When Evangelism Stops

“You need to slow down and rest”, these words have been said to me many times over, and if I’m honest I would do well to follow the advice. However, I often find that there is so much work to do, and so little time to do it all in. There is church work, missions work, outreach work and the list goes on. However, all my work was severely restricted last Wednesday when during a family barbeque, I thought it would be a good idea to fall off a log and then trip in a hole, thus breaking my ankle!  

With the loud crack of bones still ringing in my ears, I knew that everything was going to slow right down for the next few weeks. The open-air work, the tract distribution and other evangelistic opportunities which were coming up all came to a screeching (or cracking) halt.

Since breaking my ankle, I have spent plenty of time resting with my foot elevated; as I have sat in a position that prevents me from moving, I found that I’ve had time to reflect and to consider the situation I have found myself in. Let me stress, I am a firm believer in the sovereignty of God; I do not believe that anything happens outside the counsel of His will (Ephesians 1:11), and that all things work together for good (Romans 8:28). As I look at my swollen foot, I have to conclude that this is going to be for my good, and God in His providence permitted the break. The slower pace I will be experiencing over the next few weeks is according to God’s plan, so I have to ask myself, “What am I to learn through this experience, and how can I redeem the time?”

As I have pondered these questions, I have been reminded of a great truth that is easily forgotten, that truth is that God doesn’t need me. In evangelism, there is always a sense of urgency, a drive to get out and reach people for Jesus before it is too late. I truly believe the message we are to share is one that should be spread as a matter of urgency, but here is the thing – God’s message will spread regardless; He isn’t going to allow His truth to disappear from the face of this earth. Before I came along the gospel was spreading, when I am lowered into the grave, the gospel will keep spreading. Thousands of years from now when I am forgotten to history, or only remembered by some descendant who has subscribed to an ancestry website (or whatever they have then), the gospel will keep spreading. The gospel isn’t bound; the good news will keep going through the nations of the earth, and people will be saved. I will be forgotten, but Jesus remains. God doesn’t need me.

Now before anyone brings the charge of hyper-Calvinism against me, let me stress that I do believe that Christians should be active in evangelism, and we should be calling on all people to repent and believe.  But the point I am making is this, the success of the gospel, and the spread of the fame of Jesus does not rest upon my shoulders; it is God’s message, and He will allow it to spread. I am not needed, however, just like all Christians, I have the privilege of being used by God to spread the gospel. I’m not needed or required, but God has permitted me to join the adventure of gospel ministry.

I know that the success of the gospel isn’t dependent upon me, because the scheduled outreaches of Newquay Baptist Church continue without me. In fact, there were quite a number of the congregation out sharing the gospel last week, and many good conversations were had. I wasn’t there, I was at home grumbling that I wasn’t on the street. But the Lord has reminded me, I am not needed. The gospel isn’t about me; it is His message, and it will spread regardless of me.

Also, I am now looking upon this forced rest as a time when I can learn to pray more. I am sure we all feel that we could be more committed to prayer, but one of the challenges many people face is that we don’t seem to have the time (which means we are too busy!). Now that I am laid up, I am able to pray more and to spend time thinking about the gospel need of my community and the nations. I am also using the time to sharpen my sword; it is good for soldiers to spend time training, so I am going to be spending time training myself so that I may be a more effective communicator of the gospel. Even though I have been involved in evangelistic ministry for 18 years, I still have much to learn. This time will help me learn more.

My passion for evangelism isn’t drying up, and even though this blog is called, “When Evangelism Stops”, I still intend to evangelise. As I visit the hospital, or the doctor’s surgery, I intend to share the good news. When the opportunities arise, by God’s enabling, I will seek to spread the fame of Jesus. The more organised and formal outreaches are stopped for the time being, but I can still be a witness in my day-to-day life. In fact, since breaking my ankle I have had opportunity to witness to three people which I may not have had opportunity to do so.

 If you have read this far, I would ask that you please remember me in your prayers. Ask the Lord that I would learn to rest in His sovereignty, and that I would grow in prayer, and in my knowledge of Him. Also, please pray that I would become more effective in sharing the gospel, and that I would take every opportunity to make much of Jesus.