Leadership. You would think by now, I would simply accept that no matter where I am in life, I find myself in leadership roles. High school found me as president of Mu Alpha Theta and Assistant Manager at Little Caesars. College found me an officer of Mu Alpha Theta (and even just getting it started) and Lladro specialist in the fine china and crystal department at Rich's. A short break of just a few years and then I found myself on leadership teams at school and then my current role of an instructional facilitator. In education I have been through Foundations of School Leadership as well as doctoral level classes on educational and instructional leadership. Then, just when I am seeking God's plan for me and trying to do better at following His plan versus my plan, I once again find myself in leadership. Leadership that began as a new team and has lead to my attendance at my first church focused leadership development training.
Now to simply trust God and to let go so that His plans can play out. I do not know the plans He has for me, but He knows. As a matter of fact, of all areas of leadership in the work of the church and of sharing the love of Jesus Christ, I have been called into Evangelism. Yikes! Scary word right? I mean after all, what images do you conjure up when you hear that word?
Do you picture the great Evangelists on TV? The people walking door to door pushing into your home with tracts asking you if you know Jesus Christ, if you've been saved, and if not walking you through a step-by-step on how to become saved? People shouting at you on the street corner? People judging you?
Guess what! That's not what it is or has to be. Thank GOD because I don't know how I could ever do any of those things.
Check out Luke 4:18-19:
The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recover sight for the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed
to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.
What do you notice? Do you see the word me? In this passage it is clearly spelled out that God has put it upon us to bring others to Christ. He empowers us through the Holy Spirit to do this work. In short, Evangelism is working to relate people to God so that they may begin an intentional relationship with Jesus Christ. And it doesn't stop there. No, we must go beyond bringing others to know Christ. In effective Evangelism, we need to lead people into a lifelong journey.
Did you notice anything in Luke 4:18-19 that said I have to go door to door? That you have to go door to door? Did you notice anything that said I have to do this alone? That you have to do this alone? NO!
So what is this Evangelism that I speak of? Why am I so excited to become a leader in yet another thing? Add something more to my plate? Because it is not "another thing" and while evangelism is consuming work, it isn't necessarily more on my plate. Instead it should be the main focus on my plate.
In Matthew 4:19 Jesus calls, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men."
In Matthew 28:19 we are then charged to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
It is not another thing on my plate because all along it should have been and should be THE thing on my plate.
But why me? Why not the pastor? Why not the lay leaders? Why me?
Because bringing others to Jesus Christ is the responsibility of each of us. It is not just for the select few. We can all be Evangelists and what better time than now. We have to go beyond building up memberships in church. We need to grow disciples.
But I don't have the qualifications, you say. Who says? I ask.
I'll be the first to tell you I don't know all there is to know about Christianity or even the Bible, but what I do know are the essentials.
So here I find myself in this whole new world of leadership in the area of Evangelism. A world that I am excited to enter, yet fearful at the same time. I have so many ideas, yet so few. A world that makes me silently question how an introvert like me who thrives on my alone time, my books and other readings, and my processing time could possibly do this work that God has called me to do. Yet here I am and I know that God will be right there with me the entire time. I just have to trust and let Him work through me.
This afternoon Rev. Jeffrey Salley broke it all down to 3 areas of focus for effective evangelism:
1. Tell the Good News
2. Bear Witness
3. Proclaim
Yes, three simple steps starting with sharing THE Good News. There is so much bad, so much negative in the world (and guess what inside our church walls too). Think about it, when was the last time you heard good news? Shared good news? Try sharing some good news with someone in person and pay attention to how you felt and how the other person felt hearing that good news. Now multiply this feeling and that is what you will get when you share THE good news. Remember that great song you possibly sang as a child, "Jesus Loves Me." Share that news. Let others know that Jesus loves them no matter what they are going through. Look back at Luke 4:18-19. It doesn't say go find the happy, rich people and share the good news. Notice the words: poor, blind, oppressed, captives (and this will include those who are sad, happy, rich, poor, it includes everyone). We are to share the good news with everyone!
Bear witness. Share how God has worked in your life. Share your story. For the entire month of September 2014, I blogged stories. Here is the link to those: Sharing my Story Compilation. Part of witnessing is listening to others, what is their story? How does your story relate? Make the connections, build the relationship with those you are witnessing to.
Then take it right back to the Gospel. Share Jesus words, deeds, etc.
And ultimately, be patient. Evangelism is patient work. Know that it is okay if you are only the planter of the seed. I know, that is sometimes easier said than done, but I also wonder if that is why God has called me into this particular area of church leadership. I'm okay with slow and steady.
So here I am, leading once again. While I've been in this position at church for a few months now, it all hit home this week after attending charge conference and hearing that there is going to be an overall focus on Evangelism and then attending leadership training today. So I will step out of my comfort zone because if I am to lead, then I must practice what I preach. I must share the love of Jesus with others, share my story, and share the Gospel no matter how hard it is for me to just talk to people
So what about you? What are you being called to do? I've been in prayer for many months before this because I knew I wasn't quite where God wanted me to be. And now here I am.
God loves you and He has plans for you too. I ask that you begin to be in prayer for Him to show you the way He wants you to go. Open your hearts to truly listen.
