Rethinking Evangelism in the Reformed Church | Guest: Rev. Adrian Crum
Ordinary Faithfulness: How Harvest Church Cultivates a Culture of Outreach
In this episode of The Great Commission Today, host Daniel Vos sits down with Adrian Crum, Pastor of Youth and Evangelism at Harvest Church in Greater Grand Rapids, Michigan. Harvest is a Dutch Reformed congregation with deep roots in the community — and a growing conviction that every believer, not just the pastoral staff, is called to bear witness to Christ.
Crum speaks candidly about the strengths and blind spots of ministering in a “Reformed subculture,” where church attendance and right doctrine can quietly substitute for the personal transformation the gospel actually demands. His answer isn’t a new program — it’s a renewed emphasis on testimony, simple Bible teaching, and everyday faithfulness.
Personal Testimony as a Pattern for Preaching
Crum points to Paul’s willingness to testify to his own weakness in his letters, and to a well-worn insight often attributed to Spurgeon’s preaching: explain a doctrine, illustrate it, apply it — and then testify to its reality in your own life. At Harvest, every communicant member writes a testimony, portions of which are read publicly. Crum’s conviction is simple: articulating “here’s what the Lord is doing in my life” isn’t optional spiritual flourish — it’s how ordinary Christians grow the confidence to share their faith with others.
Raising Up Leaders Before They Hold Office
Harvest runs a longstanding internship model for both deacons and elders. Prospective leaders shadow the office for a season — attending session meetings, joining pastoral visits — before they’re ever nominated. It gives the congregation time to observe character and gifting, and gives the intern room to discern a genuine call, rather than being thrust into authority untested.
Getting Out of the Comfort Zone
Some of the most tangible outreach at Harvest didn’t come from strategic planning as much as noticing a need: the county has the highest refugee population per capita in Michigan, which led to an ESL ministry that Crum hopes will grow into ongoing discipleship relationships. Harvest also launched a Bible club at a nearby elementary school — something Crum was surprised to learn is legally available to any church once a school opens its doors to any after-school program.
Evangelism as Stewardship, Not Guilt
Perhaps the most pastoral moment in the conversation comes when Crum addresses believers who want to be more engaged in evangelism but feel pulled in a dozen directions by work and family. His answer avoids both extremes — neither adding another program to the calendar, nor letting people off the hook. Instead, he encourages Christians to see the relationships they already have — coworkers, teammates, neighbors — as the mission field the Lord has already placed in front of them.
A Model Worth Considering
Crum’s counsel for any listener who wants to move from desire to action: start small. Gather a team that prays and looks for opportunities. Get to know the missionaries your congregation already supports. Don’t try to do six new things in three years — pick what’s attainable, and be faithful to it.
The Great Commission Today is a podcast helping churches become more faithful, confident, and purposeful in obedience to the Great Commission. The podcast is sponsored by Five More Talents, an agency helping churches leverage digital outreach wisely.