Dear friends,

I am often asked if I know of any good contemporary materials or tools that prepare Christians to share the Gospel with nonChristians. One such tool that I really appreciate is called XEE.  It is a DVD driven training program in relational evangelism aimed at youth and young adults.  Built on Dr. James Kennedyís classic Evangelism Explosion, XEE brings together a number of elements that are key for equipping Christian witnesses in and for this post-church age in which we live. 

First, XEE is highly relational. It recognizes that most nonChristians have little or no connection with a Christian church, nor do they feel the need to make one.  So conversations about God will most often take place in the ordinary courses of life between people who share a personal relationship.  Furthermore, those conversations will naturally relate to the life experience of the nonChristianóhis concerns, her questions.  God intends to meet them in their world.

Secondly, XEE provides a solid Biblical frame around which to build a personal Christian witness.  The basics are thereóa God who longs to be reconnected with all of His children, the problem of sin, the reconciling work of Jesus, and the gift of faith.  With these foundational truths in hand a Christian is able to respond effectively to the assumptions, questions or concerns that a nonChristian might have about God and life.

Finally, XEE prepares us to be witnesses in a post-churched world by doing it.  It makes our everyday world the experiential classroom in which we learn to share our faith.  And following the experiential model of learning the XEE process begins with the most basic steps in Christian witness (like developing relationships with nonChristians and intercessory prayer) and builds steadily to the place where personal witness becomes a normal and natural part of our daily life.  The DVD format of each equipping session is ideal for peer training in a small group setting.  That means that we donít need to be experts in order to witness or to teach others how to do the same.

Many of us ìover fiftiesî first learned to share our faith through Dr. Kennedyís Evangelism Explosion. These were effective tools for our generation, equipping us to speak the Gospel to a world greatly influenced by the church. Today, a new and very different world has emerged, one that is not influenced by the church, at least not positively.  A new generation of believers has grown up in this world with the need to be prepared to offer a defense for the hope that lies within us.  I am most grateful that XEE has come for such a time as this.

In Christ,

Dr. Robert Newton