Are Churches and Denominations Including Evangelism in Their Credentialing and Ordination Criteria?

The last command Jesus gave before He ascended into heaven was not vague (Acts 1:8). It was not optional. It was not reserved for a select few. He told us to be witnesses—clearly, intentionally, and urgently.

You would think, then, that evangelism would be front and center in how we examine, credential, and ordain those called to ministry.

But it often isn’t.

In many churches and denominations, we rightly evaluate doctrine, education, and character. We ask good questions about theology and polity. We ensure candidates can rightly handle the Word.

But we too seldom ask a simple, revealing question: Are they sharing the gospel?

Somewhere along the way, evangelism moved from essential to assumed.

And what we assume, we rarely measure.

What we don’t measure, we often neglect.

The Great Commission Is Clear—But the Criteria Are Not

The Great Commission is not one of many options for the church. It