The Role of the Pastor in EvangelismPersonal and corporate involvement in evangelism.Scott G. Wilkins| Topics: | Evangelism, Outreach, Pastors, Pastor's role, Prayer, Relationships |
| Filters: | Evangelism, Outreach, Pastor, Shepherd |
| Purpose: | Evangelism |
| References: | Jeremiah 20:9 , Matthew 28:19, Luke 15:3-7 |
| Date Added: | July 11, 2007 |
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 The pastor is the catalyst to the overall success of any outreach program. His input, involvement, and example are paramount. Unfortunately, many pastors are expected to either attend or at least verbally support every ministry activity in the church. He becomes the designated "cheerleader" for every ministry. His desire as a pastor is to see every ministry that is Christ honoring and kingdom building succeed. However, there is only so much of him to go around. Unfortunately, many pastors become so spread out and divided among ministry activities that they are rendered ineffective.
Implementing a Plan of Evangelism
As the pastor or church leader, your role in your church's evangelism efforts is crucial. I want to address this responsibility from two perspectives: personal and corporate.
Personal Involvement
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Live the gospel every day. By this I mean that it ought to be your personal goal each week to share the gospel with someone and see that person come to faith in Jesus Christ. Try winning someone to Christ who is outside your comfort zone or circle of influence. Have you ever noticed that every evangelist that comes to your church has a story about witnessing to a complete stranger while traveling on an airplane? I say this not to be flippant but rather to make a point that most of these people practice what they preach. A true evangelist's heart is bent toward lost souls. Because as pastors we are to "do the work of an evangelist," we need to reach out beyond our comfort zones and share the gospel with people we don't know.
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Stay close to the action. As pastor, you need to be the primary leader of your outreach/evangelism program. It is not to say that if you pastor a large (mega) church, you shouldn't have a designated staff person directing the program. What I'm talking about is your personal involvement and visibility in the effort. People need to see their pastor winning others to Jesus Christ. They need to see their pastor making visits to the unchurched, cultivating relationships with the unsaved, and establishing contacts with the lost. You need to be seen on the front lines of evangelism in your church.
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Maintain your circle of influence. Every pastor ought to keep a personal circle of influence. I started doing this a few years ago, and I can honestly say I am never at a loss of having someone with whom to share my faith. God will do the same for you if you will be obedient and faithful to this task.
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Pray daily for souls to be saved. Every pastor ought to be a prayer warrior, especially when it comes to praying for the harvest. Amazingly, when the laity in your church sees your prayerful spirit for the harvest, many of them too will mimic that same passion for souls. As pastors and church leaders, we need to be reminded of men like Martin Luther, John Wesley, David Brainerd, George Fox, Adoniram Judson, and John Hyde. Luther said, "I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours in prayer." Wesley declared, "God does nothing but in answer to prayer." Brainerd wrote in his journal, "I love to be alone in my cottage, where I can spend much time in prayer." William Penn said of Fox, "Above all he excelled in prayer. The most awful, living, reverent frame I ever felt or beheld, I must say was his in prayer." Judson withdrew from business and company seven times a day for the purpose of prayer. Hyde was so characterized by prayer that he was nicknamed "Praying Hyde." It is no small wonder that these prayer warriors wielded unusual power and supernatural influence for the kingdom of God.
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