The
church is admonished to "hold them (leaders and advisers) lovingly in highest
regard because of their work". Acknowledgment of the evangelist with information
about their ministry activities will help the congregation to grasp this concept.
Celebrate with them and pray with them as they steer their way. Let them know
the congregation cares and prayerfully follows their works to glorify the Lord.
Pray
For them!
Use
strategies within the prayer life of the church to include the evangelist and
their ministry. Pray regularly and consistently, but also at special events;
generally, but also specifically as ministry demands dictate; continually, but
thoroughly; publicly, but also in small groups and private devotional prayers;
urgently with passion and spiritual insight.
Advertisement
Use
them!
The
gifts of the evangelist should be used in the activities and life of the local
church congregation. Whether in public meetings, classes or announced programs,
or, in the individual calling, training for witnessing, affinity groups, etc.,
the evangelist can bring fruitful, productive evangelistic results within their
own congregation. So, open doors for the evangelist within the church. Place
their gifts in service. Use them to stir the evangelistic fervor of others and
round out the ministry of the congregation.
Cooperate
With them!
Let
the evangelist be part of the ministry team of the congregation. Participate
with the evangelist whenever possible and to the extent that you are able. Being
present is a big encouragement by itself. Be a backer, especially as evangelists
try new things and new types of approach to the outsiders.
Promote
them!
Testify
to others about the effectiveness of the evangelist in bringing others to trust
in Christ. Your witness to other believers and other churches will help to spread
the insight of using God-gifted evangelists to stir the church to the evangelistic
mandate we all share. Give the evangelist the high reputation of God's favor
for His ministry well done!
When Jesus taught
his disciples about the end result, He said, "Lift up your eyes and look
on the fields for they are white already to harvest." John 4:35 The next
verse points out that "both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice
together". This speaks of the bond of unity in purpose, calling and ministry.
Let
the church congregation and the itinerating evangelist rejoice together in God's
special place and mission for both.
______________________________
John
R. Corts is former President of the Billy Graham Evaneglistic Association and
now serves with Campus Crusade for Christ.