Why Evangelism and Discipleship Must Work Together | Bart Rendel & Vince Antonucci

Josh Howard introduces himself from discipleship.org at the Spire Conference in Indianapolis and mentions his friends Bart Rendel and Vince Antonucci. The conversation aims to explore the shared efforts of these leaders in evangelism and discipleship, emphasizing the importance of integrating these two ministries, especially in Western churches where they are often separated. Josh highlights the need to unite evangelism and disciple making to reinforce one another and create a holistic approach to following Jesus. He provides background on how each person is involved: Bart helps lead intentionally focused churches, and Vince is a church planter, author, and evangelist. The dialogue sets the stage for a collaborative effort aimed at empowering churches to foster outreach and disciple making, which are seen as interconnected aspects of obeying the Great Commission.

Vince emphasizes that Jesus didn’t divorce evangelism from discipleship but instead saw them as interconnected. Both leaders agree that discipleship begins with evangelism and that effective disciple making should naturally lead to sharing the gospel. Vince points out a common issue: the vast majority of Christians, up to 95%, never share their faith, which is contrary to Jesus’ directives. The discussion revolves around a new initiative where churches are equipped through sermon series, devotionals, seminars, and coaching to embed evangelism into their culture. The goal is not merely to run a program but to change church identity, so evangelism becomes natural and ingrained in the community’s fabric, ultimately leading to more effective disciple-making.

Vince and Bart discuss the importance of empowering everyday believers to share their faith and disciple others. Vince highlights that many Christians are not living out their call to evangelism, despite their desire to do so. This leads to a focus on equipping the church members with practical tools, principles, and community support. Bart notes that many churches have been focused on leadership and growth but neglect mobilizing the congregation for evangelism and discipleship. The conversation underscores that a cultural shift is necessary—one that prioritizes both outreach and spiritual formation, enculturating these values into the church’s identity and practice.

Josh highlights the emerging partnership between Discipleship.org, Intentional Churches, Vince, and others to develop a comprehensive approach that combines evangelism with discipleship. Vince shares personal experiences of applying these principles in his own life, including efforts to reach lost friends and walk with new believers. Vince and Bart see great potential in this collaboration to help churches adapt to the changing cultural landscape. They discuss the importance of practical training, coaching, and community building to foster a culture of disciple making. The emphasis is on creating sustainable change rather than surface-level programs, with a vision to saturate regions with the gospel and see communities transformed.

In closing, Josh challenges listeners to consider: What if this approach truly transforms their churches and communities? He advocates for a readiness to handle a move of God where thousands may come to Christ and be discipled. The dialogue ends with encouragement to reach out via the resources provided on discipleship.org and intentionalchurches.com. The episode encourages churches and individual believers to reevaluate their priorities, embrace job descriptions rooted in the Great Commission, and prepare for the spiritual harvest. The participants express hope and excitement about what God could do if churches fully commit to integrating evangelism and disciple making in their culture.