Evangelism is a gift of the Holy Spirit and it is the practice of carrying the gospel to places its never been before. The whole bible points back to sharing the good news, we are called to evangelize. The evangelism that we think of most commonly are the people on the street corner with the panflits and the “turn or burn” signs or the great evangelist Billy Graham. Graham was a guy who stood in front of thousands proclaiming the gospel. That is a form of evangelism but that is not the only way. As Jesus walked the earth he showed us many ways of sharing the gospel.
One of the ways Jesus showed us was through miracles. As He went town to town he would go healing people and casting out demons. This would show the power of Jesus leading them to The Father and this would also bring questions of “what does this guy have?” When Jesus fed the five thousand with just five loafs of bread the people were amazed and knew who He was. People believed when they saw the miracles that brought God glory. When Jesus healed a blind man it brought faith to the people around that saw the miracle, “And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God” (John 9). When Jesus went through out His ministry healing and performing miracles it brought people to know Him.
A big way Jesus evangelized when he walked the earth was the way He showed mercy. That was His main reason to come down to earth and die for us that we may be released from the sin that damns us. Many where expecting a king to come when the Messiah came but instead Jesus came humbly to live with us and experience what we experience. In John 8 there is a great example of Jesus’ mercy when an adulterous women is placed before Him instead of condemning her He takes the chance to show mercy to everyone around. He asks if anyone else can condemn her, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” Everyone left and dropped their stones, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” Jesus evangelized in the way He showed mercy to death deserving sinners. In His mercy we can see so much of His character.
Jesus evangelized by coming down and living life WITH us. In doing this He taught us the best way evangelism. He taught us how to come down to where people are at and loving them there. Not trying to change them first and then loving them but to love them in there current state. In Bob Goffs book, Everybody Always, he says, “With. Its a huge theological statement. It’s God’s purpose for us. It’s the reason Jesus came. It’s the whole Bible in one word. People who are becoming love are with those who are hurting and help them get home.” I think the most powerful way of evangelism isn’t going door to door with a bible but it is meeting people right where they are at and loving them without trying to change them.
I love street ministry going into where the homeless and lost live and sitting with them. One thing that I find to be most beneficial is just to ask them their story. So many people have amazing stories and often don’t get the opportunity to share them ever. Everyones story is worth sharing and worth hearing. Also in my own experience sharing testimony is a very powerful form of evangelizing. Hearing testimony of the things God has done and the power he has worked really can build faith and show the character of who Christ is. In Cambodia we would meet with this blind lady weekly and she has had a really hard life of hardship. She was never married, went through the worst thing that happened in Cambodias history, and was left to die many times before. She struggles with depression and one time I got to share with her about the Joy that the Lord has given me and just in the sharing of the little part of my testimony the Lord worked wonders. We left her by saying “I can’t wait to see you in Heaven and I can’t wait for you to see us!”
We are all called to be evangelist and Jesus shows us many ways of how to share the Gospel. The best way to share the Gospel is not through words but through action and loving people.
“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!” Romans 10:15
