Greetings Willowdale Family,
Trust and hope you had a blessed week!
This week, the Pastors had the opportunity to attend the Ontario Conference Workers’ Meeting, an event that proved to be significant for both professional development and spiritual enrichment. The gathering attracted a diverse array of attendees, including pastors, Bible workers, educators, and support staff. Several presenters offered compelling insights on pertinent topics, with a particular emphasis on Evangelism, children’s education, and the initiative for Pentecost 2025. The discussions and exchanges throughout the meeting facilitated a deeper understanding of these critical themes within the framework of contemporary faith-based outreach and community engagement. The insights derived from this event are intended to enhance our knowledge and effectiveness in outreach efforts during this pivotal occasion.
Notably, Joseph Kidder, one of my professors at Andrews Theological Seminary, served as a presenter, and his contributions profoundly inspired my thinking. Professor Kidder has authored several books, one of which particularly resonates with me: “Moving Your Church.” In this book, he asserts that in a church characterized by an evangelistic culture, every member is encouraged to play a significant role in the congregation’s mission to disseminate the message of salvation through Jesus to the broader community. This collective endeavor fosters a collaborative environment where evangelism becomes an integral aspect of the congregational lifestyle. Adopting the motto “Everyone wins one,” church members strive to build personal connections, thereby nurturing an atmosphere of love, acceptance, and forgiveness.
The core of evangelism lies in the commitment to understanding individuals as unique beings, allowing us to transcend stereotypes and preconceived notions about how they should appear or behave. An examination of the Gospels reveals that Jesus epitomized this approach to acceptance, drawing those in need of love and forgiveness toward Him. From my engagement with Kidder’s work, I have gleaned four key insights:
1. The Gospel as the Driving Force of Evangelistic Culture: The message of the gospel acts as the catalyst for fostering an evangelistic culture within the church. Just as individuals become passionate about sports, cuisine, or politics, church members must cultivate a similar fervour for sharing the gospel with non-Christians. To facilitate this, a deep love for Christ must be nurtured, which requires a thorough understanding of the gospel message. Furthermore, consistently showcasing the beauty of this message in our churches is essential. When Christians truly grasp the weight of their sin, the holiness of God, Christ’s perfection, the profundity of His suffering on their behalf, and the significance of His resurrection, their love and commitment to Christ will undoubtedly flourish (see Colossians 3:1-17). The Holy Spirit alone is charged with the task of conviction and salvation.
2. Love and Acceptance as the Atmosphere of Evangelistic Culture: An authentic acceptance of the gospel compels us to extend love and acceptance to others, irrespective of their background. In class many years ago, Dr. Kidder recounted a poignant testimony from a sermon delivered years ago, during which a woman stood up and exclaimed, “I want to come home!” Overcome with emotion, she expressed her desire to forge a relationship with God. In that moment, Dr. Kidder paused his sermon to pray for her, illustrating the profound impact of love and acceptance within a congregational setting.
3. Prayer as the Source of Power in an Evangelistic Culture: Commitment to prayer is a prerequisite for a church engaged in sharing the gospel. To equip and motivate individuals in this endeavour, it is vital to recognize the limitations of human argumentation; only divine intervention can soften hardened hearts and transcend the barriers of worldly concerns and self-interest. Acknowledging this need for divine assistance, believers are compelled to seek the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, recognizing that effective evangelism emanates from hearts transformed by a living relationship with Christ. Through prayer, Christians confess their inadequacies and petition for the miraculous transformations that only God can accomplish, understanding that He is the source of true spiritual renewal. In summary, the Ontario Conference Workers’ Meeting emphasized the importance of cultivating an evangelistic culture grounded in the transformative power of the gospel, characterized by love and acceptance, and sustained by earnest prayer. These principles are essential as we endeavour to fulfill our collective mission of outreach within our communities.
4. Friendship is the glue of an evangelistic culture: Friendships are relationships in which people grow in their understanding of each other. A friend offers bread when you’re hungry, a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, and a push when you need it. Friendship is about rejoicing together over victories gained and providing support when things fall apart. It’s bringing cookies and casseroles to your neighbours. It involves building awareness of others and seeing them with love, as God does. We must learn how to share the gospel with friends, family, coworkers, classmates, etc. Christians are usually less fearful of sharing the gospel with people they know than with people they don’t know. Did you know that seventy-five percent of those who come to the Lord and the church come because of friendship evangelism? Let us commit ourselves to a continuing relationship with the people we are ministering to. From the first contact with someone to that person’s commitment to Christ, the process can take several years. Most Christians would agree that they were exposed to the gospel through numerous modes and methods before their conversion.
We are instructed to make the best use of our time around seekers, acting wisely, speaking graciously, and giving informed answers about the gospel (see Colossians 4:5, 6; see also 1 Peter 3:15, 16). Naaman, defying convention, was willing to seek out the prophet of God because of the recommendation of his wife’s trustworthy slave girl (2 Kings 5:1–5). The Gerasene man went home and told his friends about the miracle he had experienced and how much Jesus had done for him (Mark 5:19, 20). Andrew brought his brother Peter to Jesus, and Philip brought his friend Nathanael, encouraging him to come and see what Jesus was doing (John 1:40–51). The Samaritan woman told her whole town about her encounter with Jesus because she found in Him the acceptance she had been searching for (John 4:28-42). We are not to limit our association to fellow believers alone.
The example of Christ in linking Himself with the interests of humanity should be followed by all who preach His word, and by all who have received the gospel of His grace. To reach all classes, we must meet them where they are. In anticipation of the forthcoming Evangelistic Series, scheduled for October 11th, it is essential that we actively engage in the initiative by disseminating the invitation to our family members, colleagues, and acquaintances. As we gather as a congregation to launch our Evangelistic Series, our collaborative efforts must be guided by the Holy Spirit’s direction. This alignment aims to provide numerous individuals with the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.
Happy Sabbath!
Dr. Pastor Evadne Henry
Reference
- S. Joseph Kidder, “Moving Your Church” (Become a Spirit-Led Community)