Evangelism 7, Don't forget the Christian witness
Welcome back! I pray you enjoyed a blessed Christmas holiday, just as we did here at Advanced Team Concepts. We wish you the very best in your plans and activities for 2011.
Now we prepare to resume our dicussion on the important topic of evangelism. Please join the discussion, sending your comments and/or questions along to us. We look forward to your participation.A trap, although full of good intentions, is that we focus on the social aspect of our outreach and neglect the real purpose – Christian witness in sharing the love and news of our Savior.
Where is the evangelism – the sharing of the Gospel in our outreach activities? We are talking about evangelism in this series of posts, so you may think this is a strange question. Well, here is why I assert that we should raise this question with everyone of our outreach efforts, whether near home or around the globe.
A trap, although full of good intentions, is that we focus on the social aspect of our outreach and neglect the real purpose – Christian witness in sharing the love and news of our Savior.
This is a very real issue that tugs at my heart many times as we serve. It seems that sometimes church and ministry groups can become so focused and consumed by the social elements of outreach that evangelism is neglected. I have tenderly asked individuals as they describe an outreach program, "How is the Gospel shared or woven into this work?" I get some really funny and/or blank stares at times when I ask. It almost seems that it hadn't occurred to them.
It isn't just churches; it can and does happen to very large, well established ministry organizations. Groups may be doing an excellent job of feeding the hungry, but neglecting the "spiritual food" that is also needed.
One such global group that we've worked with in our company is currently seeking guidance about how they might use internal training to improve their "Christian witness" as they provide their services. I like that! I am overjoyed that they see it. They recognize their need. They are a conduit for millions of dollars of resources each year being poured into communities around the world. They have a fabulous platform for sharing the God's Truth.
How refreshing that they are re-calibrating in order to maximize that most important reason for their ministry's existence.
Let's all please learn from these lessons.
Blessings and thanks,
Larry
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