Evangelism and Home Missions!

8/12/2019 Evangelism and Home Missions!

1/21

EVANGELISM AND HOME MISSIONS:MENTALITY AND METHODOLOGY

Gordon Thomas Walker

As an old Scottish reacher once said! "#e$ore I %e&in to seak I ha'e a $e( thin&s to

sa)*" #e$ore I address the s+%,ect at hand! I (ish to e-ress m) deeest thanks $or t(o thin&s:

.irst $or the in'itation to &i'e this lect+re* It is 'er) enco+ra&in& and &rati$)in& to %e in'ited to

seak to s+ch a distin&+ished &ro+ as m) ch+rch is )et in the rocess o$ %ecomin& canonicall)

Orthodo-*/

Second! thanks to all o$ )o+ (ho ha'e ra)ed $or +s and heled +s in o+r ,o+rne) to

Orthodo-)* Witho+t the s+ort o$ the $ac+lt) o$ this school and so man) o$ )o+ #ishos!

0astors and Lait)! (e co+ld ne'er ha'e s+ccess$+ll) comleted that ,o+rne)* Ma) God %less

)o+ $or )o+r enco+ra&ement and hel*

The Issue Is Evangelization

The iss+e %e$ore +s is not rosel)ti1ation %+t e'an&eli1ation2 Ho(e'er! it m+st %e

admitted that the Orthodo- ha'e lost lar&e n+m%ers to rosel)ti1ation %) all sorts o$ sects and

denominations* In that resect the) o(e +s a &reat man)2 #+t to e'an&eli1e is to roclaim the

&ood ne(s o$ the 3in&dom o$ God* And there are m+ltit+des in o+r nation (ho ha'e little i$ an)

idea o$ the Orthodo- +nderstandin& o$ that messa&e* .+rthermore there are man) Orthodo-

(ho are onl) nominal 4hristians and need to %e it 5e'an&eli1ed6 $or their o(n $aith*

E'an&elism and missions re7+ires man) thin&s o$ the 4h+rch %+t t(o o$ the most

imortant re7+irements are the 0roer Mentalit) and an Ade7+ate Methodolo&)* Witho+t these

there (ill%e no consistent e'an&eli1ation* #) the "roer mentalit)!" I am seakin& rimaril) o$the necessar) attit+des essential to doin& e'an&elism and missions*

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2/21

The Proper Vision Is Needed

.irst! (e m+st adot the roer 'ision $or e'an&eli1ation* We m+st accet o+r Lord8s

command to roclaim the Gosel to "e'er) creat+re*" As He declared in Mark /9:/;/

A$ter(ard He aeared to the ele'en as the) sat at the ta%le= and He re%+ked their+n%elie$ and hardness o$ heart! %eca+se the) did not %elie'e those (ho had seen Hima$ter He had risen* And He said to them! 5Go into all the (orld and reach the &osel toe'er) creat+re* He (ho %elie'es and is %ati1ed (ill %e sa'ed= %+t he (ho does not%elie'e (ill %e condemned* And these si&ns (ill $ollo( those (ho %elie'e: In M) namethe) (ill cast o+t demons= the) (ill seak (ith ne( ton&+es= the) (ill take + serents=and i$ the) drink an)thin& deadl)! it (ill %) no means h+rt them= the) (ill la) hands onthe sick! and the) (ill reco'er*6

O+r Lord has &i'en +s the +nendin& command to $+l$ill the Great 4ommission in each

s+cceedin& &eneration* The (ords o$ that Great 4ommission ha'e challen&ed the 4h+rch $or

>??? )ears:

Then @es+s came and soke to them! sa)in&! All a+thorit) has %een &i'en to Me inhea'en and on earth* Go there$ore and make disciles o$ all the nations! %ati1in& themin the name o$ the .ather and o$ the Son and o$ the Hol) Sirit! teachin& them to o%ser'eall thin&s that I ha'e commanded )o+= and lo! I am (ith )o+ al(a)s! e'en to the end o$the a&e* Amen* Mt >


3/21

eole in F+ssia and the kraine (ith a minim+m o$ ? million o$ those %ein& Orthodo-

4hristians* An additional 99 million (ere incarcerated in la%or cams (ith a minim+m o$ ?;C

million %ein& Orthodo- 4hristians* Witho+t do+%t one o$ Stalin8s o%,ecti'es (as to %reak the

%ack o$ the Orthodo- 4h+rch in F+ssia* The de'il m+st see the Orthodo- 4h+rch as a &reat

threat to ha'e &one to s+ch e-treme meas+res to destro) it*

And in T+rke) as (ell as in other Islamic nationsB more than >? million Orthodo-

4hristians ha'e %een m+rdered in this cent+r)* When se'en E'an&elical missionaries (ere

mart)red %) the A+ca Indians in the earl) /C?8s it made headlines all o'er America* And

certainl) (e sho+ld take note o$ those mart)red $or 4hrist* #+t (e in the West ha'e %een

stran&el) i&norant and silent a%o+t the mass sla+&hter o$ o'er C? million Orthodo- 4hristians in

this cent+r)! not to mention the co+ntless mart)rs o$ the re'io+s / cent+ries* 4ertainl) no

other %od) o$ 4hristians has e'er s+$$ered so* Th+s! the Orthodo- 4h+rch has ri&htl) %een

called the "4h+rch o$ the Mart)rs"*

Orthodoy! #eri$a%s &est 'ept Se$ret

Ho(e'er! (e m+st not let this $act $orce +s to sta) in the "sie&e mentalit)"* That

mentalit) ma) %e necessar) $or s+r'i'al in those co+ntries (here the Orthodo- 4h+rch is still

