Question for real evangelists
 

By "real evangelists" I mean men who actually labour at proclaiming the gospel to the lost as a ministry, calling, work. Not just "personal witnessing to friends, family and neighbors", although that certainly is important.

I also do NOT mean a preacher who floats from church to church preaching to the saints.

I mean real preaching the gospel to the lost.

My question is simple: What do you do? Street preaching? Door knocking? Tent meetings? "Revival services" at an existing church (assuming the lost show up)?

What methods do you use and can you relate some stories about successes, failures, etc?

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

I hope you receive some answers.

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

Well we used to go from door to door leaving flyers and talking to the people we found in the streets. (we actually had some people visit from our flyers)
Sometimes we found some who wanted to know more about God and we got their address and phone number for continuing ministry.

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

There are very few "real" evangelists admitted into today's "Ministry".

Laboring to proclaim the gospel to the lost is what most of the Church has not been
taught; that is, "...the work of the ministry...": or as the Apostle Peter put it, "...that
you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness and into
His marvelous light." Get it? Show the power of the gospel!

Phillip waited on tables: he did not have an office in the Ministry...but he knew the gospel.
He preached the gospel with such faith and power that he was later named to be an evangelist.
By whom was he named, you ask? By the Lord Jesus!

This brings us to the question: "What is the work of the evangelist?" Simple: to teach
the Church how to "...work the ministry...".

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

Ok, I escaped eschatology purgatory. :)

We have Bible studies in the city of Fort Lauderdale, but our main purpose is building relationships with people. It is easier to win your friends then win strangers. :nod

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

So how do you get the bible studies? From visitors to church, as a follow-up? Or canvassing a neighborhood? Or by members inviting the people they know?

Also, what kind of studies? One time studies, or a progressive series over time?

Tell us how it works, brother.

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

Waiting on tables was done by Phillip the deacon, who waited on tables so other ministers could study the scriptures and pray. He then joins himself to a chariot and teaches a Bible study through invitation. Phillip asks the eunuch if he could understand the Hebrew scriptures he was reading. The eunuch replies that he didn't understand, and therefore invites the evangelist to explain the scripture. But the waiting on tables were done so other ministers could prepare themselves to minister. Timothy was a young evangelist and he was told to make full proof of his calling by doing the work of an evangelist. This was keeping a clear head in difficult situations, which meant he was to shirk his hardships as a full time minister. He was warned that false ministers were coming in to upset his churches and turn people away from the truth of the Gospel. He needed to be able to refute those who would try to appear as angels of light but really were messengers of Satan. The entire ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers were to build up the church to be unified in the faith and be able to raise up other ministers. Bringing the brothers and sisters into maturity in Christ.

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

I have been in front of a Whole Foods Supermarket in Fort Lauderdale for more than 11 years. Also coffee shops in the city. I sit down, open the Bible, and read. It is the people who come over and ask me questions on what I'm doing who end up sitting down and getting into a conversation. Those conversations end up as being regulars who get into Bible studies with me. It's like fishing, but fishing for men, instead of fish. :)

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

So they ask "hey, whatchooreadin?" and you say... "the Bible"?

How does it go from there?

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

Re fishing... isn't the most effective way to fish that old time method of dropping some dynamite into the lake, and after the kaboom use a net and just scoop up all the fish now floating on the surface?

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

Now, that's where it gets interesting.

We have had full blown debates (I make sure everyone plays nice) if anyone gets upset, I calm things down decently and in order. We have all kinds of situations come from the "hey, whatchooreadin?" Atheists, Buddhists (most of my biggest attacks were from Buddhists, and Christians) Muslims, Mormons, Catholics, and every religion (and cult) you can imagine. Yet, regular people, people who have never set a foot in a church, or people who were in church at a very young age but for whatever reason never stayed. A lot have been baptized, since we are in a international city I get a lot of people visiting, and from all over the world. They sit down and want to talk, especially if they have been eavesdropping on my discussions. We have had some very powerful prayer at the tables, seen people healed, marriages restored, broken lives turned back to Christ right in front of a busy store. Tears and snot bubbles and the sound of speaking in tongues when a person receives the infilling of the Holy Ghost! That makes a passer by really break their neck to see what is going on.

