EvanTell, Inc./ Larry Moyer

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EvanTell listed by MinistryWatch.com as a 2008 Shining Light ‘Top 30’ Exemplary Ministry.

MinistryWatch.com desires to see overall giving to Biblical Christian values increase and as such we developed this format to highlight those ministries which are exemplary. This ministry is one of the “best ministries” and outstanding examples when we consider Philippians 4:8 and weigh and take account of those ministries that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Identifying a diversity of the best ministries is challenging given the selfless work that so many do for the cause of Christ. No one is able to give to every ministry that one values as we are not possessed of unlimited resources. It is best to make an assessment of our options and make discerning decisions. MinistryWatch.com’s assessment looked at the following seven areas when considering those to make the list:

1. Transparency
2. Truth Claims
3. Values/ Worldview
4. Sectors/Functions
5. Resourcefulness
6. Red Flag Issues
7. Consultation

A fuller explanation of our evaluation criteria is on the front page of MinistryWatch.com. A foundational premise was to shine a figurative light on those ministries that were "Christian" more than in name only. Ministries were chosen that were not just marketing to Christians as a market segment for "Christian donor money", but ministries that had theological underpinnings and Biblical values that determined their actions. Organizations that relied more on a secular motivation and means were excluded as well as those “ministries” that seem to view the organization as their own vehicle as a business to make money rather than a love to maximize ministry to others and to let their light shine for the glory of God.

Inclusion on this Shining Light list does not mean this ministry or other listed ministries are perfect. No ministry is perfect and any that look long and hard enough may find areas for improvement; as no doubt most legitimate ministries are aware of areas to improve and have their own to-do list. Only you can decide for yourself with confidence if a ministry shares your values and with your giving plan. As far as MinistryWatch.com’s assessment, given the criteria that we followed, this ministry rose to the top.

This is just another step in our mission of encouraging Christians to give more of their talents and resources to Kingdom-building efforts. In short, we wish to help spread the Gospel of Christ by helping Christians give more and more effectively to the works of the Lord. If the Lord uses our list as part of that process, we will have been a blessing to both those ministries who have been ‘good and faithful servants’ with the Lord’s resources and to Christian donors who are seeking to be good stewards of their giving.
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Note About EvanTell's Financial Statements:

EvanTell switched from a calendar year fiscal year to a July 1 – June 30 fiscal year starting July 1, 2004. The result of that is in 2004 they had a “stub” year from January - June 2004, then a full fiscal year for July 1 – June 30 2004-2005. EvanTell is an above board organization and has provided MinistryWatch.com with financial statements going back to 1995; however, for comparative purposes it is reasonable to have a gap on the financial column as 2005 is the new fiscal year.


MinistryWatch.com’s Take
June 2005 (Updated November 2007)
by J. Andrew Preslar


A Passion for the Gospel

Larry Moyer is a rather unlikely spokesperson for the clarity of the Gospel. In fact, his ability to communicate clearly at all is surprising when one considers that he was born with a severe speech defect. His doctors told him that he would never become a public speaker – which was probably intended as an understatement. But things do not always turn out as expected. Today, Moyer is the President and CEO of EvanTell, a nondenominational Christian ministry which exists to connect believers to the life-changing Great Commission through proven evangelism training and tools. Moyer attributes his public speaking ministry to the grace of God, noting that his personal struggles to communicate have probably contributed to his passion for the clear communication of the Gospel. Moyer graduated from Dallas Seminary in 1973, the same year in which he started EvanTell. During these first years of ministry, Moyer noticed that most believers rarely shared the Gospel message. He was convinced that many of them wanted to evangelize, but that they were not sure how to go about it. So Moyer began to develop training tools to help people learn how to witness effectively. During the past couple of decades, Moyer has continued to create such tools and to train people to use them effectively. EvanTell publishes and distributes this material, on the basis of which they conduct training seminars and promote evangelistic outreaches. EvanTell charges for all of its materials and services, with the exception of some material which can be read online.

Evangelism Training

EvanTell’s evangelism training materials and programs seek to accomplish three things: (1) help Christians share the Gospel in such a way that people can easily understand the message, what is at stake, and how they ought to respond; (2) help Christians overcome their fears about witnessing through developing proper motivations for sharing the Gospel; (3) help Christians develop a sound understanding of the Gospel itself, as well as issues closely pertaining to it, such as assurance of salvation, popular objections, and common mistakes in sharing the Gospel (practical and theological). The ultimate point of all of this is to give as many people as possible the opportunity to respond to the Gospel in such a way that they can each say: “I know for sure that I am going to heaven.”

