Q: Is evangelism still relevant? And if so, what is the most effective — public or small group? Or some other way? — Marie, from the United States
A: Marie, our evangelistic and missionary work for others is to increase as we come closer to Christ’s soon Second Coming. Comprehensive evangelism outreach can take many forms, but usually it culminates with some type of small group or public meeting where the Bible becomes the central focus so people’s hearts can be touched with eternal truth.
The Holy Spirit can work in marvelous ways when the Word of God is presented in a clear, concise, and winsome manner. The timeliness and power of God’s salvation story is profound — it is heaven-blessed.
The unfolding of biblical truth is to occupy more and more of our time and we must do that in any manner possible. Where public meetings can be held, hold them by all means. Where small groups are better positioned to touch a life, hold them. Let’s lift up Christ, His righteousness, and His sanctuary service. Let’s be faithful to God, His Word and His Spirit of Prophecy.
Let’s be involved in Total Member Involvement. The secret of Total Member Involvement (TMI) is that there is something for everyone! TMI includes door-to-door visitation, Bible studies in homes, intense prayer initiatives, comprehensive health ministry outreach, distribution of Adventist literature, youth involvement, community services, ADRA activities, media outreach, social media contacts, choirs singing for the Lord, personal evangelism, public evangelism, and many more forms of evangelistic outreach.
These activities involve everyone who is willing since the Lord has asked all to participate in the proclamation of the Gospel and the three angels’ messages!
We see this in the words of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 28:19, 20: “‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing the in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.”
What a privilege for each of us to do something for Jesus. You do not have to be a pastor to speak to others either personally or publicly about God’s great plan of redemption. All church members are asked to proclaim God’s final message to the world that Jesus is coming soon — you can do that personally and publicly!
Total Member Involvement includes men, women, youth, and children in proclaiming God’s truth. Lay persons are to unite with pastors and church leaders. Let’s take this inspired quotation very seriously:
“The work of God in this earth can never be finished until the men and women comprising our church membership rally to the work and unite their efforts with those of ministers and church officers” (“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. 9, p. 116).
This is what Total Member Involvement is all about — everyone doing something for Jesus, including speaking for Him whether you are a lay person, a pastor, a man, a woman, a young person or a child.
May God bless, in every form possible, the evangelistic outreach to the world through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is coming soon!