As an example, let’s use Building Healthy Evangelists and see how we can create a simple training design.
First, we must define our goal. In this case, our goal is to build healthy evangelists – evangelists who depend on God for their ministry, who know how to talk effectively with people, and who have a passion for the lost.
Then, thinking of each of the Four Dynamics one by one, let’s build an effective design. We can begin with the Experiential Dynamic by simply sending them out to share the Gospel with unbelievers. “Just go and do it!”
Will that work? Will they learn anything about evangelism? Certainly, they will! They will learn from their successes and even more from their mistakes.
But we could improve the experience by adding another dynamic of transformation. Let’s include a relational dimension by sending them out with experienced evangelists whom they can watch share the Gospel and who will watch them as they share the Gospel. The experienced evangelists will mentor the less experienced, encouraging them and correcting them as needed. Clearly, this will work even better.
But we know there’s more, so let’s add a strong spiritual dynamic by having our emerging evangelists join with intercessors before going out. They will pray and weep for the lost, entering into God’s burden for those without Christ and asking for His anointing as they share. They will also give their own fears and anxiety to God.
Then, when they go out to evangelize, they continue to look to God for help, asking Him whom to speak to, and waiting upon Him inwardly for the right words to speak. This will work even better!
But there’s still one more dynamic. So let’s give them some instruction – a good interactive course on the meaning and nature of evangelism, studying God’s plan for salvation, a simple way to share the Gospel and prepare one’s own testimony, some common objections to the Gospel and how to respond, and so forth.
Now we’re building strong evangelists!
That’s it! We have just done design!