“The Evangelist”
By Dr. David Harrison
Introduction
After preaching for over 30 years, and traveling across the country, I felt the need to compile some notes on the work of the Biblical Evangelist. There are so many different thoughts about what the office of the Evangelist means as well as much ignorance on the Church’s responsibility to the Evangelist.
I am amazed at how few Pastors today are using Evangelists consistently. I am also amazed at those Churches who do use the Evangelist, so often do not adequately provide for their needs. Many Evangelists are coming off the road and others that continue on the road, get very discouraged at how they are mistreated and overlooked.
Now don’t get me wrong. This is not some preacher “whining” over being mistreated, but this is an alarm to the Church to realize that God gave the Evangelist to the Church as a “gift.” Therefore, it is imperative that we correct some of the behavior that is taking place.
I trust that the following information will not offend you, but instead instruct you as to what an Evangelist is, what he does, and what you, the Church should do to make his job more successful. You can benefit by the work of the Evangelist. Your Church can be blessed and experience growth and even Revival through the ministry of the Evangelist.
I understand that many before me have caused damage to the office of the Evangelist, but I trust these truths will not only help the Church understand the Evangelist, but also help the Evangelist understand the importance of integrity, faithfulness, and character.
My prayer is that you will learn from these truths, how to prepare for the Evangelist, how to pray for the Evangelist, and how to Provide for the Evangelist.
Together we can labor for the Master and accomplish great things as we seek to reach this world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In His Service,
Dr. David Harrison
What is a Biblical Evangelist?
The word "Evangelist" causes certain pictures to be painted in the mind. The vision of a Tent Evangelist with a healing line or a TV Evangelist promising prosperity and good health are some contemporary views of an Evangelist. Maybe your concept of an evangelist is a screaming, red-faced guest preacher who holds a series of meetings twice a year in your church. But what does the Bible have to say about a Scriptural Evangelist? Is it an office that is in operation today? If so, what are the qualifications of an Evangelist? And what is the relationship of the Evangelist to the Church and visa versa?
I would like to take a look at some Scriptural truths about the office of an Evangelist, what his ministry involves, how he should relate to the local church, and why there are so few in fundamentalism today. Don't get me wrong. Everywhere you go, you meet men both young and old, sitting on a church pew who declare God has called them into evangelism. Yet their ministry never gets off the ground. Then you have some who no doubt have the call to evangelism, but because of the modern day atmosphere in our fundamental churches, they are not used and therefore are not able to survive financially.
What Does The Bible Say About The Evangelist?
The only mention of an "Evangelist" by name in the Scriptures is in the Book of Acts, Chapter 21:8 by the name of Philip. He is first mentioned in Acts 6:5 as one of the first seven deacons selected in the Church at Jerusalem. Philip was a real man of faith and power and was used to evangelize the Ethiopian eunuch as well as touching an entire city for God (cf. Acts 8:5-40).
No doubt Philip was highly respected in the Church at Jerusalem to have been selected as a Deacon. Philip was full of faith, wisdom and the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:1-12). He also was no doubt a soul winner as evident by his working with the Ethiopian. He was obviously loyal and faithful to that local church and no where does it say that he left the office of Deacon to be an Evangelist. If this is so, then as an Evangelist, he remained very connected to his local church while fulfilling his call to evangelism. Here is a good place to insert some personal observations that I will deal at greater length with later. It is a poor testimony for those who consider themselves Evangelists, to be so loosely connected to their home church. The call to evangelism in no wise gives an individual the right to become slack in his own church membership loyalities. An evangelist should tithe and give offerings to his church, should keep his Pastor informed concerning his ministry, support special meetings from time to time in his home church, and maintain a close relationship with his church family. He has an accountability not only to God, but to his Pastor and church. Being an Evangelist does not mean you are unaccountable.
The office of "Evangelist" is mentioned in Ephesians 4:11 as one of the gifts given to the Church. Apostles and Prophets no longer exist in the modern church due to the completed revelation of the Word of God. God now speaks through His Word, not signs, visions, and miracles. But the office of Evangelist is in effect. There is not much description of this particular office. Paul challenged Timothy to "do the work of an evangelist." (II Tim. 4:5) What is the work of an evangelist? According to the example of the only Bible evangelist, it is basically going where the Spirit of God sends you and preaching, teaching, and leading men and women to Christ. I believe it is that simple. Today's evangelist is required to be so much more and we will deal with that later. But suffice it to say, the evangelist in the Bible was connected to the Church, committed to the salvation of souls, and demonstrated the best in Christian examples being filled with faith, wisdom and power. That alone, sad to say disqualifies most modern evangelists.
What is The Work of The Evangelist?
