Rich Kao

In Part 1, I described the angst I had in realizing I wasn't gifted as an evangelist, and then my subsequent discovery that "it's ok" that I'm not; I may not be a evangelist but I can sure do the "work of one." 2 Tim 4:5.

So how am I doing that?  Here's my run at it....

1)  Start a church!  Yeah, that's right.  If you want to serve ice cream, start a ice cream shop (or at least make a bucket of it).  This way, those who want ice cream know to come to "your place."  It's been said the greatest evangelistic strategy is starting new churches.  If that is true, then I'm in statistical good standing. No guarantee of success, but certainly increasing my chances.

2) In starting a church, you can serve bad ice cream or good ice cream.  Obviously we want to serve the good stuff.  Hence I work hard at speaking, communicating, preaching.  Yes, there are "bad batches," but hopefully the good ones outweigh the bad ones. 

3) Hire a great staff.  If the ice cream isn't good, at least hire good people to serve it!  One of my great joys has been hiring great people to be part of our team.  If I can't "get 'em" myself, than maybe a group hug will work. 

4) "Build it and they will come."  Vancouver is a tough place for "ice cream" shops.  They just don't let you build church buildings or develop church property easily.  Not much land, and expensive to build.  But we're honing in on a place we can lease that will be just like "home."  We think it'll be a winner, and help people find Jesus to be the highest of all delights.

5) Take your ice cream to the streets.  Maybe people don't know where you're located, or don't come to your shop like they're suppose to; well then we can take it to them.  We have on-going activities that reach out to the homeless, refugee families, and muslim kids. We like to do small things with great love.  Sandwhiches, mittens, and bikes show God's love in a practical way.  We're looking at providing after-school tutoring, french language assistance, art events, documentary features at a local restaurant, and more. 

Results: Well, we're haven't taken over the city yet, but we're working on it.  With so many other delights in the city...it's a crowded market.  But we're confident Jesus will become the biggest hit. 

It's a privilege for me to plant a church.  Evangelism is about sowing and reaping.  The gifted in evangelism seem to experience the reaping side as a norm.  For those of us doing the work of the evangelist, our norm seems to be the sowing side.  But I see planting a church as building a community, an atmophere & environment, creating a "city within a city," all which is like a big net.  It takes awhile to build it, but in due season, our haul will come.  We've caught some fishes already, but we're anxious for more.  (Luke 5:4-6).  I may not be an evangelist, but I enjoy doing the work of one.

Ever since I became a Christian at 17 yrs old, people like Billy Graham, David Wilkerson, Reinhard Bonnke and lesser known evangelists have been heroes to me.  To me, the ability to be a "soul winner" was the ultimate in Christiandom; to have the privilege to lead someone to Jesus, to help them step into eternal life, and help them step into their destiny; what could be better??  Indeed, in my own life, I've had the privilege of helping several dozen people come to Christ.  Each time the feeling of awe is the same.  It is truly priceless.

Yet despite some moderate "success," I found something disconcerting along the way.  I really don't have a gifting in evangelism.  It doesn't come easy to me like math and push-ups.  I have to really work at it, and even when I work at it, it doesn't always "work."  For the longest time, this was hard for me to accept because I have such a high view of soul-winning (and still do; I sigh with envy at people that can turn a conversation at the drugstore into a "Let's pray" moment).

But then I read Paul's words to Timothy, his protege. "Be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."  2Ti 4:5.  In a moments time, my "worldview of evangelism" changed; I was comforted, relieved and invigorated.

Timothy, it seems was not the evangelist that Paul was.  Paul was this gospel machine, planting churches, igniting revival and turning the world upside down where ever he went. Acts 17:6.  Timothy, however, did not seem to have the same gifting; he didn't have that same "gear."  But how did Paul address this situation?  He didn't condemn, nor lay a "heavy" on Timothy.  He didn't tell him to become an evangelist; rather he encouraged Timothy to do the "work of an evangelist."  A masterful bit of pastoring by Paul and a genius turn of phrase.  In that short phrase ("do the work of an evangelist," as opposed to "be an evangelist"), Paul did several crucial things. 1) He released Timothy from any guilt or condemnation that he wasn't this amazing soul winner. 2) Paul recognized that not everyone is gifted in this area; i.e. Paul did not project his gifting on to Timothy and unnecessarily make Timothy feel like he should become something he couldn't. 3) Yet, Paul was able to encourage Timothy to "win souls" by re-contextualizing the assignment; not as one gifted in this area, but as one that can do the work of a gifted one.

What a joy this is.  If we're not an evangelist by gifting or calling, don't sweat it.  God doesn't expect blood from a turnip.  But we can still do the work of an evangelist and partake in the evangelist's bounty.  In otherwords, I don't have to feel this "inner pressure" to be something I'm not or can't be.  That's a life-changing realization, and a liberating one.  Just because you're not a pro, doesn't mean you can't enjoy golfing.  Go enjoy golfing.  Knock in a few birdies, maybe an eagle.  Your score still counts with God. 

Part 2:  How I'm doing the work of an evangelist.

3 minutes that could change your life.

Why Expository Preaching?



New incoming Wheaton Collge President, Dr. Philip Ryken gives a great synopsis.