Evangelism Explosion revised for young people Religion Today Friday, October 1, 1999 The Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Evangelism Explosion, which has trained tens of thousands of adults around the world for one-on-one evangelism, is turning its attention to younger Christians. Youth Evangelism Explosion gives young Christians the skills and experience to tell their peers about Jesus Christ. It adapts the personal-evangelism program mapped out by Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church pastor D. James Kennedy more than 30 years ago, Youth Evangelism Explosion director Rick Bond told Religion Today. 'On-the-job training' The adult program emphasizes practical Bible knowledge and "on the job training" in the form of supervised evangelism. Trainees spend an hour a week visiting homes, parks, malls, or other public places, always in the company of a seasoned veteran. "You gain experience by going out with someone who is skilled and who can teach you," Bond said. But young people found the adult program too formal. The principles of Evangelism Explosion apply to everyone, but its techniques and vocabulary, originally created for Baby Boomers, didn't always click with younger people. They wanted an adaptation "that was user-friendly for them and uses their own language," Bond said. Some words changed Youth Evangelism Explosion materials use the words "eternal life" instead of "heaven" because some youth are turned off to the idea of heaven, Bond said. "You are likely to get sidetracked into an argument, so it's best to talk about eternal life." Talking about Christianity with younger people is vastly different from talking to a Baby Boomer. Younger generations have grown up in a more secularized society and often lack the basic knowledge of Christianity that an older person has. "I have been in a room with people and talk about Christ's resurrection, and they don't know what I'm talking about," Bond said. "They have far less Christian knowledge and less acceptance of certain presuppositions." 'Pre-evangelization' needed The younger generation needs more "pre-evangelization" to dispel misconceptions about God. Many imagine God as a senile, grandfatherly type who gives out candy but doesn't judge, as a policeman waiting for them to step out of line, or as Scrooge, who is out to spoil their fun, Bond said. Most adults are more knowledgeable about who God is, he said. The Gospel-presentation portion of the youth program is longer in order to explain concepts they have never heard before. Youth Evangelism Explosion is active in 400 churches in 41 nations. Leaders hold four-day training seminars for youth pastors, who hold weekly classes for members of their groups for 13-weeks. The youth then evangelize others who become Christians and attend an Evangelism Explosion training session. "The cycle is ongoing," Bond said. The ministry is based on the theory of multiplication. "It's more important to train a soul-winner, who will bring many to Christ, than to make just one Christian," he said. American youth are teaching youth around the world to preach to their peers. Youth pastors and their students who have participated in the program can go on short-term missions trips to teach the program, Bond said. In four years, groups have gone to about 10 countries a year in Africa, Europe, and Asia. Youth are bold about preaching the Gospel when they have confidence. "They are bold and are willing to take more risks," Bond said. "That's part of what makes this so refreshing. It is so exciting to take kids to a different culture and plop them down and watch them go. They get transformed."

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