Evangelism

[Lightkeeper]

My name is Kerrigan Skelly and I am the founder of PinPoint Evangelism. Simply put, I am a former Pastor who God called out of the Pastorate to be a full-time Evangelist. You may ask yourself, "What is an Evangelist?" Well, Ephesians 4:11-12 tells us exactly what an Evangelist is. It says, “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;” Contrary to popular belief, Evangelists are not people who are specially gifted and called by God to do all the evangelizing for the Church of Jesus Christ. Evangelists are those who “equip the saints for the work of service.” They are those who teach the Body of Christ, the Church, how to evangelize Biblically. And that is the 1/2 of the ministry that God has called my family and I to. The second 1/2 of our calling is boldly reaching out to the lost everywhere we go. We go to college campuses, bar/club districts, parades, festivals and other public places where there are large groups of people who need to hear the Gospel. Reaching out to the lost with the Gospel is the calling and duty of every Christian. The Great Commission makes it very clear that all Christians are called to evangelize the lost. Are you seeking to save that which is lost? Are you taking your part in the Great Commission like God has commanded you to? If you aren’t and you desire to learn how to take part in the Great Commission, then click on the "Our Seminar" or the "Contact Us" Link to the left and we will be honored to teach you how to evangelize simply, effectively, Biblically, the way Jesus did. Below you will find my individual testimony of how I became a Christian and how God called me out of the Pastorate to be a full-time Evangelist.

Who We Are Page

What are your thoughts on evangelism? Who determines who is lost? Are we commanded by God to evangelize?

[Astreja]

I dislike evangelism intensely. I think it's rather presumptuous to declare someone "lost" and inform them that they must follow one specific path to be rescued.

[arthra]

There's a specific type of Christianity where evangelism is a big part and you hear about the well known evengelists on television and so on.. so this has been going on for a very long time and generates mostly protestant movements. Of course the evangelist believes they receive a commision or calling. As they become more successful and public many evengelists have been exposed for various failings and then ask for forgiveness and so on ...this is also an old story.

I suppose all of us have periods though where we are totally enthusiastic about something and want to share the good news but in terms of those who are out to "win souls" it saddens me as it can become a kind of competition for a pelt that is worn on a person or a notch maybe on a belt?! and that's sad.

- Art

[metis]

I understand why certain faiths evangelize, but I don't agree with it for a couple of reasons.

One is that there's too much a danger of destroying a person's faith altogether. Secondly, it essentially claims one faith to be right, and that begs the question how do they know that? Instead I prefer the Buddhist approach.

About 10 years ago, His Holiness the Dalai Lama asked the French to consider stopping their conversions to Buddhism, which was happening in significant numbers, and to instead take whatever they found useful in dharma and use it within their own religion or philosophy. After years of studying dharma and thinking about what he said, I decided to take his advice. Therefore, I still attend synagogue regularly but my personal approach is much closer to dharma than Jewish teachings.

Another approach I can mention is what Mother Theresa did, or should I say didn't do. She made no overt attempts to convert people, and yet probably converted thousands by her actions even though she had many personal doubts. And it seems to me that actions speak louder than words. To simply walk around saying "Follow my example because I know the answers" seems to be rather smug and self-congratulatory.

[Luguber]

people who need to hear the Gospel. Reaching out to the lost with the Gospel is the calling and duty of every Christian.

Studying the Gospels instead of just reading them was almost as efficient as the OT in making me realize that I couldn't be a Christian.

If there had been any significant evangelizing in Sweden, I might have been tempted to engage in counter-evangelizing. But I would probably have been to lazy for that, and would have restricted myself to encounters with the know-it-alls.

Where I live now, I have been exposed to two JW visits. First, an elderly hag, some 20 years my junior, and a young girl who might have been quite pretty after an extensive makeover. Didn't last long. Next time, a couple of weeks afterwards, two youngish men, one of whom smart and well read in the scriptures. We had a long, entertaining discussion in the door and parted friends. They're efficient; no more visits. I haven't ever seen them operating other than house calls.

The other set that is rumoured to operate an evangelizing business is the LDS. In eight years at this address, no trace of them. The way they work, I obviously don't encounter them either in town.

Basically, we're spared from evangelizing. Fortunately.

[angeleyes]

[quote=Lightkeeper
What are your thoughts on evangelism? Who determines who is lost? Are we commanded by God to evangelize?[/QUOTE]

I may be wrong, but I think evangelism is bound to decline (the sooner the better). Nothing wrong with sharing with others, but this kind of sharing has nothing to do with give and take, or developing a caring relationship with others. It's all about "I'm right and you're wrong." Who needs it?