I am very privileged to have been able to work with a great evangelistic team in Newport South Wales. This group is part of the School of World Evangelism which was started by the evangelist Marilyn Harry about 20 years ago. The course takes people out of their comfort zone because unlike the "Fish-less Fishermen" they don't just talk about evangelism, they go and do it. This involves amongst other things street preaching, tent missions and knocking doors with the good news.
On one Saturday training day recently, the trainees were informed that they would be visiting an area where there is a huge mix of nationalities and a high level of unemployment. Living in a block of flats, there is a large number of immigrants from Czechoslovakia. Virtually all of them were unemployed and as a result they were struggling financially, plus drug problems were very common indeed.
As a result of the first door knock a team of four people asked if they could share the good news of Jesus. Within a few minutes people had come to the room from all over the flats so that there were around 25 people in a small bedroom. The gospel was shared through personal testimony and by preaching the word of God. Translation was given through a young girl (who had a drug addiction) who was a resident of the flats that had a good command of English. That day the young lady gave her life to Jesus and was set free from her addiction in front of everyone. A meeting was arranged in the flat for a Sunday morning as everyone wanted to know more about the good news. They had all felt the presence of God which drew and many others back every week.
After a few weeks the team have had to hire a hall on Sundays as over 70 people have come to Christ. Many have been set free from all kinds of bondage and addictions, lives have been totally changed and transformed. The new believers are spreading the good news and as a result more people are attending services. Recently a baptism service was held for quite a number of people.
The point of this is that I know people who wouldn't dream of knocking a door, or stand on a street with the Gospel. I am not saying they are wrong becuase they use other methods to reach people. But if we don't go to where the people are how will they hear the most important news there is? "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news" Romans 10: 14-15 NIV.
Just some food for thought.
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