%ein& ersec+ted so 'i&oro+sl) %+t! thank God! not in o+r co+ntr)* No (ar is e'er (on %)

lockin& o+rsel'es in o+r $ortresses* And don8t %e mistaken! (e are en&a&ed in a massi'e +nseen

(ar$are and an) e$$ort to do e'an&elism and missions (ill e'oke stron& attack $rom o+r enem)

the de'il* To o'ercome these attacks alon& (ith o+r o(n nat+ral inertia (e m+st make a stron&

commitment to the 'ision o$ $+l$illin& The Great 4ommission in o+r &eneration* Other(ise

Orthodo-) (ill &o on %ein& "America8s %est ket secret!" as 0eter Gill7+ist>! the $ormer

residin& #isho o$ the E'an&elical Orthodo- 4h+rch has declared*


4/21

This 'ision sho+ld ca+se +s to see the needs o$ eole aro+nd +s* O+r Lord @es+s 4hrist

descri%ed them as %ein& "shee (itho+t a sheherd*"

And @es+s (ent a%o+t all the cities and 'illa&es! teachin& in their s)na&o&+es! reachin&the &osel o$ the kin&dom! and healin& e'er) sickness and e'er) disease amon& theeole* #+t (hen He sa( the m+ltit+des! He (as mo'ed (ith comassion $or them!%eca+se the) (ere (ear) and scattered! like shee ha'in& no sheherd* Then He said toHis disciles! 5The har'est tr+l) is lenti$+l! %+t the la%orers are $e(* There$ore ra) theLord o$ the har'est to send o+t la%orers into His har'est*6 Mt :C;B

With s+ch a 'ision (e (ill %e&in $irst %) doin& (hat I mentioned at the %e&innin& e'an&eli1in&

amon& the Orthodo- themsel'es! callin& them %ack to a 'ital and (holehearted articiation in

their ch+rch* Man) o$ these shee are %roken and (o+nded and in need o$ the healin& %alm o$

Orthodo- li$e* The) eseciall) need the medicine o$ immortalit)! the Hol) E+charist*

Epansion o( the Eu$haristi$ )ene*al

We m+st ra) $or the contin+ation and e-ansion o$ the resent E+charistic rene(al in

the Orthodo- 4h+rch* It is a ca+se $or shame that still so $e( Orthodo- 4hristians take the

E+charist e'er) (eek* In the Ne( Testament 4h+rch it aears this sacrament (as recei'ed on

a dail) %asis Acts >:9B* When I and m) $ello( E*O*4* #ishos (ere in Istan%+l in @+ne o$

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5/21

earn their li'in& at a "sec+lar ,o%" %+t (ho assist the senior riest in carr)in& o+t an ade7+ate

re&imen o$ dail) ho+rs o$ ra)er as(ell as astoral care $or the $lock*

The Main Point! Vision

#ack to o+r main oint! (e m+st ha'e a roer 'ision i$ (e are to imlement and carr)

o+t a 'i&oro+s missions and e'an&elism ro&ram* And that 'ision re7+ires +s to see o+r eole

as o+r Lord sa( them as shee needin& n+rt+re! care! instr+ction and disciline* I$ (e do not

&ain this 'ision $or e'an&eli1in& o+r $lock $or Orthodo-)! man) o$ them (ill contin+e to %e

rosel)ti1ed into c+lts and sects o$ all kinds as so man) ha'e alread) e-erienced*

.+rthermore this 'ision o%'io+sl) sho+ld e-tend %e)ond o+r Orthodo- %o+ndaries i$ it is

to incl+de "e'er) creat+re" as 4hrist commanded* We m+st seek and &ain a 'ision $or the

m+ltit+des o$ nominal or non;4hristian eole (ho! i$ con$ronted (ith the claims o$ the tr+e

.aith in an attracti'e and comellin& manner! (o+ld resond* The) 4AN%e (on to 4hrist and

His Orthodo- 4h+rch %eca+se the Hol) Sirit has alread) reared them* Man) AFEh+n&r) and

seekin& %+t (e m+st de'elo (a)s to $ind them*

Never Pre+,udge Who May &e Interested

And (e m+st not re;,+d&e those (ho are aro+nd +s! ass+min& the) (o+ldn8t (ant to

hear the Orthodo- Gosel* Man) o$ +s are like the 'ac++m cleaner salesman (ho %e&ins his

sales resentation (ith! "Yo+ (o+ldn8t like to %+) m) 'ac++m cleaner! (o+ld )o+"

#ack in m) )o+n&er )ears (hen I (as more %old than I am no( in m) aroach to

(itnessin& $or 4hrist! I still (o+ld $all into the tra o$ ass+min& a certain erson (o+ld not %e

interested! %ased on o+t(ard aearances* An e-amle o$ this haened earl) one mornin& as I

(as $l)in& home $rom a (eekend colle&e retreat on a comm+ter $li&ht $rom Mil(a+kee to

