Crisis in Evangelical Evangelism
I read this in the Friday Church News Notes, a weekly newsletter put out by David Cloud and Way of Life Literature.
When numbers become so important to us that they outweigh the truth, it’s time that we admit to a crisis! When we receive missionary reports similar to the one recently sent to the church where I am now attending, it’s time we take stock of our methodology.
This missionary brother was rejoicing over the results that he had experienced in his first full year on the mission field. He boasted of 738 professions of faith with 25 following in believer’s baptism. How could you even pen those words without asking yourself if there isn’t something wrong with that picture? I seem to remember 3,000 saved at Pentecost, and 3,000 baptized!
The most refreshing missionary that I have heard in a long time gave his update to our church recently. He has been in Poland for 14 years and to date knows of only five people who have been saved under his ministry. Just like at Pentecost, he only counts the ones who have been saved, baptized, and are in the church. Most of our “one, two, three, pray after me” fellows would have dropped his support a long time ago! Myself, I would drop the guy with 738 saved and 25 baptized and shift the support to the fellow from Poland!
The full article that contains this quote can be found at the Way of Life web site in this PDF, on page 3.
I would like to say again (I know I said it a couple weeks ago, and probably many more times before that, but it bears repeating): I’d like to recommend the following:
- Ray Comfort’s School of Biblical Evangelism
- Hell’s Best Kept Secret, an mp3 sermon by Ray Comfort
- True and False Conversions, another mp3 by Ray
- Anything and everything by Mark Cahill
- Today’s Gospel is also a very good read (although I would preface that with a qualifier about Chantry’s Calvinism: I do not hold to his Calvinistic beliefs)
10 comments
I couldn’t agree with you more Greg! The church needs to be awakened! I love your recommendations…that would certainly fix the problem. I would add two (maybe three things) to this list though:
1. Listen to “10 Shekels and a Shirt”, a sermon PREACHED by Paris Reidhead….can be downloaded for free at http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=10180222445
2. Read Why Revival Tarries by Leonard Ravenhill
3. Read Getting Evangelicals Saved by Paris Reidhead
Thanks for posting Greg and I am praying for you and your ministry.
Hi, Scott. Thanks for the comment. Without a doubt, Reidhead’s sermon is a winner! I would highly recommend it, too. Ravenhill’s book on why revival tarries is a great read! He has several other books that are very similar (Sodom Had No Bible comes to mind).
I’ll have to check out Reidhead’s book. Never heard of that one.
Thanks! Great to hear from you! ~Greg
Your going to love Reidhead’s book! I promise!
Cahill has recently put up a couple new audio’s on his site you might enjoy if you haven’t been there in awhile…good stuff.
God bless!
Greg,
Thanks! I didn’t know that. I’ll check it out today.
Wow. Cahill has SEVERAL new messages up:
http://www.markcahill.org/listen4.html
bien bien, muy de acuerdo :)
I love Ray’s stuff. I have copies of some of his videos if anyone on the prayer TEAM want to watch them. :-)
Hey Greg
It’s me again from Cancun.
WOW
WOW
WOW
WOW
It’s what I keep saying when I’m studying every day your studys !
Amazing how you put things together!
I’m leading a bible study here in my house just women, that’s how I found you. I’m using your Ester study(all of it) it’s fantastic. The women here are just amazed!
Tks once more
God is with you
Love in Christ
Manoela Paz
Hola, Manoela. ¡Qué gusto oír de usted! Gracias por escribirme y gracias a Dios por Su infinita misericordia y gracia con nosotros (dándonos bendición cuando merecemos lo opuesto). Siga fiel y siga proclamando la preciosa Palabra. ~Greg
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