A few years ago, a lady evangelist lost her life in Northern Nigeria under brutal circumstances. The details remain unclear; the scene unforgettable. As I wrestled with questions and sorrow, my mind turned to the countless men and women in the Bible who gave everything for Jesus, many paying the ultimate price for the Gospel.
As an evangelist, you are summoned to carry the Word of Truth with fearless conviction, pressing onward no matter what uncertainties the future may bring.
When we revisit the story of Stephen’s martyrdom, we see how his sacrifice set the stage for another pivotal figure in the spread of the gospel: Saul.
When bad things happen on the mission field,
the church may be hit,
lives may be lost but not forever,
blood may be spilt, but never in vain,
the hearts of the people may be shaken up, but not moved
Nothing can stop the move of God!
Every evangelist must realise that the world is a spiritually hostile place. The prince of the world is not happy letting any of his captives go, and as such every Christian must be ever battle-ready.
On the mission field, we encounter all kinds of people. Here are just a few you might meet…
The resistance; those who do not believe and don’t want others to know about Jesus (soothsayer’s master Acts 16:16-19).
The hostile; those who hate because you are a Christian and hate you enough to want you dead! (Herod Acts 12:1-3)
The amiable; those who are friendly, lend you their time, and ultimately give their lives to Christ *they make an evangelist day a happy one* (the Ethiopian Eunuch Acts 8:26-29)
The familiar but resistant; those who know the Bible cover to cover but have a different agenda. Remember the Pharisees?
The naive; those who have never heard but would eagerly receive the messenger of the gospel. (the woman at the well, John 4).
Fellow believers: some may need our encouragement or spiritual strengthening. When Aquila and Priscilla took in Apollos, they strengthened him and taught him more about the gospel. (Acts 18:26)
At times, the mission field bursts with triumph; at others, it feels uncertain or even dangerous, stretching the courage and resolve of those who serve.
There will be moments of hunger, thirst, biting cold, conflict, disaster, and times when life itself teeters on the edge.
Does this mean you should hide your faith away?
No, it simply means you pray even more and seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance every step of the way.
So how does an evangelist brace for the unexpected?
I am inspired by Apostle Paul’s ministry in evangelism. Here are five lessons every evangelist can draw from his example:
1. Apostle Paul was willing to die for the sake of the gospel (Acts 21:13)
2. The Apostle was ready to lose all for the sake of the gospel (Philippians 3:8)
3. The apostle relied heavily on the Holy Spirit. He always heard from God. The Holy Spirit is our teacher, revealer of secrets, our guide, our comforter, and we can do nothing without the presence of the Holy Spirit.
4. Apostle Paul was unafraid. Apostle Paul was rock-solid tenacious in faith even when he knew his mission to Jerusalem was suicidal; he had so much faith that not even fellow believers could persuade him otherwise.
5. He had a consistent prayer life. Prayer was one secret weapon that turned things around in ministry. It cannot be overemphasised.
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By His Great Grace,
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