(EMI) --I heard someone say, “blow all of them up and let God sort them out!” Surprisingly, that is a more common response than you would think coming from many Christians. I hear that response coming from people in the world much more often. Sadly, Christians want push the responsibility of making disciples and ministry to one of the five fold ministry gifts however that responsibility rests on all believers. Eph 4:11   And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; vs:12   For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: vs:13   Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: There were not any punctuation in the original text of the Bible. The way this should read is, “ God gave apostles prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry till we come in the unity of the faith” etc… The work of the five fold ministry gifts is to perfect the saints so that the saints can do the work of the ministry. The word perfecting in verse 12, in Greek, is katartismos and it means complete furnishing or equipping.

            It is the believers who are to do the work of the ministry and the five fold ministry gifts are to equip believers so the believers can do the work of the ministry. Today we in the church have this all mixed up. We have some ministers who are not equipping the believers but are trying to do the work so they get all the credit and become superstars in the body of Christ and we also have ministers who are equipping believers but have stopped doing the ministry that all believers are called to do.  Just because someone has taken the assignment of equipping, it does not at all mean they are to stop doing the work of witnessing and making disciples etc. 

Is this how you do it?

            This may ruffle some feathers among well meaning believers but witnessing or evangelism is not just handing someone a track to read. Handing someone a track is a way to plant a seed for someone else to lead that person to the Lord but tracks should be left to those prospects that are in a hurry and do not have time to listen to you explain the plan of salvation. Handing out tracks should be a supplement to witnessing not a replacement.  If I hand out a track it is only to plant a seed to talk to them at a later date or so someone else can talk to them later.

            I have also seen people that are great at starting conversations with people in any situation. They may talk to a prospect for an hour about everything under the sun but never get to the plan of salvation. Oh it is great when you can get in front of someone and talk to them without reservation but if you never get around to sharing the gospel with them it is really a waste of time. It is only a waste of time however, if you are going out with the idea that you are going to win the lost.

            Evangelism is also not just standing on the street telling people they are sinners going to hell. You can stand there and yell at people and point out all their sins but until you let them know that God sent His Son to die in our place for our sins and that the only thing separating them from God is the Lordship of Jesus Christ; you will not see many born Again into the Kingdom of God. Oh you may have an evangelistic accident sometime, on rare occasions but is only because God in His mercy chose to use the foolish things of this world.  Thank God He does that or we would never advance the kingdom. I have seen evangelistic out reaches that resemble more of a three stooges or Laurel and Hardy routine than a strategic and well trained outreach.

What does evangelism look like?

            The key is to listen to what the Holy Spirit tells you to do. Evangelism and witnessing is not a formula. There has to be a balance of relationship building, showing where a prospect is lacking in his ability to come to God outside of the blood of Jesus and sharing of the grace and love of God in order to lead someone to a relationship with God. I believe one of the greatest tools of evangelism to learn is the art of simply starting a conversation with someone with the idea of building a relationship with them. It is easy to start a conversation for some people but to start a conversation with the idea of building a relationship with them is a little different. When I go out I like to start a conversation and guild the conversation towards asking that person if there is something I can pray for them about or someone they know. If they say yes and they do not sound like they are in a rush to get away, I will start to ask them about their relationship with God or if they go to church.

            Another key to evangelism is knowing the plan of salvation. Without knowing the plan of salvation I will ask questions without purpose. You see every question I ask is strategic. Each question I ask is to guild the prospect to a particular point of the plan of salvation. The plan of salvation is:

• Sin came from Adam - Romans 5:12- 14
• All have sinned – Romans 3:23
• Wages of sin is death - Romans 6:23
• Righteousness is not by works – Romans 3:10
• We are not justified by works – Romans 3:20
• Man can not save himself – Ephesians 2: 8-9
• God is Just - Psalms 89:14a and 1st Peter 1:17
• God is Merciful – Psalms 89:14b and Lamentations 3:22
• God sent His Son – John 3:16
• Knowone comes to the father except through Jesus- John 14:6
• We must be born again John 3:3
• Confess Jesus as Lord – Romans 10:8-9

            I could write a book on evangelism and I probably will but this is just a short essay on evangelism and witnessing.

My Mardi Gras Experience

            I was recently with a ministry called No Greater Love Ministries in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. We had a wonderful time. I would like to say that I was a picture perfect example of how to evangelize and witness however I would be lying. This article is not to make myself out to be some super evangelist. I must say that at one time I was much better but this time, in the beginning, I was out of practice. I was able, after my first couple conversations, to get back into line with what I’ve shown you here but when I started I was a little shy. Yes, you heard it, I was a little shy. We all go through that no matter how experienced we were in our past, if we stop, we may have to pray for boldness so we can shake the cobwebs off. It was refreshing to have had a man like Doyle with our group to light that evangelistic fire again. Doyle was the perfect example of what I’m sharing here with you. Everywhere Doyle went he started a conversation with someone and led the conversation around to the plan of Salvation. Sometimes the Lord would tell Doyle something about the person he was talking to and when he shared it, that person was become very attentive to what Doyle had to say.
            Another great example of people that share the gospel everywhere they go is Arthur Blessitt. Arthur has a great book out on sharing the gospel whereever you are called Arthurs Street University. I’m not sure if it is still available but I would suggest it for every believer. Arthur has carried the Cross on every continent and in every country in the world. He does just what I’m talking about here. We call this relationship evangelism. The most important thing to remember is that we must listen to what the Holy Spirit says to say and do. If we follow that rule, we will do great.

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