Shanelle Calvin Alli is a first-year MDiv student at Candler School of Theology at Emory University, and is co-leading a three-year-old church plant outside of Atlanta. On any given Sunday she gathers with a group of young entrepreneurs, seasoned professionals, singles and families, in a local modern brewery. Fermenting tanks and oak casks create a rustic backdrop to worship – evoking images of Jesus’s first miracle turning water into wine.
As part of her MDiv track at Candler, Shanelle took the Evangelism for Non-Evangelists online course, co-led by Dr. Mark Teasdale, who served as adjunct professor at Candler and is the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, and Dr. Heather Lear, the Foundation for Evangelism’s VP for Grants. The experience has proven to be an invaluable tool for Shanelle and her congregation as they reach out to people in their community.
“I have witnessed firsthand how the insights gained from Evangelism for Non-Evangelists have equipped both me and our congregation to chart meaningful next steps. Through the class, we learned how to facilitate authentic conversations, focusing on storytelling as a bridge for community building. This tool has been invaluable for reaching out to young entrepreneurs. They appreciate the sense of belonging we offer, especially as we engage in real, vulnerable discussions about how we can collectively support one another in both our personal and professional lives.”
The course is designed to help guide leaders, alongside their congregation’s leadership team, in developing a plan for evangelistic ministry in their own context to build meaningful connections, opening the door to sharing about Jesus and inviting into relationship with him. This centers on inviting all people into abundant life with Jesus, and a concern for neighbors’ well-being. For Shanelle’s church, this resulted in shifting conversations:
“The class provided a framework for guiding our conversations toward a deeper understanding of abundance—not simply in terms of financial wealth, but in terms of holistic wellness!”
Shanelle says that the online course has helped her congregation make more connections in their own neighborhood and community.
“…these courses have been invaluable in equipping me with the tools to lead our congregation in reaching out to local business owners, positioning our church as a place of collaboration and community. By helping others rethink what true abundance looks like and fostering conversations that create tangible change, we are making a lasting impact on the lives of those in our community.”
For Shanelle, along with fellow students and church leaders like her, the Evangelism for Non-Evangelists course is a resource that will continue to provide guidance and inspiration for years to come.
NOTE: An earlier posted version of this story mistakenly said that Shanelle was in a DMin program at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.
