A few days ago I received a SMS from an old friend, who organizes seminars and conferences for Bible-educators, requesting me to pray for him as he prepares to teach a course on evangelism to Bible-school students.
My reply to his SMS was: PTL! Just a gentle reminder that evangelism is caught not taught. So best evangelism seminar is held outside classroom and called “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men”
Evangelism is a practical “skill” that can’t possibly be taught in a classroom. The theory of evangelism can be taught in a classroom but the practice of evangelism can’t. It would be ludicrous for a school to teach basketball, cooking or driving as a classroom subject!
I’ve personally know of a church evangelism pastor (of a very large church) who admitted that he had been an evangelism pastor for several years without even having once led a soul to the Lord!
On the other hand, I’ve yet to meet a driving instructor who has not yet driven a car! I guess the evangelism pastor had aced his evangelism course at Bible-school and impressed the church selection committee.
So the next time that you are offered an evangelism course be sure that in addition to the theory of evangelism that you will learn in a classroom, there is also a significant practical part to that course where you get to go out with your instructor and do some real-life evangelism. If not, I suggest that you skip that course because it will be a sheer waste of your time.
Sad to say, such theory plus practical evangelism courses are rare because evangelism has been reduced to just another subject to learn – rather than a vital skill to use.
But there again, the same can be said for many other things in today’s Christianity!
Let’s be doers of God’s Word!
Read Goducate – helping Asians help themselves!
Positioning to live within a community – Tim is a tentmaker. For prudent reasons, we cannot divulge his real name or citizenship. He did not go to another country but had to make a cross cultural leap within his own country.
Tim has had a growing burden for the majority people group in his country. In this country, it is against the law for this mainstream people group to… Read More....
A few weeks ago, a co-worker of mine who is married to a Korean Christian worker told me something interesting. She said “Korean missionaries unite around the Gospel but we bring our differences to the mission field and fight over them!”
Koreans are basically a strong militant race. They do not shun a fight. The Korean Christian population is also clearly divided into conservative Presbyterians and exuberant Charismatics. In… Read More.... | 1 Comment
Going back to the Philippines for winter break is something I truly looked forward to. After a not so normal Christmas and New Year/birthday celebration in China, I was more than ready to hibernate and enjoy the sun in my home country alone. But as usual, plans change every minute. As Hudson Taylor said, “ Man proposes, God disposes.” Being at the center of His will though is still the… Read More.... | 1 Comment
this is speaking from experience and real life action, otherwise it is just another exercise in the classroom.