7 Ways to Overcome Your Fear of Outreach

Do you cringe every time your pastor mentions the word “outreach”? Do you purposely schedule other events during outreach times so you have an excuse not to go? Does being stung by a million wasps sound more appealing than going out and inviting people to church? If so, this list is for you! Here are seven ways to not only overcome your fear of outreach but to start liking it (yes, it’s possible!):

1. Pray.

It seems like an obvious method, and it is, but it works. People in the Bible were just as scared to do outreach as many are today, but God helped them. He told Jeremiah not to be scared to speak as a prophet (Jeremiah 1:8). He told the disciples to shake the dust off their feet if someone would not accept them and their teachings (Matthew 10:14). Paul reminded Timothy that God did not give us a spirit of fear (1 Timothy 2:7). When you ask God to help you overcome your fear of witnessing, He will come through.

2. Encourage yourself with the Word.

After you pray, read the Bible to get encouragement. Read the passages mentioned above. Study the stories of people God used to reach the lost. Study the stories of the people who overcame persecution yet stood firm. If they could do it, so can you!

3. Read stories of martyrs.

Read stories of martyrs, both those in the Bible and those throughout history. Reading about how they witnessed despite the troubles they faced will help you gain courage. Years ago, Voice of the Martyrs sent me a complimentary copy of the book “Tortured for Christ.” While I may not agree with the author’s Lutheran theology, I was moved deeply by his story of the imprisonment and torture he faced as a result of his witnessing, and how every time he was released, he would go back to evangelizing again. If he could witness in the face of possible torture, how much more could I overcome my fears, knowing that I didn’t face that probability? The worst that will most likely happen to me in America is someone yelling at me, and even then, in the roughly fifteen years I’ve been doing outreach, I have never even had that happen.

4. Hype yourself up with music.

I love music. I have playlists based on topics, and one of those playlists is my Outreach List. I like to listen to these songs before going on outreach because they remind me of my purpose. Build your own Outreach Playlist and include songs that pump you up to go witness. Some songs on my list that you might include on your own are: “Love You With the Truth,” “Here I Go Again,” and “One Awkward Moment” by Casting Crowns, “My Own Little World” by Matthew West, “The Power of Your Name” by Lincoln Brewster, and “If You Died Tonight” by Big Daddy Weave.

5. Put yourself in the other person’s shoes.

Yes, we might be annoyed that someone knocks on our door, especially if we’re not interested, but we quickly forget about the inconvenience and go on our way. But imagine how someone might feel when they get to the end of their life and realize no one told them about Jesus.

I remember doing a Bible Study with a woman several years ago, and after she received a revelation of the biblical plan of salvation, she cried and asked why nobody ever told her about this earlier in her life, especially since she had lost a son who had never known the truth. If you were in their shoes, wouldn’t you prefer someone inconvenience you with a simple knock if it meant eternal salvation, and even a better life while here on earth?

6. Realize that not all outreaches have to be door-knocking.

Most people think of door-knocking when they think of outreach, but outreach is any way you reach out to the people of your community. That includes door-knocking, but it also includes serving at community events and providing needs to the people in your city.

At my previous church, one of our biggest outreach methods was serving food at a community feed. Another church in the neighborhood ran the program but was lacking in volunteers. Our church provided volunteers for their ministry and, in turn, they allowed us to promote our church and invite the guests to our services. Because people saw us as a church that cared about them as people, they accepted our invitations and attended our services. In contrast, we did not have nearly as many people come who were invited simply through a door knock and a church card.

7. Just Do It.

Nike is on to something with their slogan. Just do it. Some say, “fake it ‘til you make it.” The more you do outreach, the easier it becomes. Every time you put yourself out there, you are building confidence as you get used to the process. Eventually, you will do it enough that it starts not to be scary anymore, and, in fact, when you start seeing people get saved as a result of your efforts, you will begin to enjoy it.