4hica&o* A daer )o+n& %+siness man in a three;iece in strie s+it (ith his shinin& ne(

attache case and Wall Street @o+rnal sat do(n %eside me*

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6/21

Ha'in& ,+st come $rom a con$erence (hich emhasi1ed one;on;one (itnessin& $or 4hrist I

$elt o%li&ated to share m) (itness (ith this man* #+t as I looked him o'er I ,+d&ed that he (as

the s+ccess$+l (orldl) t)e (ho (o+ld ha'e no interest in sirit+al thin&s* So as (e $le( alon&

the str+&&le ra&ed in m) mind* "Sho+ld I seak to this man a%o+t 4hrist" "No! he (o+ldn8t %e

interested and (o+ld ro%a%l) %e t+rned o$$!" came %ack the mental rel)*

.inall) as the lane (as in its $inal aroach to the r+n(a) I (o+nd + m) co+ra&e and

%l+rted o+t! "Ha'e )o+ e'er made the (onder$+l disco'er) o$ kno(in& 4hrist as )o+r Sa'ior

and Lord" To m) astonishment his e)es %e&an to $ill (ith tears and he ans(ered "No! %+t I

need to*" Then in those $e( moments (e had in the landin& and ta-iin& to the ram I tried m)

%est to share 4hrist (ith him (hile he o+red o+t his con$ession o$ sins o$ the ni&ht %e$ore to

me*

We (ere still intentl) disc+ssin& his need $or $or&i'eness and a relationshi (ith 4hrist as

(e (alked + the ,et (a)* He seemed o%li'io+s to all the eole aro+nd +s in his ea&erness to

hear the messa&e* And I (as $eelin& e-ceedin&l) &+ilt) $or ha'in& (asted all the time (hile (e

(ere in $li&ht* There ha'e %een se'eral other similar e-eriences in m) li$etime (hen I ha'e re;

,+d&ed a erson not to %e interested in sirit+al thin&s onl) to $ind the) (ere intentl) so* We

m+st contin+all) ra) $or a 4hrist;like 'ision! the a%ilit) to see the heart needs o$ those aro+nd

+s! and the co+ra&e and comassion to do o+r %est in sharin& o+r $aith (ith them* Witho+t

'ision the eole erish 0ro'er%s >:/< 3@VB* We (ill NEVEFdo the (ork o$ missions and

e'an&elism +nless (e ha'e a 'ision $or it* I$ (e lack 'ision and its res+ltin& moti'ation let8s ask

God $or it*

-aith and .ove are Essential to our Mission

In addition to 'ision (e m+st seek to %e $illed (ith $aith in order to do e'an&elism and

missions* In Mark /9:/ @es+s re%+ked +n%elie$ and the res+ltin& hardness o$ heart* I$ (e are

$illed (ith +n%elie$ (e (ill ne'er %e +sed %) God to e'an&eli1e* .irst! (e m+st $+ll) %elie'e God

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7/21

lo'es all men! no matter (hat their %ack&ro+nd or racial ori&in* And that same Di'ine Lo'e

m+st $ill o+r hearts as (ell* I$ (e tr+l) %elie'e that God lo'es all eole and i$ (e allo( His

lo'e to $ill +s! (e (ill %e (illin& to do the (ork necessar) to share the Gosel (ith e'er)one*

.+rthermore! (e need to %elie'e those o+tside o$ 4hrist are erishin& that the) ha'e no

hoe $or eternal li$e o+tside o$ Him and His 4h+rch* I am con'inced that $e( o$ +s FEALLY

%elie'e this* In o+r l+ralistic societ) (ith its l+ralistic mentalit) (e m+st take care not to $all

into the attit+de that e'er)%od) is reall) O3 as lon& as the) are sincere*

&elieve that People /an &e /hanged

We also need to %elie'e eole can %e trans$ormed chan&ed into 4hrist8s likeness*

Sometimes the most er'erse and sin$+l eole are the most read) to &i'e their li$e to Him*

E'en the hardest heart can %e trans$ormed %) God8s o(er* St* @ohn 4hr)sostom (as

constantl) a$$irmin& that ANYONE(ho is (illin& to let the Lord ha'e His (a) in their li'es co+ld

%e sa'ed* In essence as lon& as there is li$e there is hoe*

As a )o+n& minister )ears a&o! I had soken se'eral times (ith a man in o+r comm+nit)

(ho (as not a 4hristian* He (as a &ood man tho+&h an alcoholic* One da) I had made an

eseciall) $er'ent aeal to him to &i'e his li$e to 4hrist* Instead o$ ans(erin& me he siml)

t+rned and (alked a(a)* I later con$ided to m) (i$e that I $eared he had committed the

5+nardona%le sin6 and that I ne'er intended to seak to him a&ain* Thank$+ll) God didn8t ha'e

the same oinion as I did as onl) si- months later this man (ent to a $amil) &atherin& (here he

kne( some o$ the ne(l) con'erted $amil) mem%ers (ere st+d)in& the #i%le to&ether* That

ni&ht he h+m%l) reented o$ his sins and asked 4hrist into his li$e and the ne-t S+nda) resented

himsel$ to the 4h+rch $or #atism! m+ch to m) s+rrise* And tho+&h he had %een addicted $or

