A few years ago a friend of mine asked me why my business card said evangelist rather than minister or preacher. My response was that it defined my ministry. Perhaps you are thinking what difference does it make? If you are in a pulpit now I want you to ask yourself this question: What is my job? In order to answer that question think back to when you were hired, what was the ad looking for? Here is an ad that I see all the time”
POSITION SUMMARY:
The core responsibilities and functions of this position center on preaching for the congregation, training for new members to be effective servants of the Lord, establishing a climate of edification within the congregation, providing counseling to members as needed and executing assigned administrative responsibilities.The essential job functions of this position are as follows:
Preach: deliver Biblically based sermons that serve to enhance spiritual growth within the members of the congregation.
Edify: encourage faithfulness, personal spiritual growth, and fellowship within the congregation.
Counsel: provide effective biblical and spiritual guidance to members of the congregation.
Administration: deal with the day-to-day needs of the congregation.
If this is the kind of ad you answered, ask yourself where does evangelism fit in? How is the church supposed to grow with this agenda for the “preacher”? Anyone that studies how churches grow know this is a recipe for stagnation and decline.
It is time to wake up. I read of evangelists not mini elders in the New Testament. Some of the ads I have seen actually have listed the qualifications for an elder as the qualification for evangelists. Elders it is time for you to step up and shepherd the flock, that is what God has called you to do. Deacons, God has called you to minister to the needs of the church. Preachers? It is time for “preachers” to stop “preaching to the choir” and evangelize the community you live in.
Elders, as you look for someone to preach from the pulpit think about the following verses:
“If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.” … “These things command and teach. … be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” … “Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” I Timothy 4:6, 11-16.
Steve Webb, evangelist
(c) 2016
Unity of the Faith 