Evangelist Canon J John, founder of the Philo Trust, said something at the Church Resources Exhibition in the UK that every church leader should hear. We are great at gathering, and not so great at going.
What he said
- “Research indicates that we spend over 95 per cent of all of our time, energy, money, resources and manpower on worship and wellbeing. We spend less than 5 per cent on witness.”
- In past Philo Trust research among 1,000 evangelical churches, only 36 had run any evangelism training in the previous ten years.
- Telling people to share their faith isn’t enough: “We’ve got to equip people.” He suggested an evangelism course every year.
- His challenge to pastors: “Lead the church as if you were an evangelist,” thinking about the flock, the fringe, and beyond the fringe.
Other speakers backed him up. Phil Stokes of REACH talked about microchurches that “haven’t grown much, but we have multiplied.” Bejoy Pal of the Ascension Trust, a street pastor, said the most important thing is to pray for people to be convicted by the Holy Spirit and get a fresh revelation of who God is.
My take
I love worship. But Jesus didn’t say “go into all the world and have a great service.” He said go. And He didn’t leave us to do it in our own strength: “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses.” The power is for the witness. If revival is stirring in the UK and on our campuses, the churches that train their people to share Jesus, and lean on the Spirit when they do, are the ones ready to catch it. Ask yourself this week: who’s one person I can tell?
Have a blessed day! And Happy Hacking!
