Chapter 4

The Evangelist

The word Evangelist comes from a Greek word "evangelion" and means someone who gives a message of good news. It is similar to the word "Gospel".

Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel.
Romans 1:16

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;"

Are you ashamed of the Gospel or are you interested in being a bearer of its good news?

An Evangelist is someone who brings the Gospel to people, so that they can come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

This can be done in four different ways:

1. Evangelizing people in Churches.

2. Tent Evangelism.

3. Mass Evangelism.

4. Personal Evangelism.

This study will provide you with a wealth of information that will help you to be a successful Evangelist.

Let us deal with these different aspects of Evangelism:
1. Evangelizing people in Churches:

An Evangelist who ministers in Churches from time to time may be effective in doing several things, namely:

a.       Winning to Christ those lost souls, who are invited and

attend the services.

b.        Ministering the Gifts of the Holy Spirit to those in need.

c.   Spiritually refreshing and reviving the Christians in the  local Church.

              These Evangelists need to consider the following:

a. They need to pre-plan and pre-arrange their itenary.

b. They need to prayerfully prepare for their meetings.

c. They need to know how to get to the place of ministry.

d. They need to clearly know their objective in ministry.

e. They need the local Church to prepare for the services.

f.    The Church needs to invite the unsaved to the meetings.

g. They need to arrive at meetings on time.

h. They need to have sufficient time to minister.

i.   They should encourage members to honor their Pastor.

j.   Evangelists should be blessed financially for ministry.

k. They should never have a selfish motive for ministry.

l.   They should send a letter of thanks, for the hospitality and financial gift.

2.  Tent Evangelism:

Tent Evangelism is very similar to that of the local Church.

Tent Evangelists need to consider the following, namely:

a.  The services should be advertised and Churches invited.
b.  The tent site should be carefully selected.
c.  All city or county codes should be met.
d.  There should be ample parking facilities.
e.  There should be bathroom facilities available.
f.    The seating should be comfortable and lighting good.
g.  There should be a pleasant and friendly atmosphere.
h.  The sound equipment should be excellent.
i.    The heating and cooling systems should be working.
j.    There should be space to stand in front of the platform.
k.  Ushers should be on duty to serve the visitors.
l.    The ministry program should be well organized:

Welcoming the people.

Praise and worship.

Ministries in music and song.

Receiving and counting of the offering.

Ministry of the Word.

Inviting people to receive salvation.

Ministering to the needs of people.

Concluding the service.

Clearing and cleaning up the tent.

3.    Mass Evangelism:

Mass Evangelism is very similar to tent evangelism.

Everything that is organized and done is done on a much greater scale.

Whereas the tent ministry focuses on hundreds and possibly thousands, mass evangelism always focuses on hundreds of thousands of people.

The arrangements incorporate the following:

The use of Large Stadiums.

The co-operation of hundreds of Churches.

Radio, Television and Billboard advertising.

The organization, ushering and ministry to crowds of people.

Effective sound equipment.
The effective follow up of thousands of converts.

4.   Personal Evangelism:

When approaching this ministry, Christians should desire to win people individually to Christ and have the right attitude.

When building relationships with non-believers, we need to be genuine, trustworthy and as good as our word. We need to be truthful, keep our appointments and always is on time.

A humble person is able to communicate with people on all levels and in most situations. Humble soul winners do not think of themselves more highly than others.

To lead someone to the Lord takes time. We need to have longsuffering when someone is hearing, receiving, questioning and understanding the Gospel, to be saved.

If we are sensitive to the needs of a person, we can more easily understand, comfort  and counsel them.

We need to have understanding for the way people react to our message and regardless of what they say we should be gracious.

We need to have compassion for people and look beyond their faults to there needs and pain. This kind of love is manifest in word and deed.

By being someoneÕs friend, it makes it easier for them to receive the Gospel from us.

Enthusiasm attracts and motivates people. If you believe in your message, you will present a more enthusiastic and believable Gospel.

We need to complete the task of ministering to a person with persistence. Satan will use everything he can to interrupt, disrupt or stop us from leading someone to Christ.

10. Prayer.

Before, during and after presenting the Gospel to a person, we need to remain in constant prayer for the person. It is advisable to have someone praying and interceding for you and your evangelism ministry. Choose the right person as a prayer partner, who you can call and agree with in prayer, whenever you need to.

One can invite family, friends and others to hear the preaching of the Gospel at church services.

We need to first reach our own circle of influence.

This includes our family, friends or work associates, who are people we care about, with whom we can share the good news of salvation.

By mailing out tracts and Christian literature we can spread the Gospel.

One can give out tracts in the neighborhood or at the mall.

By visiting the sick at hospitals, we can encourage and share the Gospel with them.

By going from door to door, one can meet, get to know people, invite them to church and talk to them about the Lord.

There are correct ways of doing Evangelism and we need to know and use these right techniques.

