Adventures of a Clueless Evangelist with Pastor Ant, Vol I: "I Am An Ineffective Evangelist in the African American Community"

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Anthony M.A. Johnson, Pastor "Ant"



Hi fellow adventures,

 

    I am Rev. Anthony M.A. Johnson, but you can call me Pastor "Ant". I am starting a residency with Evangelize Today. I began the residency thinking I had a lot of answers. I have a Biblical Studies Degree and a Masters of Divinity, but I  realized something about myself as a pastor: I am an ineffective evangelist.  I am ineffective at reaching unchurched people in my community. If I could get more specific: I am clueless at how to reach unchurched African Americans. I know pastors are supposed to be the experts at evangelism, but I confess I am more or less clueless as to why I am ineffective as an evangelist within in my own community. This uncomfortable realization has led me to do some soul searching and do some introspection. 

 Photo by Huston Wilson on Unsplash
                                                          


One of the things I started to realize is that I spend a lot more time with Christians on Christian territory than I spend on unchurched territory. What I mean by unchurched territory is territory where Christianity is not a dominant cultural force. As a pastor, I spend 98% of my time planning for meetings with other Christians or presenting to Christians. I realize that not much of my weekly schedule includes intentionally being in unchurched spaces. As I came to the realization of my lack of presence in unchurched spaces, I realized a scary truth. I honestly, do not know of places in Saint Louis where unchurched African Americans hang out. In addition, there are no unchurched African American spaces that know me well enough to be in a position to share the gospel in their spaces. Friends this means I am not pastoring unchurched people. 

Photo by Chiamaka Nwolisa on Unsplash  
    Photo by Cosmic Timetraveler on Unsplash

                                                       









This realization gives me fear, because I am used to being an expert and now I realize I do not know as much as I thought I did. The Evangelize Today residency allows me to embrace not knowing anything. It's hard being a pastor and saying to people I do not know. Yet, I believe not knowing presents me with an opportunity: to go find out. In this blog you will follow me as I go find out.  Evangelize Today has inspired me to notice  that shoes and tattoos function as a way for African Americans to display the image of God. Consequently, I believe learning more about tattoos and shoes in my community will give me an opportunity to grow as an evangelist to African Americans. 

    Photo by Seyi Ariyo on Unsplash   
Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@mattsmellow?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Matthew Dagelet</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/jordans?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a>
      Photo by Matthew Dagelet on Unsplash
 

                                                  

Over the next month I will try to answer these four questions as I explore in unchurched African American spaces.

Where do unchurched African Americans hang out in my community? 

Why don't I hang out with unchurched African Americans? 

What are the tattoos that I am noticing on the African American canvas? 

What are the shoes that I am noticing in unchurched spaces? 

Please join the adventure team by starting to notice tattoos and shoes on the black canvas as well. Another way to join the team is pray for the work. Lastly, support my work financially as I head out on this adventure to become a faithful evangelist amongst African Americans by giving toward my  Evangelize Today residency. Follow the instructions on this link and remember in the additional info section for online giving please put "Gift Toward Anthony M.A. Johnson Residency 'Adventures of A Clueless Evangelist' "


Until next time see you on the trail, 

Pastor "Ant" 











Location: St. Louis, MO, USA

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