its community, and a missionary teaching new believers are all expressions of the Church’s mission when they flow from devotion to Christ.
FA Memphis describes the Church as the visible body of Christ, called to worship God, strengthen believers, and share the gospel with local and global communities. You can explore that biblical foundation through FA Memphis’s statement of beliefs, and learn more about local and global service through the missions page.
Common misconceptions about evangelism and missions
1. “Evangelism is only for extroverts.”
Not true. Some believers speak publicly, while others share Jesus through quiet conversations, hospitality, prayer, generosity, or consistent faithfulness. God uses different personalities and spiritual gifts.
Faithfulness matters more than charisma.
2. “I need to know every answer before I can witness.”
You should grow in biblical understanding, but you do not need to be a theological expert to tell the truth about Jesus. The man healed by Jesus in John 9 simply testified, “Though I was blind, now I see.”
A humble testimony can open a meaningful conversation.
3. “Missions only means traveling internationally.”
International missions matters deeply, but the mission field also includes Memphis, Cordova, Arlington, Bartlett, West Memphis, and every neighborhood in the 901.
Missions begins wherever God has placed you.
4. “Compassion is enough without sharing the gospel.”
Practical service is essential, but the Church is called to proclaim Christ. People need food, friendship, justice, care, and hope, but they also need to hear the good news of salvation through Jesus.
Word and deed belong together.
5. “Missions is about making our church bigger.”
Biblical missions is about making Jesus known and helping people become disciples. It is not a competition between churches or ministries. The goal is Kingdom growth: people reconciled to God, strengthened in faith, connected to healthy Christian community, and equipped to serve.
How can a new believer participate in evangelism and missions?
You do not have to wait until you feel completely ready. Start with obedience in ordinary places.
Why does the return of Christ matter to missions?
Assemblies of God doctrine affirms the promised return of Jesus Christ. This hope does not lead believers into panic or speculation. It produces urgency, faithfulness, and compassion.
Jesus is coming again, and the Church is called to remain awake, holy, loving, and committed to the gospel.
The promise of Christ’s return reminds us that our time matters. We do not share Jesus because we are afraid of people. We share because we love God, love people, and believe the gospel is the power of God for salvation.
Can digital ministry be part of evangelism and missions?
Yes. Digital ministry can help carry Scripture, prayer, teaching, and Christian connection across geographic barriers.
Boundless Online Church exists as a bridge for people who are outside Memphis, homebound, deployed, traveling, isolated, spiritually curious, or unable to participate in a local church nearby. If you can attend a healthy local church in your area, we encourage you to do so. When geography or circumstance creates a barrier, online community can provide a meaningful next step toward discipleship.
The mission remains the same whether someone is sitting in Memphis or joining from another country: keep Jesus at the center, open the Bible, pray together, and help people take one faithful step.
The life takeaway
Evangelism is not a special assignment reserved for a spiritual elite. It is the overflow of a life that has encountered Jesus.
You can pray. You can listen. You can serve. You can tell the truth about Christ. You can invite someone into Christian community. You can support missionaries. You can ask the Holy Spirit to make you courageous and compassionate.
The question is not whether you are important enough to be used by God. The gospel says that, in Christ, you are already loved, called, and invited to participate in His mission.
Who is one person, one family, or one community God may be inviting you to love toward Jesus?
Want to go deeper?
We’d love to connect with you. Visit www.boundlessonlinechurch.org to join our community from anywhere, or if you’re in Memphis, Cordova, Arlington, Bartlett, or the 901, find us at www.famemphis.org.
As your next step, consider joining a FA Memphis Life Group, downloading a study guide through the Boundless community, or reaching out for prayer through the FA Memphis prayer page. You do not have to explore faith alone.
Stay connected
Phone: Call or text 901-213-7341.
Dual invitation: Visit www.famemphis.org for local connection in Memphis and the 901, or join from anywhere at www.boundlessonlinechurch.org.
Prayer line: Need prayers? Text us day or night at 1-901-213-7341. (Note: This line is for prayer and pastoral support, not emergency services. If you are in immediate danger or need urgent help, please call 911.)
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