Here are eleven important aspects:

Familiarize yourself with the Gospel Booklets you are going to use, understand the illustrations and know the scriptures used in them.

The right setting for soul winning, is where it can be done one to one. This could be at a kitchen table or a park bench. In a public place, look for a person that is sitting alone.

Always introduce yourself to a person by name, and be sure to remember and continuously use their name during the conversation.

Find out about them, their occupation, their family and things they are interested in.

This is courteous and will avoid any embarrassment.

When reading, always do so articulately, at a moderate speed. If necessary, be willing to stop and explain if requested to do so.

Answering many questions will sidetrack you and get you off the subject. Sidestep a question by telling the person you would love to answer their question, but ask them if you could complete the subject and then deal with their question later.

10. Avoid arguments.

Our purpose is not to win arguments, it is to win souls.

11. Be led by the Holy Spirit.

The most important part of soulwinning is to be led by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit organizes GodsÕ worldwide evangelism program. We must be sensitive to Him and hear His voice. He will tell us when, where, how and with whom we must share the Gospel.

When He speaks to us or leads us, it can be best described as a clear voice, a strong impression or a flash of information that comes to us. We must then act upon His leading. Sometimes He speaks to us by giving us an idea or mental picture and sometimes He speaks to us in a dream or vision.

Here is an example:

Acts 8:29

"Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot."

One must clearly have a system of soulwinning.

This system consists of at least three things:

a.  Successfully contacting people.

One cannot evangelize unless one has a person to talk to and we should always be looking for people to minister to. This can be done with family, friends, work associates and neighbors.

b. Approaching people correctly.

People should be approached very courteously, carefully and gently. The general rule is to be well organized, groomed and confident when approaching someone.

c. There are several ways of approaching people namely:

Let us look at three of them:

Door to door survey.

When doing such a survey, one needs to be fully prepared. Determine which neighborhood, street and homes need to be approached. Have a survey sheet and a pen ready to be used. Approach every home with friendliness, confidence and speak clearly.

One can possibly use this approach:

"Hi! My name is ........ and I'm from ........ church.

We're doing a church survey in the neighborhood and everyone's been so nice and friendly today."

Then small talk .......................

"Well I don't want to take up too much time so I'll be very brief.

Are you folk's church going people?

If you won't be offended, where do you go to church?"

Then proceed with the survey and complete it. Hand them some Christian literature and tell them youÕd love to drop by some time and visit with them. Then say goodbye.

   
Hospital visit.

When approaching those in hospital, be sure that they are alone and that it is convenient to talk with them. Use the same method that one would use when visiting a person in their home. If possible give them a tract that will comfort and help them in their sickness. Pray with them that God will heal them. Ask if there is anything that they need.

Visiting a person in their home.

When witnessing to a person in their home, the process of evangelism can be extended into three visits, and here is a suggestion:

The first visit is where the initial contact is made.
The second visit can be with a booklet or a video.

The third visit can take the form of an end-time seminar, where information can be shared about the soon Coming of Jesus Christ. If the person was saved during the second visit, the third visit could serve as an opportunity to reach the family and friends of the newly saved person.

á      Your communication with people must be effective and consists of three parts;

Be sure to listen, more than you speak and ask the person questions about themselves, their family, their work and their achievements. To help the person to talk, ask them questions that are open ended. For example - If they say that they have two children, ask them what their childrenÕs names are. Get them to talk about the people and things they love. This will help them to relax and feel comfortable with you. Always address them by their name. Win their friendship.

We need to understand more about who they are, what they are thinking and if there are any hindrances to their receiving the Gospel. The person may or may not realize that they have a spiritual need. They may be receptive or hostile to the Gospel. They may be disappointed in a church, a christian or they may have gone through some major trauma of divorce or death in their family.

Find out if they are saved and where they attend church. Are they open
and ready to receive the Gospel? Do they have major problems that are occupying their mind? What is the soil of their heart like? Is it good, thorny, stony or wayside ground?

Matthew 13:19-23

19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

22 He also that received seed among the thorns style='font-family: Arial'> is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Soulwinners must endeavor to sow Gods Word in good ground. Sometimes ground needs to be prepared by weeding, tilling it and revisiting it before sowing the seed of Gods Word.

If you decide that it is time to proceed with the message, make sure that you do the very best you can. It may be the only opportunity you ever have, for the person to be saved.

In order to be completely successful in ministry to an unsaved person, the Word of God must have free and full course.

2 Thessalonians 3:1

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

This can be best described as:

1.       The Word of God being sown into a personÕs life.

2.       The person believing the Word.

3.       The person confessing their sins.

4.      The person receiving Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

5.       The person being born again.

6.       The person testifying to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

7.      The person bearing spiritual fruit unto righteousness.

It is important for a soulwinner to realize the value of the seed of Gods Word.

It must be sown prayerfully and carefully!

