Reaching Japanese By The Centemeter

Many years ago I was introduced to the Engle Scale of Evangelism. Jim Engle developed this scale to show that everyone can be classified by his/her awareness of and reaction to the gospel. Some people are a -8, having never heard of Jesus Christ. Others are at -4 in that they have an awareness of the gospel and are beginning to see the personal implications. So when a person moves to a -2 or a -1 they are ready to make a personal decision to either trust Jesus or not.

Then Engle showed that the various methods we use to present Jesus should be adapted to where people are along the scale.

I liked this scale because it always reminded me that often our ministry to Japanese was helping them down the scale toward a decision. The English classes, friendships and even just a smile and a greeting could help someone begin to be interested in Jesus.

Today I received an email from a friend who is now serving as a chaplain in a nursing home in Mid-West America. He and his wife have a special interest in Japanese, so I could sense his smile of thankfulness as he wrote that an elderly Japanese woman had recently confessed her faith in Jesus.

I know absolutely nothing about the situation and the process that led to this decision, but I can imagine that there were thousands of centemeter-sized steps that brought her to this decision. I sent a response to my friend, suggesting that she might wish to inform her relatives back in Japan that she had made this new decision. Perhaps that might result in a half-centemeter movement for someone back in Japan.

The point of this note? Be encouraged that your ministry today might only move people a centemeter or so toward Jesus. It might be the centemeter that moves the person from -6 to -5.9, or it might be that final centemeter that brings them to faith.