Salvation is one of the best ways to acquire peaceful life, and it can only be achieved when everybody gets out to spread evangelism. In evangelism, every person can share the good news. The gospel can be spread in different ways, such as singing and preaching, but the best way is through community service, which involves helping the needy. God welcomes all sinners and religions to seek his salvation; he focuses on the willingness to serve him.
Abstract
In Evangelism Is…: How to Share Jesus with Passion and Confidence, Earley & Wheeler advocates that there is no precise blueprint for becoming a superhero, but some key ingredients are there. One of the most important things is to have a heart for justice and a desire to help those who are hurting. Superheroes do not always get the credit they deserve and often have to operate in the shadows. This can be frustrating at times, but it is important to remember that they are doing it for the greater good. Finally, gaining superpowers is all about spreading evangelism starting from the family level and then to the world.
Parents can contribute to the spread of evangelism by consistently creating time to teach their children about Christ for them to stick in him even during adulthood. It is not the role of the church to win the child’s spirituality, but the parent’s role. God cares about the heart and nothing more; as long as someone is willing to serve and convert souls to Christ, he will work through the person. However great may somebody be in the society, when they start serving the Lord, they become the greatest. It does not matter what a person used to be; Ergun states that he used to persecute Christians just like Paul before knowing Christ.
It is not a question of which religion; if a person makes a turn to follow Christ, then he or she will be delivered. In some situations, the family salvation comes when one of the family members decides to follow Christ. Visiting and helping the vulnerable is one of the best ways to change souls to Christ. There are many ways to do this, but some of the most effective include volunteering at feeding centers and crisis pregnancy centers.
Concrete Response
I personally enjoyed reading chapters 36-40 of the book; it is an eye-opener to evangelism. The book triggered the memories of childhood when poverty took charge of my life. When I was younger, I believed that we were poor and unworthy of serving the Lord. I would regularly hear my mother telling my father, “We will not attend the service due to lack of church development fund and tithe; the church is for the rich.” I missed out on church services and other opportunities to learn about God because I did not want to be embarrassed by not being able to tithe. But at one point, I came across one of Christ’s teaching that completely changed my school of thinking in the book Luke 18:9-14. In the story, a Pharisee and a Tax Collector go to the Temple to pray. The Pharisee prays loudly and proudly, thanking God that he is not like other people: he does not steal, cheat, or sin. The Tax Collector stands at a distance and begs for God’s forgiveness, admitting that he is a sinner.
Jesus told his disciples that it is the humble Tax Collector who will be exalted by God and not the proud Pharisee. I felt the same and became motivated to pay the little that I had to the church. When I started serving the Lord, miracles started happening in my life. I came across 2 Corinthians 12:9 ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ This verse taught me that it is right to have weaknesses because Christ’s power can rest on us through those weaknesses. In reading the book, my trekking video memories rolled down; I crossed rivers to school and church, which were then dangerous for my age.
Reflection
The question bothering me the most is why the author would use less popular individuals like Nell Kerley while addressing humanity and evangelism without mentioning or instead of Mother Teresa. Overall, Earley & Wheeler have done wonderful work in discussing evangelism. Understanding the book could have been easier and more powerful if Mother Teresa had been used in the text since she is well known for charity than Nell Kerley. However, she was also criticized for her lack of theological education, spiritual zeal, and rigorous approach to helping the needy. Another question is why the authors could not use many individuals from different religions and sin other than Ergun Caner, the Muslim who changed from his evil actions of persecuting Christians. Representing Buddhists or Hindus conversion could have made Christianity a more welcoming religion. The authors would have introduced a chronic sinner, such as an adulterer, to demonstrate that no sin or sinner is bigger than salvation.
Despite her weaknesses, Mother Teresa was used by God to bring people to Christ. Her selfless love and compassion inspired others to follow Jesus Christ and gave them hope in a world filled with darkness. In the end, it is not what people do that matters most, but how they do it. Through Mother Teresa’s example, it is clear that God can use anyone, even those who are flawed, to do great things in His name. It is easier for people to learn from the people they already know than the strange names they are hearing for the first time, like Nell Kerley.
Action
After reading the book, there are several action steps that I will make in my life and ministry. First, I will start by surveying my community to see where the need for evangelism is greatest. Secondly, I will motivate individuals from different professions, social classes, and ages to spread evangelism. Thirdly, I will find an orphanage home and get involved in Christian community service. Regarding surveillance to identify the areas that need evangelism within my community, I would develop a strategy tailored to meet the specific needs of that community. It is important to remember that not everyone responds to evangelism in the same way. Some people might be more receptive to educational programs, while others might be more likely to respond to emotional appeals; therefore, it will be important to tailor my approach accordingly.
Ultimately, it will be about meeting people where they are and showing them the love of Christ. I will not be forcing my beliefs on them or trying to manipulate them into joining my religion. Similarly, I will spread evangelism by visiting people who are suffering, like those in hospitals, orphans, the bereaved, or those who have suffered a natural disaster. Christ came to serve and heal the brokenhearted, and the evangelists are called to do the same. I will bring hope and comfort to those who are grieving and remind them of God’s love for them.
In order to spread the message of Christianity and evangelism effectively, I will need to appeal to everyone. This means finding ways to motivate individuals from different professions, social classes, and ages. Firstly, I will need to remember that everyone is searching for meaning and purpose in their lives. By sharing my own testimony of how Christ has changed my life for the better, through this, I will show others that there is more to life than what the world offers. Additionally, I will try to relate the message of Christianity to people of a given age, profession, and social class.
This will work because people in the same group, professionally, age, and social class, are likely to listen and subscribe to their members’ ideology. Everybody can spread the word of God regardless of their profession or status in society. This will be the emulation of some of the people in the book, such as Don Baskin, Harold Rehorn, Rick Wheeler, Ergun Caner, and Nell Kerley. Some of them were coaches, middle school teachers, and Christian persecutors, while others were sick, poor, and old but perfectly spread evangelism. Additionally, participating in a charity project is a great way to bonding with others and develop friendships. In the hospital, I will be visiting the sick during lunchtime, giving them food, and offering the bible copies as an evangelist.
These deeper relationships will provide opportunities for me to have spiritual conversations and invite people to church. When it comes to spreading evangelism, it is all about being authentic and plugged into a supportive community. When we help the needy to get comfortable, they stand a chance to listen and accept God’s message. As an evangelist, I will visit different schools to donate food to orphans and sanitary pads to girls in need. This visitation will help them to have a peaceful heart and mind to study and similarly listen to the word of God.
Bibliography
Cremata, Radio. “Evangelism in Modern Band.” Journal of Popular Music Education 5, no. 3 (2021): 359-374.
Dave Earley & David Wheele: Evangelism Is…: How to Share Jesus with Passion and Confidence, Chapter 36- 40.
Kelsey Bucklin, Lydia. “Book Review: Patricia M. Lyons, What is Evangelism? A Little Book of Guidance.” (2021): 81-82.
Kwoka-Coleman, Michaela Rose-Louise. “Called, not Qualified an Instagram Analysis of Evangelical NGOs in Uganda.” (2021).
Pipes, Jerry, and Victor Lee. “Family to Family: Families Making a Difference.” North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, 2018.
Wheeler, David. Building A Great Commission Home and Family. Video, n.d.