The Evangelism reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Evangelism

Evangelism, from the Greek word "eu-aggelos" meaning "the good news" or "the Gospel", is the dissemination of the Christian Gospel.

The "Evangelical" movement in Christianity encompasses denominations and parachurch organizations which, among other characteristics, focus on evangelism and the drawing-in of new converts -- in their terminology, the "saving of souls". Discussion of religious behavior sometimes contrasts evangelical groups with liturgical groups - those which focus on ritual practice among the existing members as opposed to drawing in new members.

By metaphorical extension, evangelism may also refer to any form of recruitment or spreading-the-word for a group or movement seen as ideological or committed: hence, for instance, open source evangelism.

See also Evangelist, Televangelism.

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