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

Do you have a set time for all this? Like "I arrive at noon and stay until 2 or 3"? Or do just wing it each time?

Also do you have any helpers, or is this just you?

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

I have a lot on my plate, and I manage to get it done. We have brothers, and I'm with a Spanish minister who is a faithful man, solid and steadfast. We all manage to chop the wood, and we are available 24 hrs a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. I use to be there at 8 am and leave by 3 pm, but we became super busy. Sometimes I can't even log on to a forum, or check e-mails, e-mails have top priority over forum chit chat. We have house churches in Turkey, Greece, Colombia, and Panama we skype with them and take care of their needs. My house is Grand Central Station and we are always having people in and out, which takes time to help everyone.

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience on this thread. And thank you for the work you are doing in bringing the gospel to those who might otherwise never have an opportunity to hear it.

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

Yes, thank you Evangelist for all you do for the Kingdom. Very inspiring.

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

Glory to God!

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

Was wondering what happened to you Bro. E. Bacon! In fact, I wondered if all that "bacon" got the best of you :)

Glad to hear how the Lord is ministering, and working with you in Fort Lauderdale!

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

I want to thank everyone for their kind words and please keep praying for us in Jesus name.

Bacon hadn't gotten the best of me, but it is so busy that posting on a forum is a low priority at times. I tell the church family that first we need to draw a circle around us, and then what is around that circle must be our first priority. Family, Brothers, Sisters, and the people in our field of labor. Just making sure our own porch is taken care of before doing other things.

Love you all in Jesus name :)

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

May God continue to bless you and the
evangelistic work you do, Bro. Benincasa!

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

Thank you Maw Maw!

In Jesus name! :nod

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

I agree that our priorities must be set straight, and that finding time to spend here on the forum isn't always one of those priorities. God Bless you Bro., and the work you are doing for Him. :)

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

Thank you and keep praying for my family and I :highfive

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

My Pastor, and I stand in different parts of our city and preach with a megaphone, we have had many people come and ask for prayer and we give them flyers and offer them Bible studies.

You would be amazed how many big tough looking men break down and start to cry when the Word of God penetrantes their innermost being, and we have people cuz at us but we also have had people in the summer bring us bottles of water, we kinda just go to random places we don't have a specific spot.

We also walk through the hood and speak with people, I have also posted on my local Craigslist and have offered people Bible studies, and prayer or invited them to church online a lot of people prefer to be anonymous, I think a lot of them feel embarrassed or think they will get judged so they don't like to give their names sometimes just present their prayer requests and we pray, and we have received text messages back that God has moved in their lives.

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

That is wonderful to hear! Just wondering... what sort of message do you preach when using the megaphone?

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

Please don't go back to lurking!!! I have a few questions....

1. Have you run into trouble using a megaphone? I've heard that can be claimed as "disturbing the peace" and some street preachers advise not to use one except in certain circumstances.

2. Do you urge immediate repentance and baptism during the public preaching?

3. What have been the results of the public preaching?

4. Can you give a description of what one of your craigslist ads look like? Also how does that approach work?

BTW, God bless you for getting the Word out to people!

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

Sorry it took so long to reply, I hardly ever get on here, the truth is I usually share me testimony on how Jesus Christ saved me from a life of sin, I always remind the hearers that I am not holier than thou, the difference is im a forgiven sinner, and that they also have the same offer extended to them through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross.

I also preach on God's love, and the fact that God has done everything possible so that humanity won't go to hell, He gave everything on the cross so that we can be free from sin and have a relationship with Him,but I also talk about hell and that we choose to go there, if we don't choose God's love the only thing left is His judgement, and I touch on current events and share Biblical Parables that relate with the audience that is around where we are preaching, this summer we actually had services outside in front of our church, in the pastor's front yard and in another members front yard we rotated all summer.