)ears he ne'er to+ched another drink o$ alcohol $rom that time +ntil he died* God is a%le to

trans$orm li'es e'en (hen (e ha'e &i'en + on them* It is imortant $or +s to %elie'e this and

to kee tr+stin& and ra)in& $or the sal'ation o$ those that (e lo'e*

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8/21

&elieve God /an Use 0ou

.inall) )o+ need to %elie'e that God can +se YO to %rin& others to 4hrist* O+r

tendenc) is to %elie'e that onl) those (ho are eseciall) &i$ted or trained can lead eole to

4hrist* And it is tr+e that the catechesis instr+ctionB o$ a con'ert to 4hrist sho+ld %e done %)

the astor or roerl) trained catechist* #+t the most imortant $irst stes o$ lo'in& (itness and

aeal to the non;4hristian can %e done %) an)one* In $act it is o$ten the enth+siastic ne(

con'ert (ho can ha'e the most imact on a non;4hristian*

n%elie$ (ill re'ent )o+ $rom seakin& o+t %oldl) $or 4hrist* Yo+ (ill tend to %elie'e

that (hat )o+ sa) ma) "t+rn o$$" the erson (ith (hom )o+ are sharin& )o+r (itness* And it is

ossi%le to do that i$ (e e-hi%it an arro&ant! s+erior or "kno(;it;all" attit+de* #+t i$ )o+ seak

in lo'e! $aith and h+milit)! it (ill ha'e its e$$ect on the erson* E'en i$ the) rel) harshl) or

aear to %e hostile to )o+! the) (ill ne'er $or&et that someone soke to them in lo'e a%o+t

their relationshi (ith 4hrist* And erhas some da) that seed )o+ lanted (ill %ear $r+it* At

the least i$ it (as lanted in $aith the Lord (ill re(ard )o+r $aith$+lness*

The ttitude o( 1u#ility is Essential

As alread) mentioned! (e m+st ea&erl) and sincerel) seek to &ain h+milit) o$ heart!

(hich is an essential element o$ the mentalit) necessar) $or missions and e'an&elism* God hates

ride and so does the (orld eseciall) i$ it is reli&io+s ride* .ather Ale-ander Schmemann! o$

%lessed memor)! +sed to (arn +s o$ten o$ the dan&er o$ tri+mhalism that sirit o$ s+eriorit)

instead o$ h+milit) (hich resem%les so closel) the 0hariseeism o$ @es+s8 da)* In the area I came

$rom it isn8t necessaril) (ise to make a %i& iss+e o$ the tr+th$+l claim that the Orthodo- 4h+rch

is the tr+e ch+rch* This is also claimed %) the 4h+rch o$ 4hrist! the Mormons! the @eho'ah8s

Witnesses and n+mero+s others*


9/21

To %e s+re! eole need to %e ta+&ht the tr+th o$ the historic ori&ins and contin+it) o$ the

Orthodo- 4h+rch* It has %een a &reat com$ort to me to learn that it is the 4h+rch $o+nded %)

o+r Lord and His Aostles* And it has remained tr+e to the Aostolic $aith and ractice* #+t

this needs to %e ta+&ht in &reat h+milit)* A$ter all! it is not thro+&h o+r merit %+t onl) %) &race

that (e ha'e recei'ed this +nderstandin&*

@es+s said! "I$ an)one desires to come a$ter me! let him den) himsel$! and take + his cross

dail) and $ollo( me" Lk :>B* This re7+ires that in h+milit) I m+st die to m) o(n sel$;

a&&randi1in& ro&rams! am%itions! desires! and ride$+l attit+des* .or +s (ho astor ch+rches

(e m+st %e eseciall) care$+l not to enter into an e'an&elism ro&ram (ith the cometiti'e sirit

o$ (antin& the %i&&est ch+rch in to(n or in the diocese* We m+st e'er remem%er that (e

e'an&eli1e %eca+se the lo'e o$ God comels +s to seek the lost shee and %rin& them to 4hrist*

We m+st &o $orth in h+milit) to do this! not in arro&ance or a sel$;seekin& (a)*

Personal /o##it#ent to /hrist Is Essential

To %e e$$ecti'e in missions and e'an&elism (e m+st make and li'e o+t a li$e o$ ersonal

commitment to 4hrist* As (e ra) o$ten each (eek in the Di'ine Lit+r&) and Dail) Ho+rs! "Let

+s commit o+rsel'es and each other and all o+r li'es to 4hrist o+r God*" A li$e o$ &en+ine heart

commitment to 4hrist is (insome to others* H)ocris) in this area is o$$ensi'e to all* A&ain o+r

Lord said:

I$ an)one comes to Me and does not hate his $ather and mother! (i$e and children!%rothers and sisters! )es! and his o(n li$e also! he cannot %e M) discile* And (hoe'erdoes not %ear his cross and come a$ter Me cannot %e M) discile***So like(ise! (hoe'ero$ )o+ does not $orsake all that he has cannot %e M) discile* Lk /:>9!>J!B

This kind o$ commitment re7+ires m) o%edience to 4hrist in (itnessin& to others* I m+st %e

care$+l not to %e indolent or +nconcerned a%o+t this 'ital matter* I$ I allo( m)sel$! I (ill $ind all

manner o$ e-c+ses not to &o o+t and 'isit in homes or to seak to others %eside me on the lane


10/21

or in other oort+ne moments a%o+t 4hrist* In $act! as I ha'e %een (ritin& this ara&rah on a