The word "evangelist" means to "herald the good news." An evangelist is one who has been set aside to spread the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even though every preacher is given this job, the office of the evangelist is totally a ministry of preaching and evangelism. He has no flock to "pastor." He has no hospitals to visit, no suppers to plan, no Christmas plays to oversee, no Sunday School material to approve, no budget to approve, no building project to endure. He is totally assigned to preach the Word, to pray for power, to seek the souls of men, and to set forth an example of the best of what God's man ought to be. Does this describe the average evangelist that you know?
Today's evangelist is usually just another preacher coming to hold a meeting at the church. Today's evangelist could be a Pastor-friend who your people love to hear preach. The evangelist may be a popular conference speaker that has some notoriety among a particular group or fellowship. He may very well be a preacher who has "left" his church and is in between ministries. He may be someone who has retired the "pastorate" and feels that God can use him traveling across the country in evangelism. The fact is, most of these men are not called as "evangelists", and most are doing everything but the work of evangelists. The average evangelist is no more that a spiritual cheerleader who is brought in to "stir" his people and hopefully get everyone pumped up until the next scheduled meeting when we will do the same thing all over again. But is that really what God had in mind when He set aside "Evangelists?" I don't think so! I believe the office of an evangelist is so much more than that and we are not giving it the rightful place of honor that it deserves. I am sure much of that is the responsibility of many who claim to be evangelists. So many have abused their positions, taken advantage of church members' kindness and generousity, and left a "bad taste" in the mouths of churches, pastors, and congregations across the land. God deliver us from men with wrong, selfish, motives and God give us some Spirit-filled evangelists again that are sent to this nation to spread the good news!
One of the unique characteristics of evangelists down through history has been their love for the Church and their desire to see Revival fires burn. The Evangelist has always been one who has the ability to "stir" the hearts of the believer. God has used great evangelists in Church History to bring a nation back to God. The Evangelist in the New Testament Church is similar in some ways to the Old Testament Prophet in that he is sent by God with a message to the people. The difference being that the message today is not from a vision or revelation by God's messenger in the night, but God does through His Spirit and Word burn within the heart of the evangelist a message hot off the altar directed to the Church with conviction that all that hear and obey will never be the same. Not that the Pastor does not hear the same small voice or have the same passion as the Evangelist, but it is the "different" voice with the same message and a fresh anointing that makes the message of the Evangelist sometimes stand out in the minds and hearts of the congregation.
Sometimes an evangelist can say things that a Pastor hesitates to say for fear of his people thinking he is singling them out. Yet in many circumstances, the Pastor is accused of talking to the evangelist when the message get too close for comfort. This is the work of the Spirit. No greater love for the church is shown than for God to send a stranger in with a fresh message warning them of the path they are taking or giving them instuction in a major upcoming decision. Now understand this, that in most cases the Pastor has said or preached the same thing, but a different voice can sometimes get through to those who have grown dull of hearing to the Pastor's voice.
Also today's evangelist has to deal with many Pastors that are discouraged, angry, hurt, and in some cases ready to throw in the towel. I speak from first hand experience. Much of my ministry is to the local Pastor. I deal with men who are under such pressure in their churches and in their families, that they almost look to you the evangelist as their last "hope." That sure puts pressure on the evangelist.
How could God have intended for the office of Evangelist to have ended up like this? The answer is, He didn't! I believe somewhere the madness has to stop. Either the Evangelist is to fulfill his God-called duties and the Church is to support him and use him or else we are missing one of the greatest gifts God ever gave to His people-the evangelist.
What Are The Qualifications of The Evangelist?
The Evangelist operates under the same qualifications as does the Pastor or Missionary. There are some views in Fundamentalism today that suggest that some who are disqualified for the Pastorate can still serve as an Evangelist. That is an insult to every Man of God who has served as an Evangelist and kept himself pure before God and does a great disservice to the true interpretation of Scripture. When God gives the qualifications for the office of "bishop", those qualifications apply to anyone who serves as a "preacher" in any form or fashion. Be it Pastor over a flock, Missionary on the field, nursing home preacher, Radio preacher, street preacher, or Evangelist, the qualifications are clear. Certainly some are not qualified to Pastor due to calling or limitations in abilities, but I am speaking of moral and Scriptural qualifications. The biggest issue deals with the "marriage" status. The phrase "husband of one wife" has caused much controversy. Some conclude that a man with more than one wife due to adultery or infidelity on the part of their spouse would still allow them to serve in some other capacity as an Evangelist. To think that God required a Deacon (servant) in the church to only have one wife yet a man can travel the country, preach to the masses in church services, yet as long as he doesn't "pastor", he is Scriptural in his ministry. There is something wrong here! In every part of my ministry as an Evangelist, I strive to be above board in every area of my life. The standards for me and my life can be no lower than the ones I serve. How could I stand in pulpits around the country and not be of the highest moral and spiritual standards possible? It is time that we as Fundamental preachers wake up and realize that something is wrong with our thinking. May God give us some men again full of God and of the highest character, that God can put His blessing on to send forth to this generation and turn our people back to God!
