Perez, Gilbert D, PhD

Witnessing in the 21st Century Perez, Gilbert D, PhD

In this extremely relevant work, Dr. Perez relates the state of evangelism in today's Church to that of the first century Christians. He includes a concise yet thorough history of Christianity's first 400 years or so as an example of the changes and challenges facing present-day believers. He goes on to describe the beginnings of secular humanism and its far-ranging, increasing, and heartbreaking influence around the world today. The most significant element of this manuscript is that it is not another preach-the-gospel-into-the-world exhortation; it is instead a call to something much more challenging: the (often, and apparently inaccurately, attributed to St. Francis) advice to "Preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words." This is not to say Dr. Perez is in any way minimizing the necessity to proclaim the name of Jesus. Rather, he rightly asserts that "Evangelism, or the spreading of the 'good news,' begins with you, the individual." Even more critical is the declaration that salvation is not a doctrine but a Person.