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Definition
At its most basic level, evangelism is a natural, automatic result of true worship. Nothing will replace actually making a gospel presentation with a seeker, but music can prepare both the unbeliever and believer for addressing this issue.
Characteristics
Evangelism in music can be characterized in two broad categories: directly musical functions and extra-musical contributions.
Directly musical functions could include missions, whereby an ensemble could make a trip to provide worship services for an area and audience that does not normally have access to this kind of ministry. Care must be taken that the music selected will have meaning to the audience, and certainly not to offend.11
Another direct musical contribution could be touring. The purpose of touring is has many of the same advantages as a mission trip, in that an opportunity for one church to share its worship experience with another is made possible. This, however, serves more to cause the members of the choir to experience of seeing places and meeting cultures to which they are not normally exposed.
A final avenue for direct musical contribution would be prison and mission ministries. Usually this is difficult for larger groups, but soloists and small ensembles are very capable of bringing an evangelistic message to an audience that normally may not willingly receive any kind of gospel presentation.
Extra-musical contributions also might fall under the purview of the music minister, as they function in worship capacities as well. Drama ministries, for example, can accentuate a holiday music presentation that might not be independently coherent without drama or may otherwise lose the audience's interest.
Additionally, media services supply methods of communicating with the audience/congregation in conjunction with the music ministry, or in other areas that cannot be addressed directly by the music ministry. For instance, there are few things that can make or break the polish of the preparation of a worship experience like sound system management. And today more and more churches are moving to overhead projection of service worship guides, hymn and chorus lyrics, and other multimedia presentations.
Purpose
Evangelism is the Great Commission of the church. Jesus sent his disciples into the world to make disciples of all men, implying that the process extends beyond the conversion. Music has the power to communicate not only the basics of the gospel, but also the particulars of living a successful Christian life, and the best model for that is Christ himself. So the issue comes full circle: the intended product of evangelism is worship, and worship is all about directing everyone's attention to God.
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