I have now been in full-time ministry for twenty-five-years. There have been a lot of lessons along the way, most of them learned by experience. On more than one occasions, I have heard ministers, experts and commentators pronounce the death of evangelism. I've even heard some say that the "grace dispensation" has ended and no one will be saved in the near future. What is so sad is that usually this means the pronouncements become a self-fulfilling prophecy in the individual minister's life...they become unproductive, and instead of accepting the need to return to their prayer closet and altar of repentance, they blame their lack of spiritual productivity on the Lord Himself.
You might notice that while I am commenting on evangelism, the word evangelization may be more appropriate. We've felt like there are only a few methods of reaching lost people, predominantly mass evangelism or personal evangelism, or revival-meetings. Isn't it interesting that even REVIVAL services more often seem to be from a Sunday to Wednesday or a Wednesday through Sunday? Why? Because the lives of believers have become so cluttered and busy that it is often to gather a crowd for too long a period of time.
Please don't misunderstand me. I am not casting a critical eye here, but rather I am calling attention to the obvious. Do you remember the days of one-week, two-week, or even month-long revivals? Do you remember the altars being filled with hungry seekers for the power of God? Yet, today far too many churches have stopped having altar calls altogether. While we have tried to become "seeker-sensitive" is it possible we have ceased to be "God-seekers?"
In these past twenty-five-years, I've given great attention to personal evangelism by studying various methods, and implementing them at every possible opportunity. There is nothing more fulfilling than to see an individual change before your very eyes as they pass from death to life. Yet, there are so who feel that only a select few are "gifted" with the ability to share the Gospel. My friends, it has more to do with desire than it does gifting. How many people can quote the latest statistics on NASCAR racing, or their favorite football or baseball player, but they have not committed to memory a few Scriptures that the Holy Spirit can bring to their mind when sharing the greatest news ever?
The church has never moved forward by trusting the elites and the experts, but it has always been by the common people, armed with the Word of God and empowered by the Holy Spirit to reach lost humanity and fulfill the ministry of reconciliation we've been given. Is personal evangelism dead? No! It still works. Is pulpit evangelism a viable option? Yes, preach the word and then give the opportunity for the people to made a decision, one way or another.
During my first state convention in Tennessee, I made the observation that many ministers report no conversions, baptisms or new members added to their churches, yet they still write that their churches are "experiencing revival." How can this be? It didn't take long for some to "straighten out" the overseer on his thinking on revival. PLEASE, remember I am not criticizing, only asking the obvious. If there is revival, shouldn't there be some results? I mean real, tangible results? Yet, many of the churches continue to decline, all the while stating "WE ARE EXPERIENCING REVIVAL."
I believe there are some needed changes in our thinking. First of all, we must stop being defensive when we are not reaching our communities around us. We must have a funeral service and bury the "status quo" and return to the Great Commission given to us by Jesus Himself; "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)
While some argue over doctrine and splitting of theological hairs, the calling of the church has not changed...our goal must be to recommit ourselves to the very foundational call of the church. It does no good to paint the barn where the equipment for harvest is housed. Yes, the machinery should be well-oiled and maintained, but at some point you have to take the harvester out into the field and put it to use in the way the Creator of the machinery intended. Otherwise, the harvest will die in the field, rotting because there was no one to gather it in.
We must become creative...using new tools that God has placed in our hands. We must witness one-on-one, we must conduct revival meetings, we must use the tools of technology and find ways to get the message out. Whether by electronic or hard-printed materials, we must not stop until the work is finished....and it will never be finished as long as we live, and the Holy Spirit still enables us.
Finally, I would like to share a story with you of a man I met during my first appointment as a State Overseer in the Church of God of Prophecy. The year was 1998, and I had just moved from Tennessee to Montana. While getting settled in, I learned that a former State Overseer of Monday had fallen and was recovering from a broken hip in a nursing home.
I immediately found the nursing home in the city of Billings and asked for the room of Bishop L.R. Lane. By now, this man of God had been retired for some thirty years, and was a faithful member of the local church, and a "papa" to the ministers of the region. He would mentor them around his kitchen table, and speak words of encouragement into the lives of those following him, even though he could no longer do the work.
I will never forget that visit with Bishop Lane. He encouraged me to do a good job, always make good notes and preach the word. The final thing he said (as I was about to have prayer with him and leave) was this, "Brother Overseer, if you need me in any way, I am ready to go. If you want me to pastor, plant a church, serve in any way, call me and I will do the best I can."
I was overwhelmed by the dedication of this man of God. He was incompacitated by surgery but the fire in his heart had not gone out.
Not long after that, I helped to preach his funeral, and I shared this story with the people present. No one was surprised. This soldier of the cross, who had moved to Montana and worked among the Native American peoples was buried a hero. In reality most people reading this blog never had the opportunity to meet Bishop Lane, but while he may not be known in this generation, his work will live on for generations behind him, and his welcome in heaven was sweet.
We are about reaching lost people. Sure, we've been sidetracked by other things that are not as important, but now...we will focus! We will use every venue, every opportunity, and all our strength to reach this harvest.
The time has come for the church to arise and reach the world!
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