Partakers Christian Podcasts...

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

What is the role of the evangelist?

Introduction

In the western world, the role of evangelists appears to be dwindling, notes Carswell correctly.1 What is an evangelist and their work, particularly in association with a local church?

1. What is an Evangelist and the scope of work?


The word evangelist derives from the Greek word, euangelistes, and literally means “a messenger of good.”
2 It occurs in the New Testament three times (Acts 21:8; Eph.4:11; 2 Tim 4:5). Whilst it is usually associated with itinerant missionaries, as early church evangelists often travelled, some did stay significant times in the one place (Acts 8:40, 21:8; 1 Tim 1:3). In the Church of England, local diocesan evangelists are instructed to take on various roles.3 For the purposes of this seminar, I will be concentrating on just one item from this framework, which deals briefly with motivating and training a local church congregation in local evangelism.

2. Motivating and training for evangelism?

a. Overcoming barriers. Sisson, gives six reasons why people do not evangelise4:

  • Do not know the bible well enough to answer questions

  • Entire friends are already christians

  • Dull and tedious testimony

  • Others will wonder what took you so long, if you evangelise them now

  • Don't know if my friends are true Christians or not

  • There is no easy way to tell the Gospel

By helping people overcome these hindrances, people can be liberated to evangelise the local community5.

b. Early starters! New believers were actively encouraged to evangelise from the time of their conversion. There seems as if there was not a two step process of conversion and then later undergoing evangelism training. More likely, that they gained perceptions about evangelism, whilst they were being evangelised. Kimball, rightly says that “In the emerging church, evangelism is not something a disciple does; it is something that a disciple is.”. However this thinking should not be limited to just an emerging church, but rather taken on board by all churches as a New Testament model to be followed6.


c. Changing perceptions! The approach to evangelism has changed over the last few years. Kimball shows us how this has changed
7. Congregational members need to realise that it is the job of all Christians to evangelise and witness about Jesus, using the skills and perceptions they inherently hold. They should also know that there is not just one style of evangelism. Interpersonal, invitational, serving, testimonial intellectual or confrontational styles are available for a church to use8. An individual's use of any or all of these styles would be dependent on their own personality, talents and skills.


d. Lead by example! New Testament church leaders led by example, and actively persuaded others to do as they did. Paul commanded that the Corinthian church follow him as he imitated Jesus (1 Cor.11:1) “Better caught than taught” is how Mittelberg puts it
9. If the congregation see the evangelist as a role-model to follow and be encouraged by, then an example has been set. This is, as Sanderson says, a “dynamic model”, by which others can go on doing the work in their own way, when the church evangelist is not available10.


e. Lead by teaching! As evangelism is prayed about, activated upon, discussed and enacted, congregation members will undergo evangelism training, even if they aren't aware of it at the time. A good method is for training to be given, not just as a one off exercise but throughout the year,. The reason for this, is so that every member has an opportunity to undergo some formal training when it is convenient for them as they see the leadership committed to evangelistic training ! This training, needs to be promoted from the front, so that every member can see the seriousness that the leadership think about evangelism. Mittelberg relates that Bill Hybels asks that every member of his church undergo evangelism training every two years!
11.

f. Neither powerless or alone! The main lesson for congregations to learn, is that evangelism can only truly be effective when undertaken under an umbrella of prayer and the work of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit's power and authority which lets the skills and talents of all people to be used as effective Gospel messengers12. The congregation may need reminding that it is Christ who is building the church, and that with the Holy Spirit's power, we are neither alone or powerless! After all, “He is the Spirit of mission and evangelism”.13 As for prayer, praying in small groups, triplets or regular church prayer meetings will help the church's mission to evangelise the community in which it is located.


g. Innovative evangelism! Not only would this make it new for the congregation, but possibly add an element of excitement, particularly if old evangelistic methods are being employed, and seemingly ineffective. Some ideas such as, having a prayer stall at the local market, or taking over a vacant shop on the high street for the explicit purpose of praying for people. This would need promotion but can be done. The church could offer the use of its website as a local community forum, or 'virtual local community hall, for community notices. Another way would be to hold internet-based events and/or forums, so that those who are housebound or are part of what Careaga calls the “Net Generation”, have a platform to converse and discover about Christianity
14. Community Church Southampton have done just this, in particular for their youth and student work15. Some like Glover disparage this kind of gathering as being non-biblical and not real, somewhat incorrectly16. Rightly or wrongly, the truth is that people are gathering like that, and discussing Christian issues. New methods also can be seen as making use of every opportunity, or as Green puts it “godly opportunism”.17


Conclusion


The work of an evangelist is not to just 'preach the Gospel', but also as we have
seen to motivate and encourage every member evangelism. This was true in the early church, and it is equally true today. The world, Kim states, is ready for a reinvigorated church, whereby the local church models God's Kingdom with evangelistic zeal18.




