Great post Mark. Very important subject. In fact, an evangelist just sent me a book on this very subject today. I may blog a few ideas from it next week. Meanwhile, one of our church-supported missionaries in Africa just sent this report to me in his prayer letter. His observations touch on some of the points you have raised.

"As I sat down to write this prayer letter I thought about what the significant events were that had happened in our ministry in Uganda since we had last written. The most important thing that jumped out at me was that our students at Westminster Theological College have a much better understanding of what the gospel of our Lord Jesus really is than before they came.

"For example, after one of our Congolese students, Joseph, had been in class for several weeks, he came up to me after class one day with tears in his eyes and said, “I have never understood this before. Neither I, nor any other preachers that I know in Congo are teaching this. I will have to go back to Congo and tell my people what Jesus has done for us.” What Joseph was referring to was a simple diagram that we had talked about of Jesus taking our sins upon Himself and Him giving us His righteousness, the only way that we could be acceptable to God.

"Much of the “gospel” that is preached in Africa is a “gospel” of works - going to church, giving money, being a kind neighbor, reading the Bible. Many, many church-goers in Uganda never hear of the free gospel of grace in Christ Jesus. Another example is of one of our students, Allan. Allan is a young Christian, but a very enthusiastic evangelist in his home village. One day in class he seemed confused about what I was saying, so I stopped and asked him what the trouble was. He said, “So you mean that not all of the people who come to the front during an altar call really become Christians?” We had been talking about Christians bearing fruit as evidence of true belief in class that day. Allan was confused because he saw so many people “walk the aisle,” but so few of their lives changing after they did. He didn’t realize that not everyone who “walks the aisle” is actually changed by the Spirit on the inside. His church was teaching what is commonly called “easy believism” – just walk the aisle and pray the prayer and you have your ticket to heaven. Righteous fruit produced by the Holy Spirit after this “conversion” is not emphasized. The number of so-called “conversions” is what matters.

"The most popular “false gospel” that Ugandan churches are teaching is the “health and wealth” gospel, the idea that God wants all believers to be rich and healthy while on earth; if you’re not it’s because you are not exercising enough faith. It’s not the gospel of Jesus because it makes God a celestial genie, with man, not God, as the focus of all creation. It tends to make Christians feel very guilty if they are not rich and healthy. Another student, Henry, gave an example of this in class one day. He said that he and some friends went into a big church in Kampala, all dressed up in their Sunday best. Because of their dress, the ushers must have thought that they were wealthy and seated them very near the front of the church. When the offering basket was passed they only put in a few shillings, all that they had. The pastor noticed their meager offering, came up to them and told them to move back to the back of the church. These seats at the front, he said, were reserved for those who had strong faith, those who could put thousands of shillings in the offering. Needless to say, anyone can guess what that pastor had on his mind!

"This is a very common occurrence in some of the biggest churches in Kampala. The problem is that none of these “gospels” is the true gospel of Christ and as a result the culture here is full of unrighteousness because people’s lives are not being changed by the power of the Spirit working in them. One of the most important things that we teach the students at WTC is that lives are changed only by the power of the living Christ within us. As far as we are concerned this is the only true hope for the African Church and for churches all around the world.

When people ask me what they can pray for me and our church about, I very often ask for prayer that we would see more conversions.  I thank God for the conversions we have seen, but I would like to see more, for God's glory! 

I'm not, however, a big fan of the big conversion numbers that are reported by some evangelical churches.  I don't believe them.  I think they discourage real evangelism and true conversions and actually make our towns and cities more difficult places to evangelize.

I remember one friend telling me years ago that their church had had over 200 baptisms in the previous year.  I was stunned!  I asked him "Is the town changed?"  He didn't understand.  "What do you mean?" he asked.  I told him that was about as many conversions as Edwards saw in the Great Awakening in Northampton. As I kept asking questions, it became clear that he didn't really know the people, he didn't know if they were still (months later) going to his church, the church (with a couple of thousand in attendance) was not noticeably larger, and those being baptized were mostly children of the church (another topic).  My point is, 200 baptized was just normal business for them, and it made no difference.

I pray for conversions that make a difference!  It's a little-known fact that George Bernard Shaw's first published writing (when he was nineteen) was a letter to Public Opinion belittling a Dublin revival staged by the renowned American evangelist D. L. Moody. Shaw was not an enthusiast for the evangelist.  He said that crowds attended such services merely for free entertainment, and those who were converted became ‘highly objectionable members of society.’

I can't imagine Shaw would even notice most of our "converts."  Pray for conversions--real conversions, conversions that matter, conversions that result in changed people--and more conversions--for the glory of God!

I've had a great day of walking around London with friends, seeing an excellent used bookstore, and, most importantly, establishing a friendship with Peter Masters, pastor since 1970 of London's Metropolitan Tabernacle.  For 2 1/2 hours this afternoon, Peter graciously entertained me in his study with conversation ranging widely over the history of the Tabernacle during Spurgeon's time, his own personal history (including his membership interview at Westminster Chapel with Dr. Lloyd-Jones!), and issues facing the church today.  One long section of the conversation was on conversion.  It was interesting to consider with him what Scripture teaches about the experience of conversion.  Of course, secularlists like William James, describe conversion as the breaking in on the conscious mind of connections long growing in the subconscious.  But as evangelicals we understand there to be a great change, a radical discontinuity introduced by God's Holy Spirit.  But what Peter wanted to point out was the use of means in producing this discontinuity.  He suggested that many of the Puritans had a better understanding of this than many evangelicals (including Reformed evangelicals) today.   

Dr. Masters was also concerned that associations of different Christians together not undermine what he referred to as "the ministry of warning."  He (correctly, I think) noted that when Christians associate together there is a great pressure against disagreeing.  This, he thinks, is quite dangerous.  NOT that there should not be associations, simply that we must especially guard this ability, in order to faithfully fulfill our ministries.

Much more I could say.  Suffice it to say that I am not aware of having met a pastor of a more evangelistic church than is the Metropolitan Tabernacle.  For that, Spurgeon would certainly be pleased.  And what's far more significant, we know that God Himself rejoices in the presentation of the gospel of Christ.

May many more conversions come in our churches in Gaithersburg & Jackson, in Louisville & Washington, in London & beyond.

PS--Tim Challies, if you're reading, someone sent me your entry on my post on the lightness of blogs.  I agree with your response (except where you expressed that I thought all blogs were no more than snacks).  Some blogs serve excellent purposes.  Perhaps to a lesser degree this one.  To a greater degree your own!  (Or Al's, or Ref21, or GirlTalk).  Keep up the good work.