The process of presenting the message, can easily be remembered by four letters - F O R M, and they stand for:

F - Family

O - Occupation

R - Religion

M - Message

Before getting to the point of actually sharing the message with the person, it is important to find out more about their family, what work they do, what church they go to and what needs they have.

This can be done by remembering the word FORM and asking about their family, work and religion.

While talking with the person about themselves, they will relax and receive your message.

 The actual message.

Upon deciding to proceed with the message, the following question may be asked:
"John/Mary, are you interested in spiritual things?"

If they reply- "Yes"

Then you can say - "Its wonderful to meet someone who is interested in spiritual things."

If they reply - "No"

Then you can say - "I appreciate it when someone's honest with me about that question."

If they have answered yes, then proceed with the following question:

"Have you heard of the 5 Keys to experience the Good Life?"

If they say no, they havenÕt heard about it, then ask:

"Would you mind if I share them with you?"

If they say yes, then proceed to share the 5 Keys with them.

This little booklet is available at the end of this study for your convenience and may be copied.

Here are the 5 Spiritual Keys to experience the Good Life:

The first key is understanding that God loves us with an immeasurable love:

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

   

      God loves us in spite of the fact that we are sinners.

Romans 5:8

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

If we ask the question:

"How many sins does must one do to be a sinner?"

The answer - one

Then we ask:

"Do we know anyone who has not committed one sin?

The Bible answers that question:

Romans 3:23

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

God loves us in spite of our sin.

2.   God has provided for us.

God has provided a New Life for us:

         How many times have we wanted a chance to start all over

         Again? God gives us this opportunity:

         2 Corinthians 5:17

  "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

God forgives us, cleanses us and wipes out all our past sin:

1 John1:7-9

"And the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.'

God provides His children with Blessings and Prosperity:

Matthew 7:11

   "How much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

Psalm 1:3

  "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water ... and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

     3. Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation.

  The third key is to understand that salvation and the good life is only available through Jesus Christ.

There are many other ways men have tried, unsuccessfully.

They have tried:

Good deeds.

Religion.

Wealth.

Fame.

There is only one way - Jesus Christ and He said:

John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 10:9

ÒI am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.Ó

Matthew 11:28

 
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

 

4.    Today is the day of salvation.

This fourth key is understanding that salvation is an experience for today.

The only moment we are sure of is - now and not tomorrow.

The moment to be saved is now and not tomorrow, because we may not be alive tomorrow.

Proverbs 27:1

"Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."

We cannot take a chance of dying and standing before God in judgment, without being saved.

Hebrews 9:27

"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:"

    5. Salvation is as easy as ABC.

The fifth Key is to do the things that God requires, for you to receive salvation and the good life.

Do these five things:

a.    Acknowledge that you are a sinner.

b.    Believe that Jesus Christ died to save you.

c.    Repent and confess your sin to God.

d.    Receive Jesus into your heart as your Savior.

e.   Ask God to make you His child and write your name in the Book of Life.

After you have completed sharing these five spiritual Keys, proceed and ask this question -

"When is the best time to invite Jesus into your life to save you?

Help them to answer the question by saying -

The best time is right now!

If they say agree, then proceed to say -

I'm glad that you said that.

Several years ago I also said that, and a wonderful person took the time to pray with me and help me to be saved.

"I'm going to help you and pray with you.

Now as I pray, pray with me saying these words aloud after me.

Dear God, I come to you in Jesus name.

I have sinned against you and ask you to forgive me.

I receive Jesus, into my life as my Lord and Savior.

Would you please cleanse me with the Blood of Jesus of all my sin and make me your child right now.

I receive you as my Heavenly Father - Amen.

Now proceed to congratulate the person and welcome them into Gods family.

Do three things for them:

When new believers are born again into Gods family, they are newborn babes and require a lot of tender loving care. They have to be nurtured with the milk of the Word and protected from all spiritual harm. They have to be discipled and taught how to be a successful Christian. They need to be taught to read their Bible, pray and attend church services. When they are downhearted, persecuted or attacked by satan, they need to be encouraged and taught how to fight against the enemy. The soulwinner must ensure that they are shepherded and cared for.

Once a new Christian has started attending church and is growing spiritually, it is important to get them in fellowship with other Christians in the church. This will help them to feel accepted and develop some friendships with other Christians. They need to become aware of all the activities of the local church program and get involved. If there are cells in the church, they need to become a part of one of them.

When Believers feel comfortable within the setting of a local church, they will begin to feel a desire to become active within the church. There are many activities that believers can become involved in. They need to be introduced to the many opportunities of ministry that they can be a part of. These are activities will ensure the using of their talents. They can sing in the choir, evangelize, or do hospital and administrative work.

Here are ten difficult excuses that people make when being ministered to and scriptures that can be used to help them:

Romans 3:10

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:"

Proverbs 27:1

"Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."