The Master’s University evangelism club has a clearly defined goal when it meets in downtown Newhall, not far from the school’s campus: to build relationships that lead people to Christ and to a local church.

Students embraced the opportunity last semester, and plans are in place to continue the club this fall.

“We remind the students that we cannot debate anyone into the kingdom of heaven, and it’s the gospel that saves,” said Dylan Flannery, an off-campus resident director at TMU and the evangelism club’s organizer.

Tage Herrington, the club’s student leader last semester, took that approach with an older gentleman who walked his dog around the park on Fridays. Herrington started by talking to the man about metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics, before laying out the gospel and providing evidence for the resurrection.

“He is always kind and responsive, and I know that when I see him, I can pick up right where we left off,” Herrington said. “We are not there just to preach the gospel, but to build relationships.”

Another friendship that Herrington built was with a 60-year-old man from Japan. Topics such as soccer, philosophy, current events, and the Lord were at the center of their conversations.

“I confidently pray that they would both be saved, knowing that God is eager to display His mercy and that He uses broken vessels like me to evangelize, preach, and pray to achieve His sovereign ends,” Herrington said.

Herrington also highlighted how being part of the club is a sanctifying experience.

“The knowledge throughout the week that you have to give an account of what God is doing in your life to a stranger causes you to seek Him more, and it strengthens your faith and prepares you to defend it,” Herrington said. “Those things then bring about an even greater desire to preach Christ and thus starts a beautiful sanctifying cycle.”

Flannery agrees that the benefits of the club go both ways.

“The sweet part is having conversations with students who were nervous about going out, had never gone out, went once, and now they attend regularly,” Flannery said. “They keep coming because of how transformative it is to their walk with the Lord.”

Learn more about TMU’s clubs at masters.edu/clubs.