$li&ht $rom Santa #ar%ara I ha'e %een comelled to la) do(n m) encil and share 4hrist (ith

the )o+n& man in the seat ne-t to me* E'en a$ter more than C )ears o$ attemtin& to &i'e m)

(itness $or 4hrist in n+m%erless sit+ations! it is still di$$ic+lt and re7+ires a rocess o$ d)in& to

sel$* #+t the ,o) o$ it is (orth it all* Incidentall) he t+rned o+t to %e a $ine )o+n& militar)

o$$icer and acti'e la) minister in the 4atholic 4h+rch*B

This ersonal sacri$ice o$ commitment to 4hrist and sharin& Him (ith others m+st %e

made %) %oth o+r cler&) and o+r eole* It is e'er)one8s callin&* Not e'er)one is called to %e

an e'an&elist! %+t e'er)one is called to share 4hrist (ith others %) (ord or deed or %oth* Later

I (ill attemt to address some o$ the 7+estions a%o+t ho( one &oes a%o+t doin& this and ho( a

astor ma) %ecome more e$$ecti'e in callin& and trainin& his $lock to this li$e;&i'in& task*

Needed! Solidarity #ong Orthodo /hristians

Another asect o$ the roer mentalit) $or missions and e'an&elism is de'eloment o$ a

&reater solidarit) amon& Orthodo- 4hristians* #eca+se o$ the relati'el) recent immi&rant

ori&ins o$ Orthodo-) (e are still $aced (ith considera%le $ra&mentation! and in some cases!

isolation o$ Orthodo- 4hristians and arishes* There contin+es to %e too m+ch s+sicion and

rel+ctance amon& some o$ +s to (ork to&ether to reach America $or Orthodo-)*

The ractice o$ lo'e and the reco&nition o$ the tr+e %asis o$ +nit) amon& +s is essential

to o+r (itness* We all kno( and %elie'e the 4h+rch transcends ethnic %o+ndaries %+t (e don8t

al(a)s ractice it* nit) not onl) in theor) %+t in ractice (ill &reatl) aid and accelerate the

&ro(th and sread o$ Orthodo-) in America* O+r Lord ra)ed $or this +nit) in His Hi&h

0riestl) ra)er:

I do not ra) $or these alone! %+t also $or those (ho (ill %elie'e in Me thro+&h their(ord= that the) all ma) %e one! as Yo+! .ather! are in Me! and I in Yo+= that the) alsoma) %e one in s! that the (orld ma) %elie'e that Yo+ sent Me* And the &lor) (hichYo+ &a'e Me I ha'e &i'en them! that the) ma) %e one ,+st as We are one: I in them!

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11/21

and Yo+ in Me= that the) ma) %e made er$ect in one! and that the (orld ma) kno( thatYo+ ha'e sent Me! and ha'e lo'ed them as Yo+ ha'e lo'ed Me @ohn /J:>?;>B*

Onl) as the (orld sees o+r tr+e solidarit) e-ressed in tr+e +nit) and lo'e (ill the) see 4hrist in

+s and %e dra(n to Him thro+&h (itness and missions*

This solidarit) needs to %e e-ressed $rom the to do(n* O+r hierarchs are d+t);%o+nd

%e$ore God to (ork tirelessl) and sel$lessl) in rod+cin& +nit) amon& their ranks* The resent

+ncanonical anomal) in the hierarchical str+ct+re o$ Orthodo-) in America siml) m+st not %e

allo(ed to e-ist inde$initel)*

And do(n on the arish le'el (e m+st la%or sacri$iciall) to e-ress this solidarit)* O+r

commitment is to 4hrist and His 3in&dom a%o'e an) $a'orite %+t not necessaril) 4hristian

ractice* I am ersonall) a(are o$ a sit+ation in (hich the +se o$ %ell) dancers and $ort+ne

tellers in an ann+al arish $esti'al &reatl) o$$ended a small &ro+ o$ sincere seekers a$ter the

Orthodo- .aith* M) ra)er is that the) (ill )et see thro+&h these e-ternal train&s to the

"earl o$ &reat rice" %eneath*

#+t let o+r solidarit) in the Orthodo- 4h+rch %e e-ressed in o+r total commitment to

4hrist and the +nit) o$ His 4h+rch and a lo'e $or the lost (orld aro+nd +s rather than in certaincomm+nit) ractices that re$lect ne&ati'el) a&ainst the dee sirit+alit) o$ o+r 4h+rch* Not that

I am oosed to the en,o)ment o$ Orthodo- comm+nit) li$e as e-ressed in o+r $easts and

$esti'als* 4ertainl) o$ all eole! tr+e 4hristians sho+ld %e a%le to en,o) li$e and $ind tr+e

leas+re in these comm+nit) endea'ors* In $act! one o$ the most o(er$+l $orces the Orthodo-

4h+rch has &oin& $or it is its stron& emhasis on $amil) and comm+nit) li$e* #+t let +s kee this

emhasis roerl) %ased and $oc+sed on lo'e $or God and allmen*

//


12/21

We Must 2evelop Genuine Epe$tation

Another imortant element o$ the missionar) and e'an&elistic mentalit) is a &en+ine

EK0E4TATION o$ &reater thin&s to come2 We sho+ld e-ect God to do miracles as @es+s

redicted (o+ld haen*

And these si&ns (ill$ollo( those (ho %elie'e: In M) name the) (ill cast o+r demons=the) (ill seak (ith ne( ton&+es= the) (ill take + serents= and i$ the) drink an)thin&deadl)! it (ill %) no means h+rt them= the) (ill la) hands on the sick! and the) (illreco'er* Mk /9:/J;/


