What if you’re an evangelist and don’t even know it?
From a video by 5Q Central
5Q Central believes that we all have a part to play in the body of Christ. As disciples, when we are together in community, we have the potential to grow into the fullness of Christ, activating kingdom potential within us both individually and collectively.
Jesus gifted to his body the Apostolic, Prophetic, Evangelistic, Shepherding, and Teaching intelligence (APEST - see Ephesians 4) to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
Here are some thoughts on the evangelistic gifting:
When you hear the word evangelist, what comes to mind? A preacher on a massive stage, with thousands in the crowd? A man with a megaphone on a street corner yelling about sin and salvation? For many of us, those are the only pictures we’ve been given. And for some, like a local pastor 5Q spoke with, those pictures actually block us from embracing what God may be calling us to.
This pastor had just taken the 5Q APEST Assessment. When his results came back showing evangelist as one of his primary callings, he looked surprised - almost offended. He said, “I’m not an evangelist. I’m no Billy Graham.”
In that moment, he layered his results over the caricature of an evangelist ingrained in him, someone who travels the world, fills stadiums, or delivers fiery sidewalk sermons. Because he didn’t fit that mould, he quickly dismissed the possibility that this could be part of his design. But what if that mould is misunderstood?
According to 5Q's Alan Hirsch’s interpretation of Ephesians 4, evangelists are not simply communicators, they are connectors, includers, and storytellers. They have a natural ability to build relational bridges and invite people into something bigger than themselves. Evangelists are often the “champions of good news,” not just in churches, but in boardrooms, start-ups, non-profits, media companies, and political movements. Their voices carry energy. Their presence invites participation. They instinctively know how to help people see the value of what’s being offered whether it’s Jesus, a cause, a mission, or a community.
The truth is, evangelists aren’t just platform speakers. They are community builders, movement starters, and vision casters. They can work behind the scenes or out in front, in conversation over coffee or on a team Zoom call. Evangelists are the ones who make space at the table and then enthusiastically fill it. They don’t just talk about the good news, they live it in a way that others want to be part of it too.
That pastor? Once he paused to reconsider what the role of an evangelist actually is, something clicked. He realized:
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He’s a natural connector.
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He gets energized when helping others discover their place in the church.
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He can’t help but share what he’s passionate about whether it’s a new ministry idea or God’s work in his life.
That’s the heart of an evangelist.
So what about you? Why not take the APEST Assessment and discover your gifting - you might be surprised by what you learn and even more surprised by how it fits with who you already are.
Listen to 5Q Director, Lindsey Harwood, talk about what it's like to be an evangelist in this 4 min video:
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From a video by 5Q Central, 27/05/2025