By Terri Farmer
Brittany Wooten is a 2014 graduate of Methodist Theological School in Ohio. She remembers taking evangelism courses taught by E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism, Dr. Joon Sik Park.
“A good portion of my understanding [of evangelism] came from those courses because I have always heard evangelism addressed through a very conservative, evangelical background…. He made evangelism, not something that was mandatory to be a Christian but, something that was joyously taught as a person. So, he humanized evangelism in a way that wasn’t … a moral mandate, and he changed it into a human joy.”
He humanized evangelism in a way that wasn’t … a moral mandate, and he changed it into a human joy.
Following seminary, Brittany served in a combat arms battalion. “Evangelism for me was being present with the soldiers and being able to share the hope of the Gospel with them through action and through words. More times through action than it ever was through words.”
Now she is serving as an active-duty Army chaplain in the Pacific Northwest. Brittany admits most of the four hundred soldiers she interacts with have a negative connotation with the word “evangelism.” But she says evangelism is essential to her everyday ministry. “I think evangelism didn’t demand action from [the soldiers] in the way of converting or becoming ‘better’ people.” Instead, she says, through seeing her live her passion and calling,
they are challenged to invest in something meaningful for their own lives.
Brittany credits Dr. Joon Sik Park with helping her and others overcome tired notions to understand that evangelism is a part of a vital faith and ministry that invites people on the journey of faith in Jesus Christ.
