The terms evangelist, evangelism, and evangelistic have been associated in the public mind not only with a zealous preaching of the gospel, but sometimes with demagoguery and not-so-honest media preaching. But this isn't what evangelism really amounts to.
I must admit to having experienced a shrinking feeling when, a while ago, I was asked to consider the work of an evangelist. But then I got to thinking about it: an evangelist is someone who brings good news. The word evangel is from the Greek euangelion, "meaning good news, glad tidings, gospel." We should never lose sight of the good nature of the gospel, or good news of God's goodness that Christ Jesus brought.
When I looked up the word evangelist and its cognates in a Bible concordance, I was somewhat surprised to find only three entries; but, of course, there are many passages that bring out that concept. For example, Jesus commanded the eleven, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15 In obeying that command, the apostles were true evangelists. They were bringing good news. These words, and many others in the Bible, have inspired countless men and women literally to go out into the world and preach the good news.
