Evangelism is More Than Just an Event
In April of this year, Adventist churches around the Northwest will host evangelistic meetings with speaker Ron Halvorson, Sr. Will this be just another evangelistic event with a media blitz, ads in the paper, fliers sent out to zip codes surrounding churches? Or will it be something more sustained, something that makes a lasting difference?
Members around the Northwest are hearing about a program called Momentum. It’s an effort to help members understand their role in Christianity. Being a Christian means far more than getting up and going to church once a week, then calling it “good” and going back to “normal” life. Momentum is a term that includes the daily lifestyle of a Christian in being a witness to the life-changing power of God. As more and more members embrace this lifestyle “evangel-living” concept, Momentum will build.
And, perhaps, they will look at these upcoming meetings as a target, a goal, if you will, of developing relationships with their friends and neighbors who are looking for something better out of life. These meetings become a gathering point in which to bring these friends to a better understanding of God and His goal for their lives. Before these meetings, the relationships are developed. After these meetings, those relationships continue as each person grows in their understanding of the Christian life. And they continue to develop new friendships as they discover an “evangel-living” lifestyle. In that way, the cycle of relationship building, trust and commitment continues.
Evangelism is not something a Christian does once in awhile. Evangelism is something a Christian is, inside and out. It doesn’t make us into Amway Christians. It does make us sensitive to the needs of our friends that can be answered further by a relationship with Christ.
February 4th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
I like your article. Evangelism is so much more than just an event! What a wonderful thing to get involved in the the spirit of evangelism and let it become a part of one’s life. It is good to just forget about all one’s cares and responsibilities and turn one’s thoughts to things that are lovely, just, and true, etc. and as we do this, heavenly joy can enter the heart. As we forget self, we partake of that living water that truly can be refreshing. Also, as we do things for others we feel good and feel a joy that isn’t an earthly joy. It is heavenly in origin. I feel that it is good to just talk to our neighbors in a spirit of love and consideration for what they are facing in life. My husband and I decided to just go around our neighborhood and we took a couple of hours on Sunday’s. Two hours went by very quickly. Sunday afternoon is about the best time to go we found. People are home and they are more receptive to talking and visiting about things that are spiritual. One must remember that we aren’t there to convict or even convince, that is the Holy Spirit’s work to do. We just told our neighbor’s that we were their neighbor and that we were happy to meet them and to get a little better acquainted (for those that we didn’t know). We also told them where our church was located and that we would be happy for them to come and fellowship with us. We also told them that we had a Vacation Bible school, offered a Health Fair, offered Bible studies on events that would happen as we get closer to the coming of Jesus, etc. We took down the phone numbers of those that would like to be called when we were putting on the events. We also told them that since we were their neighbors to feel free to call us if they needed help with anything. My husband is retired and so he has more time. No one has ever taken advantage of us. We have gotten to know several neighbors and some of them are coming to church and others are interested in learning more. As people ask us questions about what we believe, we just tell them and show them the texts. Again, we don’t try to convict.
It is also good to spend a little time each week and call our fellow church members too. Anyone that is having problems, it is good to let them know that they are cared about and that the church is praying for them if they would like and that we are there for them too.
When one focuses the mind on that which is of the heavenly and thinks on those things and goes out and spends some time on others, there is a healing of the spirit and soul that takes place and truly a drawing of the person closer to his creator. Evangelism is and can be so wonderful.
February 27th, 2007 at 10:03 am
As the Bible worker for the Rocky Mountain Conference I feel it is mandatory that we “retrain” our members on evangelism being a lifestyle not an event. It is the simple act of being a true friend to those around us and sharing our story when it would be encouraging to do so.
It is looking to see where God is already working and cooperate our efforts there. God is in the business of saving people and we are His hands and voice.