Evangelism, for me?
By Gene Miller June 26th, 2019
Evangelism was never my strong suit. Every time I was confronted with participating, I always walked, no ran, out the back door. If approached and asked, “why do I have a negative response?”, my answer was, “God hasn’t called me to be an evangelist.”
Attending liturgical churches didn’t inspire me to enter into any ministries, especially evangelism. The tides began to shirt after becoming a part of full gospel congregations, but still, evangelism was not on my radar. If you have read this far, thanks for staying with me, as I want to tell you where the Lord has been leading me recently.
The appropriate beginning of this blog starts with God’s word:
“Go, then to all peoples everywhere, and make them My disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all that I have commended you.” Matthew 28:19 (GNT)
My wife, Bea, is a retired high school English teacher and reminded me that the verb “GO” is not only an active verb, but also a command. I believe that not honoring His word “Go” all these years as a Christian has created a void within me. I have missed it, all these years, not that I didn’t understand His word, I just felt, believed, and claimed that making disciples wasn’t one of my gifts, and therefore justified my inaction and disobedience. What I truly experienced is a fear of approaching strangers to establish a common ground and a meaningful conversation. I have always placed the burned on myself. Sometimes, I just don’t get it. What about the Holy Spirit and His ability to work through me?
A new outreach ministry, “Time to Revive” has come to our Englewood Churches. This movement started in Richardson, TX about 10 years ago. It is touching many of our U.S. and European cities. Time to Revive is about equipping the saints to share the gospel and make disciples. Pastor Don has started a new Sunday service series teaching us about ministering to new Christians and the lost. The Time to Revive Team is facilitating this movement to our community and region. Experienced leaders teach and give examples of how to partner with the Holy Spirit in approaching people on the streets, shopping centers, park areas, and even businesses. They emphasize three principles before approaching individuals: asking the Holy Spirit to take control, listening to His guidance in our responses, and praying for Father’s love to flow through us.
On June 4th, 2019, the Revive Englewood Team, Pastors and lay people, met from 10am to 2pm. After some training, discussions, and a question and answer sessions, five teams went out to the streets. Some went to the hospital, some to Indian Mound Park, some to Dearborn, and some to the beach. Each team had three to four people, one Pastor or leader, and two or three lay people. I was on one of the teams. With two pastors and another lay person besides me, we drove to Englewood Beach. It was a hot day and due to an allotted time of 1 ½ hours, I didn’t really expect much success…often I forget it’s about the Holy Spirit and not about me. Before splitting the team into two pairs, our leader prayed for Holy Spirit’s guidance, a flow of the Father’s love, and divine appointments for all. In the middle of the prayer, I heard a quiet voice (in my spirit), “look for the man in the Red Hat.” I thought, oh my, here comes my flesh again, especially receiving it in the middle of his prayer. Nonetheless, I felt compelled to share it; telling the team it probably was just my head and not the Lord’s voice. Shaking my head as to dismiss what I heard, out of the corner of my eye I caught a Red flash. There was a man in a red hat walking briskly past us on the boardwalk! I looked at the team and said, “there he goes!”
He was now twenty or so yards ahead of us. With excitement, two of us pursued him. As the temperature was like 89 degrees, steamy hot and bright sunshine, we labored to catch up with him. When finally, we reached him in the parking lot, he had just come to his SUV together with another man, two women, and two teenage girls. So, we introduced ourselves and struck up a conversation with him as the others looked on. They had been visiting our area and were headed back to Ohio the next day. Not wanting to deter them for long, we asked if there was anything that we could pray for. He said they were Christians also, and would like prayer for safe travels and a happy return to their homes. I prayed, then my partner prayed an amazing anointed covering over their families. While she was praying, my eyes were open, watching for their expressions. Everyone seemed at ease, but what I noticed most was the interest and attention that the two teenage girls displayed. I can’t explain what they received in their minds and spirits, but I believe that those prayers touched both of those girls. Even though we were not talking with the lost, I believe this was a divine encounter.
What did the other Revive Teams experience? Their reports, although different, were still blessed encounters. You might be asking, “did anyone come to the Lord?”. Yes, one. “Did anyone express interest in being disciples?” Yes, one. “Only one person?” Well, didn’t Jesus say to go after the One?
I learned so much from this simple encounter. I need to step out of my comfort zone, just as the Lord has been showing me. All we have to do is show up, submit to the Holy Spirit, and then let our Father’s love flow. When the Holy Spirit takes over…that is the most amazing part of this experience. Moreover, I know that I won’t be running out the back door anymore.