What is The Relationship of the Evangelist to the Local Church?
The Evangelist is a gift to the local church. God has set aside some "evangelists" for the work of the ministry and the equipping of the saints. The Evangelist is to work in relationship with the Pastor in meeting the spiritual needs of the congregation. The Evangelist is sent out of a local congregation where he is a member and he therefore becomes accountability to that local Pastor and congregation. He should represent well his church and Pastor and should have an honorable relationship with them. He should be concerned with his testimony before the world and how it reflects on his own church and Pastor. He should strive to maintain contact with his Pastor and keep him informed from time to time about the meetings and blessings and results. Understand the degree of this relationship between Evangelist and Pastor varies from one end of the spectrum to the other. Some churches have very little outward interest in the ministry of their own Evangelist and in some cases this can become a problem. Hard feelings can arise within the heart of the Evangelist who feels his Pastor and church does not have any interest in his ministry. Then in some cases the other extreme exists where the Evangelists expects too much and because his ministry does not take the forefront in the life of the church, he is offended. There needs to be a balance based on the relationship first between the Pastor and the Evangelist. Next it must be determined how involved the Church will be in the ministry of the Evangelist. In some cases, it may be mentioned weekly where the Evangelist is preaching and the church will pray. In some cases the Evangelist may give the home church congregation a regular newsletter with information concerning what is taking place to keep them informed. In some churches where there are so many ministries that are based in the church, very little emphasis is given to any one ministry yet generally they are all mentioned for prayer and that seems to be sufficient. In any case, each church and ministry must decide what works best for them.
The Evangelist should lead as an example of character and morality. He should be of the highest integrity and truthfulness. He should be a man of faithfulness in his daily life and church life. He should be a man of purity and holiness. He should be a man of prayer and power. He should be a friend to the Pastor and should in no wise ever put himself in the position of listening to any church member's problems or grievances with the man of God. He should be careful in his dealings with people in the church particularily in the area of business or financial transactions. So many churches have been hurt by an evangelist who took advantage of the generousity of businessmen or in some cases failed to live up to an agreement of a loan or service rendered. Ethically, an evangelist should never seek the help or enter into a transaction with a church member without first discussing it with the Pastor. Of course I am speaking of weightier matters such as real estate, autos, loans, etc. This is a sure fire way to create hurt feelings and divisions within the church and certainly can cause headaches for the man of God.
The Evangelist also has an obligation to be submitted to the Pastor with which he holds his meetings. He is invited per his request and much never forget that he stands in that pulpit by invitation. He should never do anything that would usurp the authority of the Pastor. He is there to be a help and blessing. In some cases, the Pastor desires the Evangelist to deal with issues that are of a serious nature and care must be taken here so as not to cross the line of ethics. Of course the message is God's business and no Pastor in his right mind would put many restrictions on the Evangelist and his message. Yet there are some cases where Evangelists have stepped over the line in their message by dealing with things in a way that undermines the authority of the Pastor. The Evangelist must always point the congregation back to their Pastor and never cast doubt on his position. If the gap is too wide between you, your message and the Pastor's stand on certain issues, then it would probably be wise for the Evangelist to consider whether or not he should even hold the meeting or be closely connected with that church. If the situation arises where the message of the Evangelist will do more harm than good, it is time for the Evangelist to reconsider his invitation. Sometimes the message of the Evangelist is hard and difficult for some to handle, and with prayer and compassion the people will respond and some good will result. But it is in no wise the job of the Evangelist to destroy the flock or to straighten out someone in the church. The Evangelist has become, in some circles, no more than a "spiritual hit man." Have we come so far in Fundamentalism that we call on the Evangelist to straighten out our churches and call on couselors to straighten out our families and seek bankers to straighten out our finances? God help us. We need Revival!
In cases where you have a God-called, spirit-filled Evangelist and a Pastor and congregation who are hungry for God, open to His voice, and spiritually prepared for a meeting, the relationship between the two is almost supernatural. There is nothing so satisfying than to be in the right place at the right time with the right message and watch God work through His Servants to the Glory of God! That is the work of the Evangelist at his best.
Today's Pastor and Evangelist need to be reintroduced to their particular offices. The Evangelist can be of great value to the Church. Not only can he help point sinners to Christ, thereby adding to the Church, but he can also grow the congregation spiritually thereby making the job of the Pastor much more properous. We all are in this together. We need each other to fulfill the Great Commission of God. To neglect the Evangelist is to refuse part of God's plan for the Church. For the Evangelist to fail in his duty is certain spiritual suicide.
