Leading for Evangelism When Something is Brewing

16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there... 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, 'May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?' … 32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, 'We want to hear you again on this subject.' - Acts 17:16-17, 19, 32.

Something seems to be brewing and I, for one, want to be a part of it. You will have heard talk of a 'Quiet Revival', particularly amongst young adults. Whether we like the phrase or not, there is a growing sense that spiritual curiosity is rising rather than fading away.

Paul’s conversations in the marketplace and the Areopagus (or Philosophers’ Forum) remind us that talking about Jesus has always happened beyond the four walls of the church. Given that only two percent of non-Christians know a church leader (1), this moment invites us to think carefully about how the whole people of God are supported to take part. That raises a leadership question: how do we help ordinary Christians step out with courage when Kingdom opportunities to show and share our faith are on the rise? The limiting factor may not be appetite, but whether people feel permission, encouragement and support to respond.

One morning last autumn, whilst reading the Bible, praying and drinking coffee, a thought interrupted my flow: run a 'Beers and Carols' event for your local tag rugby community. I paused. Was this a God-thought or too much caffeine?

I put out a few feelers. It turns out our region’s tag rugby franchise has grown to around 450 men and women, though I only ever see a small slice of it. The organiser said he would be chuffed if I set up a social event for him to promote and was not at all put off by the idea of a gospel talk. The local rugby clubhouse offered their venue for free. And two, much younger Christians at tag rugby were immediately on board, offering to sort out a band. I had not expected them to be experienced musicians.

That detail mattered. I can deliver a talk, but I am as musical as a brick and at the older end of our community. This was never going to work unless others stepped in with their gifts, connections and energy.

My church committed to pray and provided two volunteers, one for logistics and one to cook hotdogs. A handful of Christians covered the cost of food and gospels. It was a small event, with 45 people in total. Most who came knew either me or my two musical compatriots. Relationship clearly did the heavy lifting.

I would strongly encourage church leaders to share key insights from a relatively recent body of research with their congregations to spur them on. 

While Talking Jesus (2) is a little older (2022), it points in the same direction as the more recent Quiet Revival Report (3) (2025), Finding Jesus (2025) (4) and smaller pieces. For us:

We know this is a journey. We have invited everyone back for a sports quiz, curry and gospel talk, and have secured the venue for next year’s 'Beers and Carols'. We are also praying that Christians from other sports teams and local Park Runs might connect in and bring friends. We trust the Spirit is at work. 

At CPAS, we have been piloting gospel-centred residentials for primary schools, supported by local churches. These give pupils a genuine opportunity to explore Jesus and create connections with local churches for ongoing engagement. We are now giving away these resources and offering grants to churches who want to try this. Stay with me; this is not just a promotional push. 

Many community schools are surprisingly open to appropriate local church involvement. In addition, one million children attend Church of England schools, which are inspected under SIAMS. Among other things, SIAMS looks for evidence that pupils are engaging with theological concepts and that schools are meaningfully connected with their local church. Head teachers often find these areas particularly difficult to resource well.

Introducing a handful of church volunteers and an accredited RE programme on the Empty Tomb into an existing school residential can be transformative. Access is regulated and rightly safeguarded, but it is far from closed.

CPAS data suggests that children who rarely attend church leave these residentials with a greater desire to ask questions about the resurrection than those who attend church regularly. Almost all say they would like to come on another residential, and 25% would like to try a school or church-based Christian group.

One story remains sobering. After a residential, ten pupils turned up at their local church the following Sunday but were not welcomed. The congregation perceived them as noisy and disruptive. They never returned. It highlighted an important lesson: the local church is central to such initiatives, not just one enthusiastic volunteer.

Imagine a PCC that budgets for schools outreach, volunteers trained in good welcome, school and church leaders meeting to design a pathway for spiritual exploration, and congregations praying expectantly. That picture changes everything.

One parent phoned me feeling anxious about her daughter attending a residential. She had been taught in a school environment that was harsh and coercive, and did not want that repeated. I explained that our material is RE-accredited, vetted by school staff, and designed to open a spectrum where pupils can articulate sceptical conclusions and explore why others find the evidence compelling. There is no pressure, no manipulation and no required response.

School staff facilitate the final session, asking pupils what they have concluded, and invite church volunteers to share ongoing opportunities. By the end of the call, the parent was relieved and enthusiastic. In outreach, especially in formal settings, tone, posture and transparency really matter.

Years ago, I heard a professional evangelist describe inviting his sports mates to an event. He talked about standing there with sweaty palms, flyer in hand. I remember thinking, 'even he was nervous?'.

That moment stayed with me. If someone whose job it is to do this still feels nervous, perhaps fear is not a sign that something is wrong. Perhaps it is simply what courage feels like. 

That shift has mattered. It reframed the question from 'Am I confident enough?' to 'Am I willing to be courageous?'. Normalising fear while inspiring courage is vital if we want wider participation.

Interestingly, the Beers and Carols event did just that. The two younger Christians I partnered with have since leaned further into evangelism. Something seems to have clicked. They bring ideas, take ownership and speak about faith with fresh purpose.

The same is true in schools. One volunteer told me, 'I find it hard talking with adults, but I can organise things and talk with children about Jesus. This is my opportunity to share the gospel.' Even head teachers have said, 'Why have we never thought of this before?' Sometimes the opportunity has been there all along.

I am persuaded that something is brewing and that opportunities to explore Jesus abound. Whether in sports clubs, schools or other everyday contexts, evangelism seems to flourish where leaders focus less on doing everything themselves and more on shaping environments where courage and creativity can emerge.

It still takes courage. It still takes thought. The rugby event did not happen by accident. It was staged carefully and prayerfully. What we are trying to foster is not confidence that everything will work, but courage to try something within reach and creativity to move beyond familiar patterns when needed.

If the culture only celebrates evangelism when it is big, public and successful, most people will quietly opt out. But if the culture honours small steps of courage, shared ownership and learning along the way, participation widens. Leaders shape culture by what they notice, what they resource, what they pray for publicly and whose stories they tell.

Something does seem to be brewing. The invitation before us is to notice it, nurture it, and lead in ways that help others step out with courage.

(1) Evangelical Alliance, et al. Talking Jesus Report 2022: What People in the UK Think of Jesus, Christians and Evangelism.

(2) McAleer, Rhiannon, and Paul Williams. The Quiet Revival: A New Generation Leads Growth in Church Attendance. Bible Society, 2025.

(3) The Quiet Revival, 2025.

(4) Evangelical Alliance, Finding Jesus, Identifying pathways to faith in adulthood 2025.

(5) The Quiet Revival, 2025.

(7) The Quiet Revival, 2025.

(9) The Quiet Revival, 2025.

(10) Talking Jesus Report, 2022.

March 2026 Lead On article by Tim Friend, CPAS Ventures and Falcons Principal.