Evangelism and the Local Church
October 2010
Dear Christian friends,
One of the most difficult issues I face as an evangelist is how to relate properly to the local church. A Christian who is involved in evangelism will receive a lot of rejection from unbelievers who do not want to follow Jesus. However, the rejection we receive from other Christians who do not understand or appreciate our ministry is much more painful. The apostle Paul suffered a great deal of persecution as he preached the gospel, being beaten and imprisoned many times. But his greatest pain was finding that as he was in prison, Christians would be spreading rumors that he was not a true apostle and was in jail for his own wrongdoing.
At the end of Paul’s ministry, he wrote these sad words from prison, “Demas, because he has loved the world, has deserted me…Only Luke is with me…Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm…At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me” (2 Tim. 4:10-16). Paul was tempted to get bitter, but he resisted that temptation and trusted in God’s faithfulness: “But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength.”
Often, an evangelist will find that his gift is not wanted or appreciated in the church. The evangelist who wants to encourage church members to get involved in outreaches may find himself at odds with church leaders who want those members to be more active in church functions. Very few churches have a full-time minister of evangelism. A large church may support many full-time pastors, administrators, secretaries, and janitors but not a single evangelist. As a result, it is very difficult for an evangelist, especially one who must support a family, to be involved in full-time ministry.
As an evangelist, I have my faults and the local church has its faults, but we must work together. I need the fellowship of other believers. I need to be encouraged in my Christian walk. I need to join together with other believers in worshipping God. One of my main functions as an evangelist is to equip believers in evangelism (Eph. 4: 12). And those I lead to Christ must have a church home if they are to be discipled.
The Church of Jesus Christ has been given three main tasks: to love God, to love one another, and to love the lost–worship, fellowship and evangelism. Like a tripod, a church needs three “legs” of equal length to stand. A church that neglects evangelism will become a self-centered “bless-me club.” It will die of stagnation. I personally cannot understand how it is possible for a person to be a Christian, believe in the Bible and what it says about eternal hell, and not have a burden for souls. However, the fact is that most Christians do not have this burden. The evangelist is needed to stir up this burden within believers and facilitate their involvement in evangelism.
A church needs variety in its evangelism. All Christians are not evangelists but all Christians are called to witness for Jesus. Most people come to Christ through the personal witness of a friend, co-worker, or family member. We need to be witnessing to people in our everyday lives. Yet, some people will not be reached through “friendship evangelism.” Many are saved by being invited to church meetings or evangelistic crusades. But many people will not attend such meetings. We also need to go into the “highways and hedges” and compel people to come to the marriage supper of the Lamb (Luke 14:23). I believe that every local church should have its own outreaches–ministry to nursing homes and prisons, door-to-door witnessing, street witnessing, etc.
Some Christians are critical of “parachurch” ministries, i.e., ministries that are not part of a single fellowship or denomination. But some ministries must by their nature be interdenominational or “parachurch.” For example, much of the success of Billy Graham’s crusades came from bringing together Christians from many different denominations. In John 17:21, Jesus prayed, “that they also may be one in us, that the world may know that you have sent me.”
Many unbelievers are stumbled by the divisions they see in the church. If they see an outreach organized by a single church fellowship or denomination, they may think that “they are just trying to promote their church.” If they see an outreach organized by Christians of different denominations, they will see a tangible demonstration of the unity Jesus prayed for in John 17:21.
SOS Ministries was established to bring together Christians from different denominations to reach the people of San Francisco and the Bay Area for Jesus. We believe in the local church and we want to serve local church fellowships. We require that all the members of our ministry house be part of a local church. We refer new believers to local churches for follow-up and discipleship. And we provide a means through which local churches can join together as a united witness for Jesus Christ.
Numbering Our Days
“The length of our days is seventy years–or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away….Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:10, 12.
Recently, I was looking at an actuarial table. It told me that I could expect to live 17 more years. My father lived to be 68; my mother was 90. Like Paul, I would prefer to be absent from the body and present with the Lord. But I believe that God has me here to fulfill the ministry He has given me. I believe He has called me to help maintain a visible witness for Jesus Christ in San Francisco and Berkeley, and to share the gospel with anyone who will listen. He has also called me to help encourage and train Christians in evangelism. I intend, with His help and guidance, to continue this work as long as I am able. But I know my days on this earth are numbered.
Over 5 years ago, God spoke to our ministry’s leaders that we needed to get some young people to join our ministry. I have been trying to do that since that time, but only recently have we had some success. Leife, who is 18, moved into our house in early July. In September, Kylan moved into our house. He is 24.
Ultimately, of course, if God wants this ministry to continue beyond my years, He will need to bring someone to us with the vision and gifting to carry on this work as the ministry leader. Please pray that God will make His will clear in this matter and, if He wills, bring the right person to us at the right time.
Coming Events
Note: Outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 761-6120 to confirm outreaches or for more information.
Friday October 22, 29, November 5 Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods. 7:30-10 PM (Call for location).
Sat. October 23, 30 Berkeley Outreach. 12:30-4:30 PM Telegraph & Haste St.
Sat. November 6 San Francisco or Berkeley Outreach. Location depends on weather. (Call for location).
Ministry News and Needs
Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. In addition to ministering through music at many of our outreaches, Tim Moon has been helping repair our house this past month. He helped with the landscaping in the front yard, and also is repairing our upstairs shower, which had been leaking into my room. Tim lives in Gilroy, so he travels quite a distance to get to our outreaches. He needs a new van.
Also, we still need to print 60,000 gospel tracts. We got an excellent quote for $1100, but still need $450 to print them.
We have had some changes in our ministry house. In September, Leife, who is 18, decided to move in with relatives in Fort Bragg, CA.
That same week, Kylan moved into our house. He is 24 and just finished a year-long internship at Regeneration Church in Oakland after graduating from UC Berkeley. However, he believes his calling is to be a missionary in Japan, so he may not be staying here for long. He lived in Japan for a year and knows the language. He also has a job!
Please pray for Dan and Dave as they both need to find employment. The job situation is quite bad in this area. If you know of any jobs in the SF area, please let me know. While we would like to have enough funds so that our house members could witness full-time, right now we do not have enough funds, so our house members need to work during the week.
I hope some of you will join one of our outreaches this next month. We especially need some women to join us, but of course men are always welcome.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum
Steve (r) does gospel rap at UN Plaza on Aug. 21.
Good News (Dublin) youth pass out tracts at Wharf.
May witnesses to woman at UN Plaza.
Tim Moon and Dan minister at 16th St. and Valencia on Friday night.
Oscar prays with man at UN Plaza (in front of city hall).
Kylan (r) witnesses to man at Wharf.