People have come and broken down and cried their eyes out, because we also put worship songs and it really pricks people's hearts through the messages some of those old school apostolic hymns have, but the truth is that no one has congregated with us:/ but I have come to realize tha only God knows why, and for us just to keep on preaching the gospel.

We also talk about the need of Jesus name baptism and being filled with the Holy Ghost, because the city where we live in has been contaminated with the idea that the sinners prayer is enough for salvation.

I'm not going to lie one brother that preaches on the megaphone comes off as a little self righteous but it is what it is,and I leave that up to the pastor to deal with.

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

Praise the Lord, I apologize for the delayed response I rarely get on here.

We have not gotten into any trouble, once I was preaching and the coppers rolled up and I thought they might tell me to get lost lol especially I have a really Loud voice but they just sat in their car and after a while they left, maybe they just wanted to see what the crazy Christians were up to.

Another time they rolled up and gave us a thumbs up, Praise God :)

Do I urge immediate repentance and baptism?
I do preach it, because Bakersfield Ca, is full of commercial Christianity and a lot of people have been taught that false once saved always saved doctrine, and that the sinners prayer is enough so I do preach on the need of repentance and Jesus name baptism and the need for being filled with the Holy Ghost to overcome addiction and every other spirit of sin, but I don't put myself in a position of Judge, jury and executioner.

The results have been really fulfilling for us as a small independent apostolic church, because the truth is that no one has come to congregate with us unfortunately, but I believe only God knows why, it hasn't produced growth in numbers and as hard as it is to accept it at times, I trust God, and know that He knows all things.

We have grown spiritually, and feel we are trying to do God's will.

Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
Ezekiel 3:19 KJV
http://bible.com/1/ezk.3.19.KJV
This scripture kinda motivates me to do it, that Ezekiel was to preach the message wether they received it or they didn't.

The craigslist post, I usually go into the community forum, and in groups I'll post a header for example with the question ¿Have you been heart broken?

And then I'll post scripture like Luke 4:18 if I'm not mistaken when Jesus declares,He has come to heal the broken hearted, and I talk a little about the different things that break our spiritual heart and why nothing oror no one can heal our heart but Jesus Christ himself is the only One that can take out the stony heart and replace it with a heart of flesh.

Depending on who you are trying to reach you attract them with the headline, and then once they click they will read and will decide if they should contact you or not.

I got messages from a lot of out of town people that through text messaging I would share scripture and encouragement, because they had loss a loved one, or were on the brink of divorce or struggling with addiction.

All the Honor and Glory to God, we only do what we can to preach the gospel and at the end Jesus says we are still unprofitable servants :)

God bless you, sorry for the long post :)

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

Thank you for your response. I just keep in mind, that our job is to preach the word, not secure converts by any means necessary. If you have preached the word faithfully, then you have succeeded.

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

Very good!:thumbsup

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

Good to hear from you again Michael. Missed you.

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

All the honor and glory to God, but thank you all for the encouraging words God bless you and yours :)

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

This is wonderful Bro... I'm thankful to hear that your message contains more than just judgment (while judgment does have its place)... and regardless if you never see anyone come to"your" church because of your outreach, do not be discouraged... some sow the seeds, some are the farmers, and some are the harvesters. Be thankful, and willing to do the work the Lord has called you to... and heaven will have your reward!

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

Amen!
You don't even know how encouraging everyone's words have been, because we all go through times when discouragement tries to creep up and make you feel like giving up, but when you hear or read encouraging words it's like spiritual ether that jump starts your spiritual motor again, you are right Paul, Said it wasn't the one who sows, nor water's, but God that gives the increase I appreciate God bless you all :)

Re: Question for real evangelists
 

There are only two types of evangelists n the Church.

One is within the Ministry; the other, the calling of the Church. To which are
you actually referring? The one you describe could be either: or it could be
what you DESIRE an evangelist to be!

"...and He gave some, evangelists...for the work of the ministry...".