Creating a Culture of Evangelism in our Congregations

At the September Monthly Clergy prayer meeting, which took place on Thursday, 21st September, 2017 at the Phenomenal Faith Cathedral, Apostle Alex Attafuah taught the clergy gathered five vital truths about creating a culture of evangelism in our congregations.

He began, "We have to have a culture of evangelism because that's how to have big Churches. Churches die when they are devoid of evangelism."

He explained that the New Testament example of the Church is from 3,000 to 5,000. We must be prepared to tell the world about Jesus. He further expatiated that we must not rely solely on social media and television to tell the Gospel. Besides, you can't trust the world to communicate God's message to the world! 

He quipped, "If a Church had no culture of evangelism and you are trying to introduce it, there'll be so much resistance."

In order to create and sustain such a culture, the man of God shared these five practical strategies that can be implemented immediately viz.

1. The pastor must model evangelism himself/herself.

2. Preach evangelism.

3. Create the environment where unbelievers are invited and welcome and expected.

4. Create good excuses for people to invite others to Church.

5. Celebrate evangelism.

On the first point, Apostle Attafuah urged pastors to be concerned about the spiritual state of the Church. He encouraged them to not be shy and not to deny Jesus before people lest they be denied in the sight of the Father and of the holy angels. He said, "Be sniffing wherever the people are going."

Secondly, he urged the clergy to talk about about evangelism in Services. He urged them to encourage their congregations to share the Word. He emphasized, "The highest form of any career you can have here on earth is to be a pastor."

He charged that the clergy should encourage choristers, ushers and all Church workers to do the work of an evangelist (2Timothy 4:5). He admonished, "Whatever you do, do it in addition to the work of an evangelist. Do the work of an evangelist."

Thirdly, the man of God taught that the clergy should give opportunities for people to receive Christ by doing altar calls. He further stated that we must teach the basics of living the Christian life. He poignantly posited, "When you preach, assume that not everybody is at one high level."

Fourthly, Apostle Attafuah urged the clergy present to invite children to Church, hold couples' seminars, breakfast meetings, etc. and thereby bring in the lost. When they come, be friendly. Interact with them. Be open and love them. Don't keep to yourself. He pointed out, "Don't make the Church a 'membership-only' society."

Finally, the man of God taught that when people get baptized, we must celebrate it. Our conversations must be about the Kingdom of God. We must seek to want people to be born again.

He concluded by instructing the clergy not to be too old to do very simple things or to go on the streets to preach! Adding, he said that the anointing is to preach to the poor people. We must go down. We must seek to build an evangelistically-focused Church!

The message was followed by an intensely powerful praying session in which the clergy prayed for the raising up of the evangelists in the Church.

Turn your faith loose at www.gospellightint.org/nu