The Churches' Responsibility To The Evangelist
One area that needs to be dealt with is the Churches' failure in the area of taking proper care of the Evangelist. There are so many men who cease in their search to be a full-time Evangelist because they can neither get enough meetings to keep them going and many of the meetings they participate in do not provide enough finanicial support to keep them on the road.
There are very few men who survive in the field of the American Evangelist. One obstacle is the failure of many churches to use Evangelists. Most Revival meetings now are preached by another Pastor friend. There is nothing wrong with bringing in other men of God to preach to your people. Many of them have successful ministries and have much to offer. Yet because of this direction of the modern day church, there are not many openings for the full-time Evangelist to hold meetings.
Another reason has to do with finances. Many Pastors use other Pastors simply because it is less of a financial strain. Most Pastors have salaries and therefore do not have need of large offering. In some cases, the visiting Pastor can drive back and forth to the meeting each night saving on motel bills. At the end of the week, the visiting Pastor will take up an offering for the Pastor, have his people come by and say nice things ending the week with everyone feeling fuzzy all over and no one has been required to make a sacrifice. No controversal messages, no waves, no problems! Everyone is happy.
Bringing in the Evangelist is a different story. First of all, he has to get to the meeting. The Evangelist doesn't have a salary or gas card paid by his church. He leaves his family behind unless they travel in a van or RV. Sometimes they travel with him making more expense on the road with meals, etc. Either way, the Evangelist literally prays each week for the means to get to the next meeting. After he gets to town, depending on whether he is alone or with his family, he gets settled in his temporary home. It could be a Sunday School room with a bed and nightstand. It could be a Prophet's chamber at the church which may be a designated room, building, camper, or mobile home or apartment. It could of course be a motel and the stories and possibilities here are endless. Depending on the location of the church, the motel may be literally cities away making traveling back and forth required. Then of course there are some cases where the Evangelist needs to fly to the meeting. In some cases, the church provides the ticket for the Evangelist. Other times, the Evangelist is expected to provide his own ticket with the promise of being reimbursed. Sometimes that never happens and the Evangelist pays for his own ticket. Once he gets to town, transportation becomes a problem. He may be given the church van which is usually not a problem or he may be given a vehicle belonging to a member or the Pastor himself. In some cases, he is given neither and is provided with someone to pick him up and carry back and forth to the meeting. All of these are fine but in some situations, these can become a nightmare. Then there are the meals, fellowships, counseling sessions, etc. What is the responsibility of the Church to the Evangelist? How much is too much? How busy is too busy? How much is not enough?
Let's look at what should be a pleasant and rewarding experience for both the Evangelist and the Church. First of all, the Church should consider using the Evangelist on a regular basis. Don't quit using your Pastor friends, but do start using the God-called, full-time Evangelist. Use him on Sundays, special days, revivals, and camp-meetings.
When you invite the Evangelist to come, make sure you do everything possible to make the meeting a success and to make the Evangelist' stay enjoyable and peaceful. Consider first of all making sure the Evangelist has the funds available for travel. If he flys, buy the ticket. If he drives, consider sending him some gas and travel money to get him there. At least consider his expenses in his offering. Be sure you make it possible for his family to travel with him if needed. Of course, no evangelists expects any church to buy multiple plane tickets but if they travel by land, include enough expense money to cover the added cost of a family.
When planning for the lodging place, consider the Evangelist's needs. Does he have physical needs? How many will be with him? What about privacy? A prophet's chamber or apartment is great as long as it is clean and stocked with the basics for extended stay and it affords him privacy for study and prayer. Things like a coffer maker, refrig, etc. need to be available. When considering motels, sometimes more is not better. Just fine a convenient motel with good housekeeping and affordable prices and one that does not have a reputation for a party house. It is good when possible to find a motel convenient to other places making it easy for the Evangelist to find something he may need and even be able to have access to fast food places and Wal-Marts.
Someone always asks how busy they should keep the Evangelist. The Evangelist is there to be a blessing to the Pastor and Congregation. He may visit some with the Pastor. He may go soul-winning with others in the Church. He may even counsel on several occasions. But it is important to allow the Evangelist to spend time resting and preparing for the services. There may be some Evangelists who have a stack of messages they preach every week and need no time to study. There may be some Evangelists who like to play golf every morning to relax. But it has been my experience that when I travel week after week, it becomes more important that I rest and study in the mornings, eat a good meal for lunch and use that time to fellowship with the Pastor, and then be careful not to get so busy during the day that I take away from my ability to be my best in each service. And by the way, that is what the Evangelist is there for. I realize that part of the ministry is to strengthen the brethren and much of that is done through time spent together in fellowship. But to stay up at Shoneys until 1:00 each night, hop from place to place all day, and then get to church exhausted is not giving your best to the Lord or that Church.
Meals are an important consideration when planning for the Evangelist. