'''Evangelism''' is the preaching of the Christian Gospel, or by extension any other form of Preaching or Proselytizing.
The word ''evangelist'' comes from the Koine_Greek word εὐάγγελος ("eu-angelos"), meaning ''bringer of good news''. The Koine expression for ''good news'', εὐάγγελιον ("eu-angelion") is used to refer to the four Gospels in the New_Testament; and thus ''the Evangelists'' are also the authors of the four Gospels -- traditionally known as Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
==Evangelists==
For many groups, a church planter is called an ''evangelist''. Sometimes, the regular minister of a church is called an ''evangelist'' in a way that other groups would typically use the term ''Pastor''. Among these groups is the Church_of_Christ and organizations such as The_Foundation_for_Evangelism. The evangelical movement in Protestant Christianity encompasses denominations and Parachurch organizations such as the Billy_Graham_Evangelistic_Association which, among other characteristics, focus on evangelism and the drawing-in of new converts. In common parlance, the title of evangelist is most easily associated with those who lead large meetings like those of Billy_Graham, possibly in tents or existing Church buildings, or those who address the public in street corner preaching, which targets listeners who happen to pass nearby on the street.
==Evangelical sociological modeling==
Some evangelical groups plan their conversion strategies using extremely Precise sociological modelling of the world's entire population.
The Joshua_Project divides the world's population into ethnic/religious groups which it terms ''people groups''. As of October_5, 2005, it estimated a total of about 16,000 ''people groups'', of which 6,900 were considered ''unreached'' (not converted), and that the total number of people in these ''unreached people groups'' is about 2.5 billion. http://www.joshuaproject.net/
The group publishes data for all 16,000 of these groups concerning the degree to which a ''people group'' is considered to be converted to one of the major world religions. Its modelling includes a Parameter called the Joshua_Project_Progress_Scale, which combines different parameters, including, e.g. the percentages of people considered ''evangelical'' or ''adherent'' to a religion, and parameters estimated by people studying evangelism, such as the ''Johnstone Church Planting Indicator (CPI)'' and the ''IMB-SBC World Evangelization Status Indicator''. The scale varies from 1.0 for the least converted people groups to 4.2 for the most converted. http://www.joshuaproject.net/scale.php
This data is made available for evangelical groups around the world, such as ''Pilgrim Mission'' in Poland, to plan their evangelising priorities. http://www.pielgrzym.net/mission.html
==Biblical quotes==
A more strict Biblical definition of evangelist would equate to a Missionary:
* Ac 21:8 (KJV) And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the [evangelist], which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
* 2Ti 4:5 (KJV) But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
==Well-known evangelists==
Well known evangelists include (in roughly chronological order):
* The Apostle Paul
* Pope_John_Paul_II
* John_Wesley
* Jonathan Edwards
* George_Whitefield
* Charles_Grandison_Finney
* Charles_Spurgeon
* Dwight_L._Moody
* Billy_Sunday
* Aimee_Semple_McPherson
* Billy Graham
* Dr. Bill Bright
* Dr_Martyn_Lloyd_Jones
* Kathryn_Kuhlman
* Harry_Denman
* Oral_Roberts
* Ray_Comfort
* Reinhard_Bonnke
* Benny_Hinn
* Joyce_Meyer
* Jesse_Duplantis
Some other evangelists are:
* William_M._Branham
* Brother_Jed
* Wes_Morris
* Luis_Palau
* John_Sung
* Stephen_Tong
* Ray_Vaughn
* Adam_Woeger
* Arnold_Murray
* Sherry_Shriner
==Non-traditional uses==
By metaphorical extension, evangelism may also refer to any form of recruitment or spreading-the-word for a group or movement seen as ideological or committed: hence, for instance, ''Open_source evangelism.''
In the context of commercial enterprises which develop or foster a cult following and religious-like fanaticism, the term '''evangelist''' can become an unofficial or even an official role/title. This usage was pioneered by Guy_Kawasaki in Apple_Computer's marketing of the Apple_Macintosh (see Apple_evangelist) and later amplified and codified by Ben McConnell and Jackie Huba with their book, "Creating Customer Evangelists."
==See also==
*Evangelical_Movement_of_Wales
*Evangelicalism
*Great_Commission
*Internet_evangelist
*Missions
*Televangelism
*The_Foundation_for_Evangelism
*''Missionary_Dating'', a liberal take on evangelism in pop culture
*Dawah, a similar category in Islam
==External links==
* the ministry of Tom Elie - an evangelism and resources to world religions guide Website.
* LivingWaters.com, the ministry of Ray Comfort - an evangelism resources Website.
* EvangelismEncyclopedia.org, - a wiki devoted to Biblical Evangelism.
* e-vangelist website for online evangelism
Category:Christian_missions
Category:Christian_interfaith_and_secular_relations
De:Evangelisation
Fr:Évangélisation
Nl:Evangelisatie
Pt:Evangelização