Yes, this is something that has bugged me for ages…..

I have four or five good friends who are Evangelists and Street Preachers. It’s not a job I’ve ever felt called to do, although I have done some street work — albeit reluctantly.

These guys do an amazing job and, very understandably, they always report on the numbers of folk gave their hearts to The LORD out there, on the streets.

However, I’ve always been left with the same question — Where are all those people on Sunday morning?

We once had a Church-led day on the streets, on which it was probably accurately reported that over a hundred people of that town ‘prayed the sinners prayer and gave their lives to The LORD!’

Yet not one new person from that outreach came on Sunday — despite the team being supplied with ‘decision cards’ and follow up detail cards!

Why? Because no follow up was ever done. In fact, I understand the cards weren’t even kept!

That’s the whole problem!

The Church only ever pays lip-service to Evangelism — and to healing, prophecy, and deliverance for that matter!

Evangelists get very little real support! As a result, probably 90% or more of the evangelists efforts are wasted.

Even in properly organised Evangelistic Crusades, where participating Churches agree to follow up and direct new believers to an appropriate Church for them, the numbers of committed new believers is astonishingly low.

It is probable that personal invites and witnessing accounts for as many, if not more than the numbers from evangelistic events!

Why?

One of the main reasons, I believe, is summed up in a remark made by my wife some years ago, and which is still relevant today.

She said, “How many of the unsaved, or new believers, have we put off by the way we look at them and scorn?”

This reminded me of a post I wrote called, “The Call”

I heard Jesus say, over and over… “I AM The Way, I AM The Way, I AM The Way; I will make the way, I will open the way, I will prepare the way; I will show the way, I will lead the way. I AM The Way, I AM The Way, I AM The Way.”

These words were given by a well known and well respected leader.

They struck a chord, but I didn’t understand why. They caused my heart to sink, but again, I had no understanding.

They made my spirit leap for joy — this I felt at least, I might understand. Then Jesus spoke them to me and I saw Him in context to these words.

I saw Him, as a Street Preacher, standing where the crowds were, calling these Words out to everyone who passed by.

The people were scurrying by, heads down, some even shaking their heads in disbelief. Jesus was weeping. People could hear Him, but they just didn’t believe Him.

People could see Him, but they were avoiding Him. People’s heartstrings were being pulled, but they didn’t trust Him.

Many didn’t want to hear Him, didn’t listen at all. To them, Jesus is just another no-hoper, just another false promiser, a fake — another con-man out to make a fast buck at their expense.

Just then, Jesus broke into my reverie and stood before me.

“This whole scenario is caused because of the way many of My People — The church — have treated My lost sheep.

They have promised and not delivered. They have persuaded and then imprisoned. They have condemned, punished and wounded, then left them dying.

Woe to those parts of My Church who have done this! They shall not be a part of My Kingdom, unless they Repent, Turn, and Demonstrate My Gospel in all its goodness and power.

Repent and Turn from your wicked ways — yes! But more than that! Demonstrate My Love!

Demonstrate My power to Heal and release and redeem.

That is the reality of Me that I want you to bring to this hurting and wounded world.

Go — preach The Gospel, Heal the sick, Release the prisoners, and Raise the dead back to life — in My Name!”

Our evangelists deserve much better support than this.

It’s time for The Church to come together as a team and support each other’s Ministries. How do we expect to develop new disciples if we don’t all pull together as a team?

There’s a very well known mantra that says, “There’s no ‘I’ in team!”

That’s a lesson The Church needs to learn — fast! Lest we waste even more of the Harvest.

 

~ Chris G. Bennett

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Chris Bennett came to salvation in 1962 but didn’t begin ministry until 2007 — a late-comer! Now mandated by The LORD to prophesy and open old wells of revival in the U.K., but especially in Wales. He has also operated Healing Rooms, and worked with deliverance teams, all with his wife, Linda. Happily now doing whatever The LORD asks of them! Founder, with wife Linda, of their ministry The Upper Room Encounter.

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