Understanding the Difference
Entry & Evangelism
Meaningful relationships matter. So does clearly sharing the gospel. We do not want to confuse one with the other. At Bay Leaf, we use two words, entry and evangelism, to name these moments. Both are worth celebrating, but they are not the same.
Entry Creates an Opportunity
Entry is a meaningful relational step toward another person.
It might be hospitality, prayer, service, or a deeper conversation. The point is not to force a spiritual moment. It is to know and love people in ways that can create room for the gospel to be heard.
Entry could look like:
- Inviting your neighbor to dinner.
- Praying with another parent on your child’s team.
- Taking time to hear a coworker’s story.
- Consistently serving people in your community.
- Checking on someone who is walking through a difficult season.
- Having a conversation that begins to move toward spiritual things.
An Entry moment is not evangelism. The gospel may not have been shared yet. But the relationship has moved forward, and another door may open.
Evangelism Clearly Shares the Gospel
Evangelism is the clear sharing of the good news of Jesus with an invitation to respond.
We help someone understand their need for a Savior, what Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection, and the call to repent, believe, and follow Him.
Sometimes that conversation is planned. Sometimes it catches you by surprise. It may be brief or continue over time. The goal is that the gospel is heard clearly, not that you presented it perfectly.
We celebrate both without confusing them.
We want to know people, serve them, welcome them into our lives, and pray with them. We also want to speak plainly about Jesus. Entry cannot become a substitute for evangelism. At the same time, evangelism must never turn people into projects. We move toward people because we love them. We share the gospel because Christ is their hope.
What do the ping-pong balls mean?
Starting August 16, at both campuses, a simple display will be installed to help us make these moments visible and celebrate them together.
WHITE = ENTRY
Add a white ping-pong ball when you take a meaningful relational step toward someone. Maybe you welcomed a neighbor into your home, prayed with someone, met a need, or intentionally moved toward a person in your life.
GREEN = EVANGELISM
Add a green ping-pong ball when you clearly share the gospel. Maybe you shared your testimony and explained the good news of Jesus, walked someone through the gospel, or invited them to repent, believe, and follow Christ.
How to Participate
When you take an Entry step or share the gospel:
- Choose the ping-pong ball that matches the moment. White for Entry. Green for Evangelism.
- Add it to the display. Your ping-pong ball becomes part of a larger picture of how our church family is moving toward people.
- Keep praying for the person. One conversation may lead to another, and another may become an opportunity for the gospel to be heard.
What This Wall Represents
The number of ping-pong balls is not a measure of your faithfulness or spiritual maturity. We are not competing with one another. The wall simply helps us see something that is usually hidden: people across our church family intentionally moving toward others with the hope of Jesus. Behind every ping-pong ball is a person. Every person matters to God and needs the hope of Christ. So we keep praying. We keep going. Until everyone hears.