13/21


14/21

(e e'er e-ect to reach the masses (ith o+r messa&e* And o%'io+sl) this! alon& (ith sendin&

o+t e'an&elists and missionaries! (ill re7+ire &reat s+ms o$ mone)*

E'en i$ (e limit o+r e'an&elism and missions ro&rams to a local 4h+rch! o+r astors

and eole m+st %e a(are that this (ill re7+ire the sacri$icial &i'in& o$ mone)* The #i%le

teaches that (e all astors $irstB m+st &i'e at least /? o$ o+r income to the 4h+rch on a

re&+lar %asis*

No(here in the Ne( Testament are (e told that Malachi :/?;// has %een rescinded*

5#rin& all the tithes into the storeho+se! that there ma) %e $ood in M) ho+se! and ro'eMe no( in this!6 sa)s the Lord o$ hosts! 5I$ I (ill not oen $or )o+ the (indo(s o$hea'en and o+r o+t $or )o+ s+ch %lessin& that there (ill not %e room eno+&h to recei'e

it* And I (ill re%+ke the de'o+rer $or )o+r sakes! so that he (ill not destro) the $r+it o$)o+r &ro+nd! nor shall the 'ine $ail to %ear $r+it $or )o+ in the $ield*6

A care$+l st+d) o$ this assa&e re'eals se'eral imortant $acts* .irst! sacri$icial &i'in&

&oes %e)ond the tenth* It incl+des tithes and o$$erin&s* O$$erin&s are those &i$ts o$ten called

"alms" in the #i%leB that &o %e)ond the tithe* And once )o+8'e &i'en +ntil it "h+rts!" then kee

&i'in& +ntil it 7+its h+rtin&* @es+s ta+&ht that alms&i'in& is e'er) %it as essential to o+r

sirit+alit) as is $astin& and ra)ers Mt 9:/;B*

Secondl)! the assa&e in Malachi teaches +s to %rin& o+r tithes and o$$erin&s into the

storeho+se* I ersonall) %elie'e $or 4hristians this means the 4h+rch! not siml) e'er) charit)

that comes alon&* Sometimes (e &i'e eole the imression that &i'in& to or&ani1ed charities is

e7+al in imortance to &i'in& to the 4h+rch* And some o$ these charities are do(n ri&ht

sec+lar! i$ not anti;4hristian! %ein& in'ol'ed in sonsorin& a%ortion and other anti;4hristian

acti'ities*

In o+r a&e o$ a$$l+ence! there are man) (ho can &i'e m+ch more than a tenth o$ their

income to the 4h+rch and still not %e makin& a sacri$ice* I once kne( a man (ho &a'e C o$

his income to his ch+rch and to 4hristian missions* Tr+e! he (as a (ealth) man and his

remainin& C (as more than eno+&h $or him and his $amil) to li'e on* #+t ne'ertheless he (as

/


15/21

doin& somethin& that I ersonall) ha'e ne'er kno(n an)one else to do* Sadl)! I cannot reort

that he (as an Orthodo- 4hristian* Ima&ine (hat (e co+ld do i$ s+ddenl) all Orthodo-

4hristians in America %e&an to tithe and make sacri$icial o$$erin&s a%o'e the tithe to the 4h+rch

As I $acetio+sl) said to the $ac+lt) and st+dents at Hol) 4ross School o$ Theolo&) the ni&ht I

&a'e this messa&e! it (o+ld take the 4h+rch leadershi )ears to $i&+re o+t (hat to do (ith all

the mone)2 We (o+ld ha'e MOFEthan (e need to e'an&eli1e and do mission (ork* We (o+ld

ha'e a sit+ation like Moses (ho had to tell the eole to STO0&i'in& to %+ild the Ta%ernacle

%eca+se the) had &i'en so &enero+sl) that no more (as needed* When )o+ think a%o+t it! that

(as an incredi%le circ+mstance2 ?h that Orthodo- 4hristians toda) co+ld %ecome that hi&hl)

moti'ated in lo'e $or o+r Lord and His 4h+rch2

Another imortant lesson $rom Malachi is that God made certain romises to those (ho

$aith$+ll) &i'e tithes and o$$erin&s* .irst! He romised that s+ch a ractice (o+ld eliminate need

$rom amon& the eole o$ God* In other (ords there (o+ld %e lent) (ith (hich to carr) on

the ro&rams o$ the 4h+rch (ith an a%+ndance le$t o'er $or carin& $or the oor*

.+rthermore! He romised to re%+ke the "de'o+rer" i$ (e are $aith$+l in tithes and

o$$erin&s* M) o(n arish is made + almost entirel) o$ )o+n& $amilies (ho are str+&&lin& "to

make ends meet*" #+t I ha'e consistentl) ta+&ht them that the) cannot a$$ord not to &i'e tithes

and o$$erin&s %eca+se the) can8t a$$ord to ha'e the "de'o+rer" attack them* A (ealth) erson

on the other hand can e-erience an attack %) the de'o+rer and still ha'e lent) le$t o'er*

What a ,o) it has %een $or me to (atch these $aith$+l )o+n& $amilies &ro( slo(l) %+t

steadil) in $inancial sta%ilit) and roserit)* To m) kno(led&e not one o$ the $aith$+l tithers has

