By Tom Shanklin
The special emphasis and anointing of the evangelist is to proclaim
the Good News of Jesus Christ. The focus of his or her ministry
is bringing the Gospel message forth to the world and to the church.
While certainly every pastor is also to "do the work of an
evangelist," the evangelist is especially focused and given
to that particular goal and purpose. The heart of the evangelist
is to reach those that are away from God, both through his own
ministry and also by influencing and training others.
Some have thought that the evangelist's ministry, since he is given to the cause of reaching the lost, should not have any connection with local churches, but that he should spend all his time and energy in the highways and byways reaching the lost. However, according to Ephesians 4, the evangelist is one of five gifts given for bringing the body of Christ to maturity. To be effective, every ministry gift must have a connection to the church of Jesus Christ. The evangelist must work together with local churches to bring in and preserve the harvest and to train and inspire God's people to do the work of evangelism.
The ministry of the evangelist, when received properly, will contribute to revival in the church. The themes most often preached by the evangelist, concerning redemption, faith, repentance, restoration and healing, are much needed in the church world today. Many discouraged saints could use a good shot in the arm of Gospel medicine. This ministry can augment the work of the local pastor in a precious and powerful way, and can cause an excitement about the Lord to spill over into the world around us. I have seen this happen with my own eyes.
Any local church will be blessed by the ministry of a God-anointed evangelist. The church will receive a part of the edification which is needed to bring Christ's body to maturity and to fulfill the Lord's plan on the earth. Likewise, the evangelist's ministry will benefit from a connection with the local church, which will help him to fulfill his ministry. Both ways, this is a God-ordained relationship and much needed today.
The ministry of the evangelist will be restored to full function once again in the church in these end days. After all, Jesus said, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Matthew 24:14, KJV. The ministry of the evangelist will figure prominently in the fulfillment of that prophecy, both through his ministry of directly reaching the lost and by influencing and training others to share the Good News. The Lord is igniting all of us with a passion to reach those who do not know Him.
So, how specifically can a local church and an evangelist work together to fulfill the Great Commission?
1. By holding evangelistic meetings. Most meetings in the local church are geared primarily for the edification of the believer. A local church can bring the evangelist in to hold special meetings with the purpose of reaching the lost and helping people to be restored to fellowship with the Lord. This can be of several possible types. It can be a church crusade, held at the normal place the church meets. It can be held at a neutral location. Or it can be a cooperative effort with a group of churches in a specific area. Local churches can also sponsor special outreaches in the local area, such as in communities where the church is desiring to establish a satellite or daughter church. Special services can also be held in jails, prisons, and nursing homes. Through prayer and God-given creativity, the local church and the evangelist can work together to touch lives and build the church of Jesus Christ.
2. The evangelist can inspire and encourage the congregation. By sharing testimonies, missions reports , and by sharing his burden for the lost, the evangelist can encourage people to get involved in God's great plan to reach the world. The evangelist, as he shares about his experiences in soul winning, miracles, and changed lives, can renew a sense of respect and urgency for God's number one job, evangelism.
3. The evangelist can train the congregation. The evangelist can hold classes and seminars to teach what he has learned from the Bible and his own experience about proclaiming the Gospel, being a witness, and reaching the people with the Gospel. Very often, the Lord gives the evangelist a desire to multiply his ministry by training others. For example, Billy Graham has used a "Christian Life and Witness" course in conjunction which his crusades. Some have said that there has been greater fruit from these classes than from the actual crusades.
4. The local church can also unite with the evangelist in giving and receiving, as they are led by the Lord. As part of their missions vision, the local church can support the ongoing work of evangelism through prayers, finances, friendship, and mutual encouragement. By sowing seeds from the heart for the ongoing work of evangelism, the local church can expect to reap fruit that will remain and continue to multiply.