With our lives circling ever-so-much closer around our mobile devices, it seems there really is an app for everything.
Jesus Evangelism Tool confirms this with the introduction of an app designed to help Christians:
BE READY AND EQUIPPED with a comprehensive evangelism tool for discussing and responding to basic questions about the Gospel and Christianity.
The opening of the app lands you on a really unique way to get an app to the masses without charging for it. It will be interesting to see how this course of “try now, pay later- if you want” will work for those employing it.
But here’s the catch…
Have you heard of Jesus?
The app description also goes on to say that it contains the story of Jesus and that you can easily give it to the unconverted to do the work for you:
It is formatted to be handed over to someone to read and is about a five to ten minute read.
I was thinking, “Hmm. An evangelism app that does the evangelizing for you- this should be interesting.”
Once inside the app, I found a lot of reading material, and a peculiar area in the “Read” tab entitled “The Mobile Jesus Story & The Christian World View”.
What left me (an already believer) with more questions than answers was what “The Mobile Jesus Story” was. Who is this Mobile Jesus? And why haven’t I heard of him before?
Upon further delving, I found less-than-appealing styling, and long and arduous readings that make more of an effort to lend a hand at arguing the point of the Christian World View than introduce anyone to the love that God has for us through the sacrifice of his Son.
I understand that the stated goal of the app is to prepare the Christian to evangelize, and I appreciate it’s efforts towards that end. However, while our goal is to show others to Christ, we shouldn’t be so hell-bent on arguing the points of our worldview. Yes, the Christian Worldview is important, but we can’t expect people to see it as such before they truly see Christ.
The bright spot for me was the inclusion of a version of the sinners prayer. If anything, the entirety of the app could be dropped, sans this, and it would prove to be useful.
What do you think?
Mobile Environment Effective for Evangelism?
The greater question for this type of evangelism is how effective is it?
Look at the effectiveness of the Evangecube. It uses only pictures and yet clearly tells the story of the Gospel. Essentially, it has been the original evangelism app.
The reality of a would that turns more towards technology and less towards human interaction is that we, as the Church, must adapt to these changes.
I would like to see something like a Becoming a Contagious Christian app in this area. I’ve taken the course twice and really enjoy the basic idea of it- that we each have our own unique way that God has designed us to share His story with those around us.
Who know’s, maybe a BCC app could include tips on how to arrange evangelism tweet-ups or how to take advantage of the viral power of social networks to pique interest in your Easter program?
What are some other ways that we can effectively utilizing mobile technology to spread the Gospel?
Brett Barner says
Wow. I keep seeing that hand holding the iPhone, and the voice saying, “Say you meet someone who has never heard of Jesus Christ…there’s an app for that!”
I would say that I’m right there with you on the points you made, Nick. I like what they are trying to do, but maybe a bit undercooked. If it was just the Sinner’s Prayer would make sense. I like your idea BCC app, and it does open some thinking and ideas to possibly an app with more usefulness.
Nick Shoemaker says
Thanks Brett!
Bill Whitt says
I think I’ll pass on this one. This is like a modern-day tract, and if I’ve learned one thing over all my years of evangelism, it’s just how much the heathen love reading tracts. (Can you sense my sarcasm?)
John Saddington says
nope. none.
π
Nick Shoemaker says
Totally what I was thinking as well Bill.
I remember waiting tables back in the day and someone “tipping” me with just a tract. I actually took to the lady (NOT a sweet old lady mind you) and gave it back to her. I told her I was already sure of my salvation in Christ and that I didn’t appreciate the stiff.
I didn’t lose my job, but I did get grounded. (It was at my parents restaurant. I was like 17.)
Announcer: “Say you need to berate someone with a tract- there’s an app for that.”
Travis Fish says
Hmmm. I’m interested to see the effectiveness of this. I would still prefer an intelligent conversation but this is cool. Good post.
Nick Shoemaker says
π
Chad Bryan says
Hmm…agreed with the sentiment about modern day tracts and how they tend to be an impersonal way to cause condemnation or at least raise more questions about what we’re about as Christ followers. Isn’t the ideal of The Church (as Christ presented it) all about being a body? A community of believers tightly pressed together taking care of one-another’s needs & bearing with one-another in our hurts & struggles? This app (along with the idea of tracts in general) seems to me like it places the gospel into being seen as an individualistic, got-to-find-Christ-on-our-own kind of message…the human interaction (the interaction with a Christ-follower) is totally taken out of the equation when we slip someone one of these things just because we don’t have to face the rejection when they toss the thing away…The piece of paper, that is…hopefully not your iPhone.