EvanTell’s major program activities are:

Publications. EvanTell produces Gospel tracts, books, bulletin inserts, training videos and audio resources. These materials are marked by a breezy, down-to-earth style of communication, feature numerous (often creative) illustrations, and the same basic Gospel presentation. EvanTell’s method of sharing the Gospel was developed by Moyer early in his ministry and is called the Bad News Good News method. This method is featured in EvanTell’s primary Gospel tract publication, “May I Ask You a Question?” and unfolds the Gospel as follows:

(1) The question asked is: “Has anyone ever showed you from the Bible how you can know you’re going to heaven?” (2) According to the Bible, there is some bad news and some good news. The bad news is about you, the good news is about God. (3) Bad News: (a) You are a sinner, indeed, all have sinned and fallen short of God’s standard of perfection (Romans 3:23); sin means “missing the mark” of God’s righteousness, His glory. No matter how good you are, you are not as righteous as God. (b) The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23); death means eternal separation from God and is the just penalty for our sins in light of a perfect, holy God. (4) Good News: (a) Jesus Christ, while we were still sinners, paid the penalty (death) for your sins by dying on the cross (Romans 5:8). Three days later Christ rose from the dead, proving that sin and death had been conquered and that His claims to be God were true. (b) If you will trust in Jesus Christ (trust means to depend upon, to have faith in) and not your own good works (Ephesians 2:8-9) you will receive the gift of eternal life, which means that you are saved from the penalty of sin (death). (5) If you have trusted in Christ for eternal life, according to John 5:24 you know that you have eternal life, which means that you know that you will go to heaven. If you want to, you can pray the following prayer to God (but remember that this prayer does not save you, only your decision to trust in Christ alone saves you): “Dear God, I know I’m a sinner. I know my sins deserved to be punished. I believe Christ died for me and rose from the grave. I trust Jesus Christ alone as my Savior. Thank you for the forgiveness and everlasting life I now have. In Jesus’ name, amen.” (6) Now you should start reading your Bible, going to church and telling others about Jesus. Undoubtedly this is fairly simple to remember and to communicate to others.

Moyer expands upon the Bad News Good News method in his books and training materials. Two books in particular present Moyer’s doctrine of salvation along with practical advice on witnessing: Free and Clear and the How-to Book on Personal Evangelism (both can be downloaded for free online). The “Bad News Good News” video and workbook package is designed for individual instruction or group studies. “How to Witness without Having a Nervous Breakdown” features lessons concerning the content of the Gospel and instructions on how to share it. As the title suggests, this study is focused upon helping believers overcome their fear of witnessing. Finally, the NETS (Non-threatening Evangelism Training System) program is a twelve-part video series designed to equip Christians to “consistently, confidently and clearly share the Gospel.” Other training materials include more books on witnessing, books on discipleship, and bulletin inserts on a variety of topics related to the Gospel message and witnessing.

Seminars. You Can Preach It! is a one day evangelism training seminar on evangelistic speaking. Larry Moyer teaches the seminar, through pastor’s conferences, seminaries and Bible colleges across the U. S. and abroad. Moyer distills 30 years of experience in evangelism into one day of lectures on topics such as: What’s Necessary in Developing Evangelistic Speaking Skills?, Causing Non-Christians to Want to Hear More, and How do I Handle the Invitation? You Can Tell It! is a four-hour evangelism training seminar which covers two main topics: overcoming fear of evangelism and learning how to do it (the Bad News Good News method). An EvanTell speaker conducts the seminar. Operation Friendship is a weekend event of outreach and evangelistic training with Larry Moyer or another speaker trained by him. Church members are asked to pray in advance for unbelievers in the community. The weekend kicks off with an Outreach Dinner to which church members are encouraged to bring an unsaved friend. An evangelistic message is preached at the church on Sunday morning, and training for believers is conducted during his visit on Sunday. Between Friends is a day of outreach and training for women. The event is conducted by a trained speaker, and features a luncheon, Gospel presentation, and one-hour evangelistic training session for believers.

Outreach. EvanTell recently launched “Community Care 2005,” an evangelistic initiative which works in partnership with IFCA International (formerly the Independent Fundamentalist Churches of America) churches. The goal of Community Care 2005 is to see every member of every IFCA church witness to at least one lost person in 2005. Pastors and church leaders communicate the vision of this program to their congregations, and EvanTell helps them to implement the program by supplying instructional books and materials and by conducting either a live seminar, training someone from the church to conduct the seminar, or else the church can purchase the “How to Witness Without Having a Nervous Breakdown” video and workbooks.

Church Growth. “Flying Strong,” EvanTell’s church mentoring program, represents something of a branching-out for the ministry. Flying Strong is designed to help churches transform from being congregation-minded to being community-minded. The purpose is to stir up outreaches in order to make new converts. EvanTell staff conducts a two-day initial training session, then guides the church through the two-year mentoring process, during which training materials are supplied at a 20 percent discount.

Clear and Simple

Moyer’s fundamental assumption is that what the Bible has to say about salvation is clear, simple and unmistakable. EvanTell’s ministry stresses a separation between Christian obedience and personal holiness in this life from that of final salvation. Once an individual is assured of eternal salvation, that Christian is to then strive for a holy and righteous life of sanctification through deliverance from the works of the flesh, the devil and the world and to grow in the fruit of the Spirit.