To close, I hope that you will consider joining us at the next gathering for this Revive Englewood movement. The evening of July 10th will be a community worship service, where several church bodies and Christians alike, will gather to lift up the Name of Jesus as a banner over our city. Even if you feel that your job, health, family, or other commitments won’t permit your full involvement, please come. Even if you don’t go out as a team member, you can help in other ways. There is a job for each of us in the spreading of the kingdom, it is time for us to do our part!
Someone once said that, “Salvation is free, but it is not cheap. Jesus the Christ went to the cross to gain our salvation.” And now, will you & I feel the urgency, especially in these days, to be obedient to the call: “GO and make disciples.”
Until All Have Heard the Good News,
Gene Miller
For more information about this Movement, please click the link below, or speak with one of our Pastors! http://www.reviveflorida.org/
Wow!!! Bless God so powerful! Thank you for sharing your testimony and heart with us. I loved this part it’s my favorite “will gather to lift up the Name of Jesus as a banner over our city.” Hallelujah Jesus The Lord God our banner!!!!!!!!
It’s awesome in support of me to have a website, which is beneficial in favor of my experience.
thanks admin
A person necessarily lend a hand to make seriously posts I’d state.
That is the first time I frequented your web page and up to
now? I amazed with the analysis you made to make this actual put up incredible.
Wonderful task!
Thank you for the good writeup. It actually was once a leisure account it.
Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! However, how could we communicate?
I do consider all of the concepts you’ve introduced in your post.
They are really convincing and can definitely work.
Nonetheless, the posts are very quick for novices. Could you please prolong them a bit from subsequent time?
Thanks for the post.
Incredible points. Solid arguments. Keep up the good work.
I have been exploring for a bit for any high quality articles or
blog posts in this sort of space . Exploring in Yahoo I at last
stumbled upon this website. Studying this info So i’m glad to exhibit that I have an incredibly excellent uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed.
I such a lot definitely will make certain to don?t disregard this site and give it a look regularly.
Outstanding story there. What occurred after? Thanks!
It’s hard to find educated people on this topic,
but you seem like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
I don’t know if it’s just me or if perhaps everybody else
encountering issues with your blog. It seems like some of the text in your posts are running off the screen. Can someone else please comment and let me know if this is happening to them too?
This might be a issue with my internet browser because I’ve had this happen before.
Appreciate it
I couldn’t resist commenting. Well written!
I’m not sure exactly why but this weblog is loading incredibly slow for me.
Is anyone else having this problem or is it a issue on my end?
I’ll check back later and see if the problem still
exists.
Remarkable things here. I am very glad to peer your post.
Thank you a lot and I’m taking a look forward to contact you.
Will you please drop me a e-mail?
First off I want to say awesome blog! I had a quick question which I’d like to ask if you do not mind.
I was interested to find out how you center yourself and clear your thoughts prior to writing.
I have had a hard time clearing my mind in getting my ideas out there.
I do enjoy writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are generally wasted simply just
trying to figure out how to begin. Any ideas or tips?
Appreciate it!
Hello, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and
i was just curious if you get a lot of spam remarks?
If so how do you stop it, any plugin or anything you can advise?
I get so much lately it’s driving me insane so
any help is very much appreciated.
We are a group of volunteers and opening a brand new scheme in our community.
Your site offered us with valuable information to
work on. You have performed an impressive process and our entire
community can be thankful to you.
Hey there I am so excited I found your blog page, I really
found you by error, while I was researching on Askjeeve for something
else, Anyways I am here now and would just like to
say kudos for a marvelous post and a all round exciting blog (I
also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to browse it all at the
moment but I have saved it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be
back to read more, Please do keep up the great work.
Hi there, I enjoy reading through your article post.
I like to write a little comment to support you.
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This
is a very well written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and come
back to read more of your useful info. Thanks for the post.
I’ll certainly comeback.
bookmarked!!, I like your website!
Hi there! This article could not be written any better! Reading
through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He continually
kept preaching about this. I most certainly will forward this
article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read.
Many thanks for sharing!
If you are going for most excellent contents like I do, simply visit this site daily
for the reason that it gives quality contents, thanks
Peculiar article, totally what I wanted to find.
Asking questions are really good thing if you are not understanding anything completely, but this article gives pleasant understanding even.
I am actually thankful to the holder of this website who has shared this impressive
piece of writing at here.
Very good blog post. I certainly appreciate this website. Keep writing!
Some people today believe a massage shouldn’t involve anything additional strenuous than flipping
from stomach to back.
I used to be suggested this blog by my cousin. I am
now not positive whether this post is written by him as no one else understand such certain approximately my trouble.
You are incredible! Thanks!
Right now it sounds like Drupal is the top blogging platform available right now.
(from what I’ve read) Is that what you are using on your blog?