Bibliography


Baughen, A., The Because Approach, Milton Keynes: Authentic Media, 2005

Careaga, A., eMinistry: Connecting With The Net Generation, Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2001

Carswell, R., And Some... Evangelists, Fearn: Christian Focus, 2000

Clarke, E & Bruggeman, W (Eds)., Journal for Preachers, Decatur: Columbia Theological Seminary

Glover, P., The Virtual Church And How To Avoid It, Longwood: Xulon Press, 2004

Green, M., Evangelism Through The Local Church, London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1990

Kimball, D., The Emerging Church, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003

Mittelberg, M., Building A Contagious Church, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000

Sanderson, D., Getting Started in Evangelism, Bramcote: Grove Publications, 1992

Sissons, D., Evangelism Encounter, Wheaton: Victor Books, 1988

Sublime Southampton, http://www.sublime.org.uk/cm/, Accessed 20/11/2006

Vine, WE., Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, Iowa Falls: World Bible Publishers, 1981


Case Study


You


Congratulations!! You have graduated from Moorlands with a First!! Moreover, you have just been appointed the local evangelist for a small evangelical church in rural Hampshire!


Church Profile


The church has been on the site for 150 years, and while it has a tradition of being evangelistic, in recent years this has not been the case. The church has appointed a new pastor in the last 12 months after an period of 3 years of having no pastor. During that period, the church has maintained a stable congregation size of about 60 people, but no significant growth. There is little overt evangelism from the church, the young people falling away and any attempt at outreach seemingly falls on stony ground. It is a mixed congregation, with a wide age range and equally male & female. The pastor (and leaders) are keen to get outreach and evangelism on the agenda for the church and the villages it services, hence your appointment.

However, the congregation generally view you as an expert evangelist, and seeing as they pay your wages, expect you to do all the evangelistic work! The leadership (except the pastor and a couple of elders), is dominated by the “old guard” who are suspicious of anything new and would like to preserve the church and all that takes place in it in accordance with what makes them feel comfortable. It is easily reached by foot and there is ample car parking space. There is a hall, kitchen and toilets attached to the church.


Community Profile


The church lies in a small market town of 2,000 people with all the usual local services and shops. There are 2 other churches in your town: a Methodist and a Church of England. Your church is the only free evangelical church in the area, so your community also comprises of a number of smaller outlying villages. The church hall and facilities are regularly rented out to community groups.

The community consists of the following group of people:


  • Residents who are employed in the agricultural scene

  • Long-established residents, who know everybody else and what goes in in “their town”

  • Recent arrivals who live in the town and commute to the city for employment

  • Retired people who make up a significant number of the community

  • Small group of artisans, who gainfully wile away the time “doing their own thing”

  • Tourists who view the village as a quaint place for rural recreation

Questions:


1. What problems (if any) do you envisage in motivating and training the church congregation in and towards 'every member' evangelism/outreach?

2. How will you deal with these problems, so that evangelism/outreach becomes increasingly effective and the church can be seen as a shining light and is making Christ know?


End Notes


1
Carswell, R., And Some Evangelists, p.14

2Vine, WE., Volume 2 in Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words , Page 44

3Appendix A

4Sisson, D., Evangelism Encounter, p.126

5Appendic C

6Kimball, D., The Emerging Church, p.218

7Appendix B

8Baughen, A., The Because Approach, p.166

9Mittelberg, M., Building A Contagious Church, p.156

10Sanderson, D., Getting Started In Evangelism, p.14

11Mittelberg, M., Building A Contagious Church, p. 171

12Carswell, R., And Some Evangelists, p. 44

13Sanderson, D., Getting Started In Evangelism, p.18

14Careaga, A., eMinistry, p.128

15Sublime at Community Church Southampton, http://www.sublime.org.uk/cm/, Accessed 20/11/2006

16Glover, P., The Virtual Church And How To Avoid It, p.87

17Green, M., Evangelism Through The Local Church, p. 338

18Kim, JS., 'Evangelism as Parabolic Witness' in “Journal for Preachers Pentecost” 2006, pg.48

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