)et e-erienced a ma,or $inancial disaster $rom (hich the) co+ld not reco'er* And I am

con$ident that sho+ld s+ch a re'ersal haen in the $+t+re! %eca+se the) ha'e %een $aith$+l! God

(o+ld resc+e them $rom it* And He mi&ht e'en +se the 5storeho+se6 i*e* the 4h+rchB to do it*

There is )et another lesson o$ imortance $rom this assa&e: God said "Tr) Me"! "0ro'e

Me"! "Test Me!6 and see i$ I (ill not oen $or )o+ the (indo(s o$ hea'en and o+r o+t $or )o+

/C


16/21

s+ch %lessin& that there (ill not %e room eno+&h to recei'e it* What an o$$er2 Ho( can (e the

eole o$ God kee re$+sin& it and in so doin& %e &+ilt) o$ ro%%in& God Virt+all) no(here else

in Scrit+re does God &i'e +s the ri&ht to "test" Him or "tr)" Him* Here He 'irt+all) commands

it2 I$ all o$ +s (o+ld %elie'e God and ste o+t in $aith on these commands and romises! (e

(o+ld ha'e more than eno+&h to s+ort e'er) need) e'an&elism! missions! and social ro&ram

the 4h+rch is or co+ld %e in'ol'ed in*

#ear (ith me $or t(o more comments concernin& ste(ardshi and missions* I$ )o+ are a

erson o$ means! kee in mind that "it is God that &i'es )o+ the o(er to &et (ealth" Dt


17/21

n Organized Stru$ture and Progra# is Needed

No e$$ecti'e e'an&elism &ets done +nless (e or&ani1e and lan $or it* An o'erall lan

sho+ld %e de'eloed (ith a calendar o$ e'ents care$+ll) laid o+t* Then a secial mo%ili1ation

dinner can %e held to &enerate enth+siasm $or the ro&ram and enlist recr+its to hel carr) it o+t*

To hel )o+ (ith de'eloin& )o+r ro&ram )o+ ma) (ish to order and st+d) .r* @ohn 4hakos8

ro&ram entitled "4ome Fecei'e the Li&ht" or the recentl) de'eloed O4A e'an&elism and

o+treach ro&ram* An) ro&ram )o+ +se sho+ld %e adated to the needs o$ )o+r o(n arish*

)eligious Survey is an I#portant &eginning

One o$ the most di$$ic+lt %+t imortant comonents o$ an ade7+ate e'an&elismmission

ro&ram is the reli&io+s s+r'e)* @es+s said (e are to "reach the &osel to e'er) creat+re" Mk

/9:/CB* #+t +nless (e kno( (ho these eole are and (here the) li'e (e can8t accomlish this*

Yo+ (ill o$ten $ind eole (ho li'e in the shado( o$ the 4h+rch (hose hearts ha'e %een

reared %) the Hol) Sirit $or )o+r (itness*

As a #atist astor I +sed the reli&io+s s+r'e) cens+sB on se'eral occasions to locate

rosects $or the 4h+rch* Alon& (ith the door;to;door s+r'e)! I +sed a ma sho(in& e'er)

ho+se in the area s+r'e)ed* Di$$erent colored ins marked 4h+rch mem%ers and rosecti'e

mem%ers* This is +se$+l in linkin& + acti'e 4h+rch $amilies (ith those sho(in& stron& interest*

To take a s+r'e) o$ the area )o+ (ish to %e&in (ith! )o+ m+st $irst recr+it s+r'e) takers*

Then cond+ct t(o or three trainin& classes to ac7+aint them (ith ho( to $ill o+t the $orms and

ho( to aroach a ho+se and its occ+ants* .or e-amle! a co+le (o+ld rin& the door%ell!

then ste %ack t(o stes so as not to aear o'er%earin&* With a cheer$+l smile )o+ e-lain

(ho )o+ are! and ask $or the in$ormation (hile standin& at the door* When $inished! )o+ lea'e a

co+le o$ %roch+res e-lainin& the Orthodo- 4h+rch and &i'in& in$ormation a%o+t )o+r local

arish* A$ter a cordial in'itation to attend 4h+rch! )o+ lea'e*

/J


18/21

In correlation (ith de'eloin& s+r'e);takin& teams! the astor m+st recr+it and train

$ollo(;+ 'isitation teams to 'isit those rosects &leaned $rom the s+r'e)* Yo+ ma) %e

s+rrised at ho( man) eole are (illin& to articiate i$ lo'in&l) and ositi'el) recr+ited*

There (ill need to %e se'eral e'an&elism trainin& classes teachin& these eole ho( to

comm+nicate their $aith* This %e&ins %) ha'in& them (rite a three;min+te "ersonal testimon)"

o$ their li$e in 4hrist and His 4h+rch* The) sho+ld emhasi1e ho( the) came to the Lord and

(hat He and His 4h+rch ha'e meant to them since* This short ersonal testimon) sho+ld %e

