Problems in Local Evangelism

by Jack Cutter

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Since my personal experience in evangelism has been in America, this will be where the thrust of my remarks will be centered.

Specifically today, my remarks will be directed toward problems, as I perceive them, that prevail in local evangelism. By "local evangelism" I mean "located work" and "gospel meetings." However, if I were to consider the broader scope of evangelism in America, the field I believe "ripest for harvest" would be in the black communities.

In an attempt to expedite making the points that I desire to emphasize in this study, I have prepared two charts for your consideration.



Chart One: Defining the Process of Congregational Growth On this chart, you will notice that after introduction to a ministering church five categories are given. They are:

(1) Foundation Instruction,
(2) Preparation in Ministry,
(3) Involvement in Ministry,
(4) Appointed to Ministry, and,
(5) Direction of Ministry.

Every new convert to Christ should be introduced to the church as a ministering body. It would stifle his/her growth to see only a partial view of the church. Momentarily, I will briefly review these five categories. At this time, however, I will introduce the second chart.



Chart Two: The Growth Cycle Every growth cycle remains constant. The process remains the same in animal, plant, or any other growth pattern. Hence, a similar condition operates in spiritual growth (1 Pet. 2:2).

Problem One The first problem of evangelism occurs when congregations "send" or "call" individuals to a work, without that person or these churches having the knowledge, training, or ability to perform the work While a preacher may be outstanding in the pulpit, while he may also be excellent in converting sinners,, if that individual lacks the expertise to develop disciples into a ministering body of believers, he does not qualify to do evangelistic work. The Great Commission involves "preaching" and "teaching" (Mt. 28:19-20).

Thus, it becomes imperative that each of us understand the process of developing congregations in whatever phase of development we may find them. Therefore, an understanding of the growth cycle of a congregation becomes imperative. Using the first chart, a brief review of the process will be given.

Once an individual has been converted to Christ, the growth process should be immediately initiated First, the evangelist or someone trained to do it, must involve this person (the new con vert) in a systematic plan of teaching until he/she is grounded in apostolic teaching. This wouldbe the formative phase.

The second step involves assisting this person to discover their talents and helping him/her develop their capabilities with a view to ministering While the second step involves preparation, the third step entails training There is no place in the ministering Church for unfruitful servants This phase of development en compasses the childhood cycle of growth

The fourth and fifth steps in the process comprehend the de velopment into the mature phase of the growth cycle. In the last two steps in the growth process, from the on going developing ministering body of believers, there must be chosen and identified by the congregation an expanded leadership to keep pace with its growth These leaders are chosen because of the leadership skills and ethical qualities These appointed members are called deacons. As the natural growth cycle continues others will be chosen that have grown through all growth stages of a ministering church. If all stages of the growth cycle have performed properly, the natural outcome of it will be elderships.

In summary, if any of the forgoing stages are ignored, or becomes deficient, the church will be hindered in becoming or maintaining its divinely assigned function. It would be interesting and beneficial to know how many congregations and preachers understand and practice the growth cycle. Of interest also, how many, congregations would welcome and permit an evangelist to implement the growth cycle in their group—if it required changes in the infrastructure?

Second Problem This problem occurs in what we classify as located work In America, most congregations have existed for years Also, since these churches are considered to be independent entities functioning autonomously, this creates a gigantic problem for an evangelist who understands his work.

This problem has many facets. I will mention a few. First, a congregation and a preacher may agree upon a work that would clearly identify him as sustaining a hired pastor relationship with them. This practice cannot be defended by a scriptural precedent. Yet, it does occur.

Second, problems occur when the evangelist understands his work differently than the congregation does. For example, an evangelist may determine his role with a church to be basically "corrective" in nature. He arrives at this conclusion after a careful evaluation of the church. In his evaluation, the group has passed through the formative and childhood stages and has reached maturity without being scripturally structured. Also, he determines that the congregation has existed for twenty-five years or longer, basically in limbo. In addition, he concludes that the system of governing the congregation conforms to a humanly devised scheme and is permanently entrenched. From this assessment, he determines the parameters of his work obligations with this group. While at the same time, the congregation considers him to be an employee hired to do their work.

Taking this situation as an example, consider that even if before agreeing to work with them, he advises them of his evaluation and intentions, the chances for a successful work with this church will be slim, if not impossible. In this type of work situation, most likely, he will be "fired." Therefore, to overcome similar situations from occurring, congregations and preachers need to be taught and trained in a clearly defined system of evangelism. Without this awareness, this situation will be repeated.

Third Problem The third major problem in evangelism involves preacher support. More specifically, the way they are paid. Although seldom practiced, my firm and steadfast contention, based on New Testament examples, is that all preachers holding meetings, involved in located work, or mission work, should be supported in the same way. Since the apostles, every functionary that operates within the church or upon society is the result of the growth process that I mentioned earlier. Therefore, since all offices are a creation of some ministering church, they are, thus, answerable to the' church directly or indirectly.

More specifically, I believe scripturally mature congregations should oversee and send evangelists into the 'field (Acts 11:22). A part of the churches' responsibility in "sending" evangelists into the field entails that they be responsible for his financial needs (1 Jn. 6; Tit. 3:13). The church requesting and receiving assistance should never be the group who are the major contributors to his support. Also, they should not directly, oversee his work. As long as the current system of support continues, the practice of "hiring" and "firing" will continue.

A Crisis Exists In The Church Recently, I heard someone define insanity as: "To continue to do the same thing hoping for different results I think we all recognize, if we continue to practice the same infrastructure growth practices exemplified in most churches today, we can ex-. pect the same results as in the past Also, I would be inclined to believe that most will agree that a sensible system of training and supporting evangelists does not exist, at least in America.

While at the same time, I trust and pray that major concern and attention will be shown relative to churches in America and abroad that have reached maturity and function with a system of governing fashioned after .a. human system. It is frightening to me that almost every church in this country operates in this condition. In the first century, the apostles developed churches to Maturity within ten years While in this century, it is common for churches to have been alive for twenty-five to seventy-five,, years, yet in many of these churches, they function with a humanly devised system of governing It seems to me, brethren, that some where along the line, we either have not functioned on the right track or we have digressed from it.

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