"Hello, this is Evangelist..." : Do you let them come preach?

[rrford]

Originally Posted by Steadfast

The lowest of the low... vilest of the vile...

Evidently! Cause the guy ain't never been invited back!

[Esther]

Originally Posted by Steadfast

Miss Esther, let me help you with that. The simple answer... the fullproof answer... is "Results, results, results!"

I've been blessed in my Pastorate here with some of the most incredible Evangelists you could ever know. Many of them don't have 'big names' but they DO have one thing in common: they are very good at what they do.

I, personally, don't care one whit about how good a man preaches when we have revival. I have some that are more prophetically inclined, some who are more a catalyst of worship and some who are incredible preachers. But the one thing that means EVERYTHING to me is getting results... if what they are doing is getting people prayed through and baptized in Jesus Name it's worth everything we're doing to have revival.

Some time ago I talked to a young man out of my Church who was working with our outreach team. His plea was, "Why aren't the doors opening for me?" and my answer was, "You are in a position right here, working with our outreach team, to excell in the greatest way of all. Start winning souls and you'll find more doors than you can shake a stick at!"

He started focusing his efforts on winning the lost (as opposed to just 'preaching good') and he got the attention of Pastors everywhere.

The KEY is simple: EVERY Pastor I know wants results! They want...
* New souls praying through.
* Carnal Saints back on fire.
* Lifeless spirits renewed with passion.
* Soulwinning to become a lifestyle to their congregation.

ALL OF THIS TAKES LOVING PEOPLE!
(All too often some Evangelists make it obvious they love preaching but not souls)

And, if an Evangelist really loves people and strives to excell in what God called him to do he'll have results. Coincidentally, if he has real results he'll find plenty of 'open doors'.

I believe to be very true of more than just evangelist.

But it still boils down to HOW are pastors going to know this person can preach, if his pastor doesn't give him an open door, doesn't call anyone to tell them they have a young man on fire for God.

Again, HOW will you the pastor know this?

Originally Posted by Rev

Does your last name start with T

Nope!

But that narrows it down by 1/26th!

[Coonskinner]

In my very first revival, the Lord smoked out the pastor who happened to be in sin at the time, and he resigned after trying toi get me to take the church on the last night of the meeting.

That didn't exactly further my career as an evangelist.

[Rev]

Originally Posted by Steadfast

Miss Esther, let me help you with that. The simple answer... the fullproof answer... is "Results, results, results!"

I've been blessed in my Pastorate here with some of the most incredible Evangelists you could ever know. Many of them don't have 'big names' but they DO have one thing in common: they are very good at what they do.

I, personally, don't care one whit about how good a man preaches when we have revival. I have some that are more prophetically inclined, some who are more a catalyst of worship and some who are incredible preachers. But the one thing that means EVERYTHING to me is getting results... if what they are doing is getting people prayed through and baptized in Jesus Name it's worth everything we're doing to have revival.

When I was on the field we didn't have many people get the Holy Ghost but it was because most churches had very few visitors. I had to try to get the church stired up so they would get the Spirit of Christ to reach out.

Some time ago I talked to a young man out of my Church who was working with our outreach team. His plea was, "Why aren't the doors opening for me?" and my answer was, "You are in a position right here, working with our outreach team, to excell in the greatest way of all. Start winning souls and you'll find more doors than you can shake a stick at!"

He started focusing his efforts on winning the lost (as opposed to just 'preaching good') and he got the attention of Pastors everywhere.

The KEY is simple: EVERY Pastor I know wants results! They want...
* New souls praying through.
* Carnal Saints back on fire.
* Lifeless spirits renewed with passion.
* Soulwinning to become a lifestyle to their congregation.

ALL OF THIS TAKES LOVING PEOPLE!
(All too often some Evangelists make it obvious they love preaching but not souls)

And, if an Evangelist really loves people and strives to excell in what God called him to do he'll have results. Coincidentally, if he has real results he'll find plenty of 'open doors'.

When I was on the field we didn't have many people get the Holy Ghost but it was because most churches had very few visitors. I had to try to get the church stired up so they would get the Spirit of Christ to reach out.

[Apprehended]

Amen Steadfast,

Results is the bottom line.

Whether the results are measured in the number of new converts, backsliders being refilled or the church revived and refocused toward the lost community around them, the bottom line is RESULTS.

Originally Posted by Coonskinner

In my very first revival, the Lord smoked out the pastor who happened to be in sin at the time, and he resigned after trying toi get me to take the church on the last night of the meeting.

That didn't exactly further my career as an evangelist.

I love it!

[Theresa]

Originally Posted by Steadfast

I confess that I saw a thread similar to this on another forum and thought I'd like to see the responses to the question from some of the AFF crowd.

Every Pastor I know has, at some time or another, had a telephone ring only to answer it and hear, "Hello! I know you may not know me but I'm Evangelist (Insert name here) and I just wanted you to know that I'm in the area with some time off and wanted to know if I could come preach for you while I'm in the area?"

QUESTION: Do you let them come or do you generally turn them down?

QUESTION: What is your philosophy of dealing with those calling wanting to preach for you?

QUESTION: Have you ever been 'burned' by someone and wished you hadn't let them come?

This ought to be interesting and I'll hold my viewpoints for a little while to see what others think...

Let's hear your answers!

I guess it depends on how protective the shepherd is of his sheep..

Originally Posted by Rev

When I was on the field we didn't have many people get the Holy Ghost but it was because most churches had very few visitors. I had to try to get the church stired up so they would get the Spirit of Christ to reach out.

THAT, in my opinion, is the greatest hindrance to Evangelists that there is! You can have the PERFECT Evangelist but not a visitor in sight nor Saint tender enough to be moved!

[Coonskinner]

Originally Posted by Steadfast

I love it!

You wouldn't have loved it if you had been the wet behind the ears whippersnapper being treated as if you were radioactive after that revival.

I had no clue what I was doing...I was just preaching along and saying what God gave me to say...you can imagine my shock when the pastor ran to the altar wailing and repenting.

Oh well, I couldn't preach good enough to keep booked anyway.