Mentoring Tomorrow's Evangelists

Each summer, upper-division theology students from Southwestern Adventist University participate in the Field School of Evangelism. This six-week course takes students to the frontlines of the spiritual battleground as they study modern evangelism techniques from seasoned ministers. At the end of the course, students put knowledge into practice, each leading their own evangelistic series.

“We can teach students how to preach an evangelistic series, but it’s in the mentorship where it comes together,” said Gabriel Perea, associate professor of religion. “A good mentor doesn’t just tell you what to do but gives you the opportunity to be involved. That’s really what the Field School of Evangelism is all about.”

Perea is in his second year of leading the course, partnering with Southwestern Union pastors to provide mentorship for student evangelists. He also remembers what it felt like to be in that very same class 20 years ago.

“I’m an alumnus of Southwestern,” said Perea. “I did my field evangelism at the Joshua Seventh-day Adventist Church near the university. I remember the fear, the anxiety, the sweaty palms and the restless nights of prayer, wrestling with the Lord. Twenty years later, now I’m in Tulsa and I’m seeing my students going through the exact same journey—laying it all out for the Lord.”

This year, the class took place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, under the mentorship of Stephen Brooks, executive secretary for the Southwestern Union.

Eight students attended—five young men and three young women.

For the first two weeks, students shadowed and learned from their mentor. They discussed theory and observed an evangelistic series in action. They studied everything from evangelistic strategies and sermon prep to finances, team development and more. The students were immersed in every aspect of an evangelistic series from beginning to end.

Then the eight students took the lead at eight different churches—four English and four Spanish. Each hosted a two-week evangelistic series.

“I saw my students every morning for breakfast,” said Perea. “You see them and they have baggy eyes. They’re up at three in the morning wondering, ‘How did I do last night?’ and, ‘How is this text going to make a difference?’

For me, as a theology professor, it’s beautiful to see those baggy eyes on the face of an evangelist. To know that they stayed up, not watching Netflix, but wrestling with the Lord and thinking, ‘Is this lifting up Jesus?’”

Local church support plays a vital role in the success of these student-led evangelistic series. Perea encourages members to consider how their presence and encouragement can help nurture the next generation of leaders.

“The best thing a local church can do is to just be present,” said Perea. “Come out every night. That helps the evangelist. It helps the student. Maybe God is calling us to be the Mordecais to the Esthers that are yet to be in the church. Maybe God is calling us to be healthier and more consistent in our own relationship with Christ. We are lifting each other up, preparing the next generation and building a strong church.”

By Makala James, Record Contributor