* Does witnessing intimidate you? Do you feel guilty because you're too shy to share? That's because traditional evangelism methods are tailor-made for extroverts. Let Bechtle's relational approach help you define your unique strengths and personality type, and discover comfortable ways to communicate Christ. This biblical resource will renew your passion for telling the good news! 176 pages, softcover from Baker.

The most common methods of evangelism are tailor-made for extroverts. But what about the rest of us? Other Christians, including introverted, reflective people, are left with feelings of guilt and fear and the desire to become more outgoing. The problem, says Mike Bechtle, is not their personality, but that they've been taught methods of evangelism that push them too far out of their comfort zone.

In Evangelism for the Rest of Us, Bechtle shows readers how to share their faith in more comfortable ways by helping them discover and define their unique strengths within their personality type. With fresh, biblical insight, this much-needed resource renews a passion for sharing Christ with others, because telling the Good News does not have to be so intimidating.

Mike Bechtle (EdD, Arizona State University) is the author of People Can't Drive You Crazy if You Don't Give Them the Keys. His articles have appeared in publications such as Writer's Digest, Pastors.com, and Entrepreneur. A frequent speaker and former minister of worship, Bechtle lives in California.

“I gave up on evangelism…” begins Mike Bechtle’s book that explores his journey to bridge his personality with a well-suited evangelistic methodology. Bechtle describes himself as an introvert who has been frustrated by extrovert approaches to evangelism. With a kindhearted and fatherly approach, the author shepherds and encourages the reader and the body of Christ to re-engage in the great commission.

In a cursory fashion, Bechtle delves into our fear of people and the excuses we use to avoid or minimize our evangelistic efforts, various misconceptions about evangelism, biblical principles of evangelism, several general principles of Jesus’ relational style, principles of the enemy, understanding the role of grace in witnessing, the difference between form and function in evangelism, and the role of personality as we evangelize.

Highlights from the book include Chapter 5, which is an excellent discussion and warning to look beyond mere forms and techniques of evangelism and discover the function or principles of a biblical witness. Additionally, nearly every chapter reminds the reader to witness with the proper balance of grace and truth. However, for the purpose of explaining differences between introverts and extroverts, the author draws a false caricature of the extroverted evangelist. Furthermore, this book introduces the unbiblical premise that there are introverted and extroverted personalities and methodologies to witnessing. I would suggest there are Christ-like and non-Christ-like motives, manners, and methodologies for witnessing whether you are introverted or extroverted. These terms draw our attention from the real focus of evangelism – the gospel message! God does not want your personality to be introverted nor extroverted, but obedient and conformed to Christ and His message (Eph. 5:1-21).

Additionally, 2 Corinthians 4:4 tells us how blind the unbeliever is to the gospel. If sinners are blinded to greatest light--the light of the gospel--your personality and introverted/extroverted methodologies are mere shadows unable to penetrate the blind unbeliever’s mind and heart. Furthermore, Paul in Romans 10:17, makes clear our priority to the Word in witnessing: that faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ. Witnessing requires each of us to reach out in sincere sacrificial love with a clear biblical message of repentance and forgiveness in Christ alone, with a lifestyle and methodology that does not contradict the biblical message for the love and glory of God, regardless of personality! I applaud Bechtle’s passion for evangelism and his desire to call the church back to evangelize more with sincerity and tenderness. Given the aforementioned concerns, I can not recommend this book. – John Fallahee, Christian Book Previews.com

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