Sharing the Gospel

As Co:Mission Ministry finds God’s unique purpose in His awesome kingdom Joan and I are learning a lot.  We  continue to be overwhelmed in our hearts with the responsibility of helping to lead the Church to lead with the Gospel.

Years ago I memorized a definition of successful witnessing given by Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ; taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God.  It seems we are taking the initiative to share a lot these days on the mission field, however, little sharing of Christ seems to be happening.  We seem to have bought the lie that people coming to Christ are a by-product of our ministry and not the purpose of our mission. 

While in Haiti I had the privilege of working with seven young people all eager to learn on the mission field.  They arrived in Haiti with a passion to work and make a difference.   They were not quiet sure how to share their faith but hoping their lives would count and communicate Christ’s love. 

Wanting them to have the experience of leading others to Christ I gave two young men access to my translator one day.  They came back rejoicing that a woman was interested in giving her life to the Lord.  I asked them if they had led her to follow Christ.  They indicated that could happen later but she was very interested in becoming a Christian.  I instructed them to immediately go back to her house and lead her to faith in Christ.  I only wish everyone reading this could have been there when these young men returned.  They had stepped past their comfort and lead this women to turn from her sin and put her faith in Christ.  They were literally skipping back almost floating above the dusty road beneath their feet.  Why in the name of missions do we find it so hard to take the initiative to lead people to the saving knowledge of Christ?  Proverbs 11:30 reminds us that he who wins souls is wise.  Romans 1:16 tells us that the gospel is the power of God for salvation.  Paul encourages us with the fact that God has placed this life-changing message in clay pots, that is, He entrusts the gospel message into our lives and expects us to share it.

I hear of testimonies today of hundreds coming to Christ through dreams and visions.  God can and does do miracles to draw others to Himself.  Every conversion from sin to salvation is a miracle.  I want it to be said; it is a privilege to carry out the mandate of winning souls by taking the initiative to intentionally lead others to Christ.

As Mark Driscoll shares “when it comes to the gospel we tend to be gun collectors and not hunters”.  Though we love the gospel we treat it like a gun  from our gun collection.   We admire it but never take aim and shoot.  We love the Gospel but seldom call others to respond to it. 

We want to encourage all of you to get out your gospel gun, polish it up and take aim and fire to the glory of God.  Remember to leave the results to Him.  Rejection may come but probably won’t.  You may do it less than perfect but God won’t miss your heart.  Take the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leave the results to God.