In my experience, people who are seeking need someone to come alongside them and bear witness to the change that the message of Christ has made in their life–not to force anything on anyone, but to say, “I was seeking like you and I’ve found something that has brought me peace, love, & a new family to belong to.” At this point, there is nothing they can reject because all you are attesting to is the change you’ve seen in your own life and be a voice of encouragement in their journey.
Impersonal attempts at “evangelism” should be seen for what they are: a cheap gimmick to pass the buck (responsibility) of claiming who we are to those we run into on our journey.
Nick Shoemaker says
Word cousin. (For everyone else- yes, we are cousins.)
We have to be hands and feet- not pieces of paper or electronic applications.
Bill Whitt says
Chad– great point. I never thoght of it like that, but I imagine what makes tracts so appealing to many is that you won’t face rejection and the fear that comes with it. I also agree that it’s much more biblical and effective to come alongside people in real caring relationships.
Nick Shoemaker says
Well put Bill. The reality that people don’t reject us but Christ doesn’t lessen the sting- but we must push beyond our own comfort for the sake of the Gospel.
Steven Rossi says
I’m just not sure how I’d ever be able to get the other guy to read this stuff. For instance…
Other guy: “Man, my life is terrible. My wife left me, I lost my job, my dog died, and I lost my car keys.”
Me: “Wow, that’s horrible.” *Thinks*
Other guy: “Yeah, you don’t know the half of it.”
Me: “Well I might not, but let me show you something.” *Pulls out iPhone*
Other guy: “What’s this?”
Me: “Here, just take 20 minutes to read through all of this, and all of your problems will go away.”
I’m just not seeing it. Maybe I’m naive. π
Nick Shoemaker says
noice. π
John Bushnell / The Mobile Jesus Project says
Hi everyone. I am one of the people involved with the creation of the Mobile Jesus app. My wife came across this blog and shared it with me. I wanted to offer you a bit of our perspective on the app. Mobile Jesus was created for a number of reasons, but because people are too anxious to evangelize was never one of them. The primary reason is that we felt that not everyone knows the gospel that they would want to share. Behind seemingly simple ideas such as John 3:16, there are more complicated theological questions such as salvation by faith vs. works. We wanted to encourage an evangelism format that is rich in information and attempts to convey Jesus’ total message- thereby going beyond the simple tract message. Normally you would only get that by reading the Bible, but that becomes a barrier for many people to get started because of the size. Being highly condensed, Mobile Jesus sits in the middle.
The Mobile Jesus app is used all over the world. Second to the United States, often the second most downloaded country is Singapore. We are also downloaded in places like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, India, Russia, China, etc. These are often people who hunger not only for a simple salvation message, but also for the words of Jesus that are the same words that put a fire in people’s souls two thousand years ago when they came to see Jesus speak. We believe a simple message of “believe in Jesus and you will be saved” is not what those people need. While people in developed countries such as the US, CAN, and GB often think everyone has already heard all of what Jesus said, this is certainly not true elsewhere. I would make the case that people here are also looking for the same thing as they often hear pastors and not Jesus.
The idea behind the app is not that you would say to someone, “Hey, you need to read this.” and walk away. “Hey, where are you taking my phone…” The presumption is that you’re talking to someone and questions about life and faith come up, and someone asks, “Why are you so ⦔ and you respond by saying, “Well it’s part of being a Christian”. You can now say, “If you really want to know what it’s all about, honestly, here it is.” And the “here it is” is not just the simple believe and you will be saved message. You read about repentance, forgiveness, love, and belief.
There is an interesting phenomena happening with the app. Far more people are saying that the app helped them find Jesus rather than that it helped them evangelize. Some of these people were non-believers, but most people seem to be Christians already. A quick review of the reviews of the app and you see person after person talking about how the message is a blessing to them. Some people use it for daily meditation, and so this goes beyond simple evangelism. One of our intentions was to penetrate into various denominations and reform the message as it had been taught to them, and this seems to be working. People from all different Christian faiths (including groups such as Mormons) download this app, and find a detailed Christian worldview. It is often different from the Christianity they were taught. We’re not trying to make them more like us, but more like Jesus.
Different people sometimes need different things. One person you talk to may need a simple grace message, while another person may need more depth. When you need depth, the Mobile Jesus app is just another icon on your phone. It doesn’t take up space, but it’s there, just like your digital bible. If you have not read the app, I would encourage you to do so. You can view our app’s text without downloading it at: http://www.ahmsupport.com/mobilejesus.html Best regards, John. (The “J” in J. Bushnell Software) ~ The Mobile Jesus Project.
John Saddington says
John,
Thanks for stopping by! and thanks for your clarification! love the fact that you’re building these types of apps!
Nick Shoemaker says
Yes John- thanks for taking the time to give us more info!
John Bushnell / The Mobile Jesus Project says
Peace
Scott Magdalein says
I guess it never hurts to have another tool.