Is There a Difference Between Witnessing and Evangelism?

Two terms that are commonly used in Christianity are “witnessing,” and “evangelism.” The two words are often used interchangeably, but are they really the same thing? In this article, we’ll look at the difference between witnessing and evangelism.

Are Evangelism and Witnessing the Same Thing?

Evangelism and witnessing have some overlap in their definitions and are very similar. Generally, witnessing is considered a broader category, of which evangelism is a subset. They both involve sharing the gospel and testifying to the teachings of Christ.

“Witnessing” is a shortened form of the phrase “bearing witness,” which is telling others about what you have personally seen, heard, felt, and believe in terms of your faith. This also involves following the example of Christ by spreading His message and His love through your everyday actions. Witnessing is often thought of as bringing people a step closer to belief.

“Evangelism,” on the other hand, can be considered the final step of convincing individuals to put faith in Christ. Evangelizing involves sharing the message of Christ and specifically trying to help God’s children reach salvation by repenting. Evangelizing usually involves spreading the gospel to as many individuals as possible, which often takes place in highly-populated areas and uses specific Scripture passages—known as gospel tracts—to share Jesus’s message. 

So, you can see how the two are similar, yet somewhat different. Ultimately, both witnessing and evangelism play important roles in spreading the Word of God, bringing people closer to Christ, and helping them achieve salvation.

GO! Evangelism Ministry is a champion of street evangelism. We have developed GO! Gospel Tracts in more than 50 languages to aid efforts preaching eternal life and hope beyond the world's hardships. Consider becoming a street evangelist by using our GO! Gospel Tracts to preach to the masses in the open streets! Contact us or visit our website to learn more and get started with spreading the message of God effectively!

About GO! Evangelism

We, at GO Evangelism Ministry, Inc., have been supporting gospel ministries across the globe in their mission to spread the Word. Thanks to our tracts, the Gospel is spread every day, in countless parts of the globe, in numerous languages.

At GO Evangelism Ministry, Inc., we have GO! Gospel Tracts that will move anyone into lending their ear to your message. You can develop a highly effective Tract Ministry by including a select choice of tracts in your evangelism efforts. In doing so, you and everyone you touch through your ministry will reap the eternal reward of The Word!