A required course in evangelism for a student at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, has sparked a dialogue not only with his peers but with his father! Sam is from Chennai, India, and is studying in the U.S. for his ministry degree. In a video he recorded for The Foundation for Evangelism, he shared how the course has changed his view of evangelism and enriched both his ministry and his father’s, reshaping the way they think about evangelism and sharing the good news in their local context.
This course in evangelism called “Evangelism for Non-Evangelists” is co-taught by E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Garrett, Dr. Mark Teasdale and the Foundation’s Vice President for Grants, Dr. Heather Lear.
TRANSCRIPT:
Hi, my name is Sam. I’m a student at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. I bring greetings to you all the way from India where I grew up in a vibrant city of Chennai as a pastor’s kid and a part of a family deeply rooted in the ministry. Growing up in India, I watched my father preach the gospel on street corners, in churches, and among people of many faiths and backgrounds. But even though as someone who was always close to the ministry, evangelism often felt like something only he did with a special calling rather than a way of life for all Christians.
That changed when I enrolled in the Evangelism for Non-Evangelists online course. I felt this course didn’t just teach me about techniques or theology. It invited me into a conversation. It helped me reimagine evangelism not as something we do to others but something we share as an invitation grounded in love, relationship and listening. What was remarkable is how the insights from this course immediately resonated with my Indian context.
As I started applying what I learned, approaching the conversations with more curiosity and creating space for doubts and seeking evangelism as a lifestyle, something began to shift. I noticed deeper engagement among my peers, more authentic conversations in small groups, and a more welcoming tone in the ministry spaces.
But perhaps the most moving part of this journey was the ongoing conversation with my father back home. Every week we talked over the phone and I shared what I was learning from Dr. Teasdale and Dr. Leer about the contextual evangelism about hospitality in witness and about how evangelism can look like presence rather than pressure. These calls become a moment of mutual growth. One of the most impactful outcome was when we started dreaming about how these principles could shape my father’s ministry in Chennai, especially his work through Feeding 5,000, a ministry that provides meals and care to those in need and many of whom are from different religious background. We talked about how even a simple meal can be an act of evangelism. Not because of a sermon preached, but because of the love embodied, the dignity offered, and the relationship nurtured.
Through this course, I found not just an academic enrichment, but a renewed vision for what ministry can look like in my culture. So did my father. It became a bridge across cultures and across generations. It spark light in me and has now began to spread in my family, in my community and to the ministry efforts that are rooted in compassion and listening. I felt this course is more than a content, it’s a catalyst. And for a student like me who straddled the global cultures and carry the weight of both heritage and hope, it’s transformational. At last, I thank all the board members and everyone supporting the Foundation for Evangelism. Your generosity and vision are making a real difference not just in classrooms but in houses, churches, and communities around the world. Blessings and thank you for letting me share my story.
