Evangelism Seminar

 

LYCOMING CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Volume 2010, Issue 3

On April 10th, we will sponsor a seminar titled “Living and Telling”, a workshop to help us improve our personal witness to friends, family, neighbors and co-workers.  Sheri and Alan Penman along with John and Sandy Mackin, who are missionaries we support through the Campus Crusade organization will be our mentors for the day.  This seminar will last from 9a.m. until 4p.m. on Saturday, April 10th.

“Living and Telling”

             Personal evangelism is an integral part of the mission of Christ’s church.  So much so that when Christ was about to ascend into heaven, he left us with these words of exhortation: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, Go! Go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:18-19).  To be a faithful, effective follower of Christ is to realize that we are a sent people. People sent to share the love of Christ with the unsaved. 

             We all know sharing our faith can sometimes be a scary, unnerving experience.  I am reminded of the story of the fearful monk. The Abbot of the monastery called the novice monk into his office and instructed him to give the homily in the next morning's chapel.  Well, the novice was struck with fear.  (By the way, when there are surveys taken in the United States of greatest fears, the number one fear is to stand up in front of a group of people and give a speech.  Things like nuclear explosions, terrible disease, unemployment, and even death, they came down the list after standing in front of a group and talking). This young novice had apparently voted many times in the surveys, because there was no way that he was going to do it; but the Abbot insisted.

             So the next morning, chapel came.  He stood in the pulpit.  The rest of the brothers were there. His hands were trembling. His knees were knocking. His voice was quivering.  There was a long pause before he first spoke, and then he asked a question. “Do you know what I am going to say?"  They had no idea, so all of their heads went back and forth almost in unison, as if it were choreographed.  He said, "Neither do I.  Let’s stand for the benediction." The Abbot did not appreciate this.  So he called the young novice into his office and said, "You must do this, it’s for your own good. Tomorrow is your day again.  Be prepared, and this time do it right."

             The next day was almost the exact repeat of the day before.  All the brothers sat there before him.  His hands shook. His knees knocked.  His voice trembled.  Long pause. "Do you know what I am going to say?" he asked.   Well, after the previous day's experience, they had a pretty good idea.  All their heads went, "Yes, we know what you are going to say." "Then there's no need for me to tell you.  Let's stand for the benediction." The Abbot was angry beyond description.  He brought the young man into his office and said, "If you do that again, you are going to be in solitary confinement, bread and water for thirty days and any other punishment I can think of.  Tomorrow morning give the homily; do it right."

             The third day, chapel attendance hit an all-time high.  They were all there to see what he would say, and it was again almost the exact repeat.  He stood, trembled, voice quivered; and after a long silence he asked, "Do you know what I am going to say?"  Well, after three days of this, about half of them had a pretty good idea and they nodded their heads up and down.  "Yes, we know."  But the other half noticed the switch from day to day, and they really weren't sure what was going to happen; and so they shook their heads back and forth. "No we don't." The novice observed this, then said, "Let those who know tell those who don't.  Let us stand for the benediction."

             Here is the simplest way of saying what Christ is calling all of us as his disciples to do. He’s telling those of us who do know the “good news,” to pass it on to those who don’t.  To help us with this task the Outreach Committee has planned a one-day training seminar to better equip us to be more faithful and effective ambassadors of the good news of Christ.  Obviously, I encourage each of you to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.  The curriculum looks very good, and the investment you make could be potentially life-transforming for both you and others.

 

Blessings,

Billy