%asicall) memori1ed so the erson is not ca+&ht o$$ &+ard (hen the oort+nit) $or (itness

resents itsel$*

D+rin& the e'an&elism trainin& classes each mem%er sho+ld ha'e the oort+nit) to &i'e

his testimon) %e$ore the class $or e-erience and ositi'e rein$orcement* The &oal is to seek to

comm+nicate )o+r o(n e-erience (ith 4hrist in an intelli&i%le and aealin& manner* One o$

the ositi'e side e$$ects o$ this roced+re is the stren&thenin& o$ the indi'id+al8s $aith as he or

she (rites o+t and seaks his e-erience* Other s+%,ects that sho+ld %e co'ered in the

e'an&elism trainin& class are ho( to meet eole and %e&in an e'an&elistic con'ersation! the

%asic theolo&ical content needin& to %e comm+nicated! ho( to lead a home #i%le st+d)! alon&

(ith the %asics o$ ersonal sirit+alit) and ra)er li$e*

S#all Groups re n I#portant Ele#ent

To ha'e an e$$ecti'e e'an&elism and missions ro&ram in the local arish (e m+st de'elo

a s)stem o$ small &ro+s (hich are oriented to(ard %oth astoral care and o+treach* These can

take the $orm o$ home $ello(shis! home #i%le st+dies! a&ae &ro+s! etc* We in the E*O*4*

started (ith "ho+se ch+rches" %+t later $elt the need in areas (here there (ere a n+m%er o$

these! to com%ine them into lar&er con&re&ations*

The lar&est 0rotestant ch+rch in the (orld is an Assem%l) o$ God 4h+rch di'ided into

(hat the) call "ho+se ch+rches" (ith an elder o'er each* ndo+%tedl) (e co+ld learn m+ch

/


19/21

a%o+t o+treach i$ (e st+died s+ch a con&re&ation* The di$$erence in o+r e'an&elism and theirs

(o+ld %e that (e are e'an&eli1in& to %rin& eole into the $+llness o$ the $aith* #+t kee in

mind as )o+ de'elo these &ro+s that the leadershi m+st %e trained to kee the &ro+s oen to

stran&ers (ith de$inite attit+des and actions o$ o+treach* Other(ise the) (ill %ecome 7+ickl)

t+rned in(ard and lose their e'an&elistic imact*

ttra$tively Printed Materials are Essential

As (e ha'e made o+r lon& and sometimes di$$ic+lt od)sse) to orthodo-) (e ha'e

o%ser'ed a &reat need $or more attracti'el) rinted e'an&elistic materials* We m+st de'elo

eas);to;read aestheticall) aealin& amhlets! %ooklets! ma&a1ines and lea$lets to distri%+te in

lar&e 7+antities* #+t as re'io+sl) disc+ssed this (ill take lar&e s+ms o$ mone) and can onl) %e

$inanced %) the $aith$+l tithes and o$$erin&s o$ the eole and arishes*

In this same 'ein (e Orthodo- m+st sto i&norin& the +se o$ radio and tele'ision* We

(ill ne'er reach the masses (ith o+r messa&e +ntil (e learn ho( to adat to and +se the media*

I (o+ld like to challen&e o+r seminaries to consider o$$erin& co+rses o$ instr+ction in this $ield*

@+st %eca+se TV and radio e'an&elists ha'e so mis+sed and a%+sed it is no reason $or +s to

a%andon the media to the heterodo-! the (orld and the de'il* In $act o+r $aith (o+ld teach +s

that (e are o%li&ated to redeem all thin&s $or 4hrist! incl+din& radio and tele'ision*

Po*er(ul Prea$hing is Needed

Tho+&h lo&icall) this ma) %elon& earlier in this resentation I (ish to close (ith a $e(

(ords a%o+t reachin&* Witho+t do+%t! the &reatest reacher in the histor) o$ the 4h+rch

e-cet $or @es+s Himsel$B (as St* @ohn 4hr)sostom* His homilies and commentaries are a &reat

and imortant art o$ the (ritten herita&e o$ Orthodo-)* His method o$ 'erse;%);'erse

reachin& thro+&h %ooks o$ the #i%le is 'er) m+ch needed toda) i$ (e are to de'elo e$$ecti'e

e'an&elism and e'an&elists* O+r seminaries m+st de'elo more than nominal co+rses in

/


20/21

homiletics* We need ad'anced co+rses in reachin&* #+t ma) God ha'e merc) on +s i$ (e do

not stri'e to de'elo h+m%le! &odl)! Sirit;$illed reachers* Too o$ten reachers &et carried

a(a) (ith themsel'es and s+%tl) sometimes o'ertl)B +se their reachin& to romote

themsel'es* We m+st ne'er $or&et that it is God8s kin&dom (e are %+ildin&! not o+r o(n2

This resentation has onl) li&htl) to+ched m) s+%,ect EVANGELISM AND MISSIONS:

MENTALITY AND METHODOLOGY* It is m) ra)er that the Hol) Sirit ma) +se it to stir

someone to &reater moti'ation and e$$ecti'eness in this e-tremel) need) area o$ o+r 4h+rch li$e*

Ma) God ena%le +s ALLto %ecome %etter (itnesses $or 4hrist and His 4h+rch2

>?


21/21

/This rocess $rom the E'an&elical Orthodo- 4h+rch to the canonical Antiochian Orthodo- 4hristian Archdiocese (ascomleted .e%r+ar) >/! /.r* 0eter Gill7+ist is resentl) the director o$ the Deartment o$ Missions and E'an&elism $or the Antiochian Orthodo-4hristian Archdiocese*

Date post:	03-Jun-2018
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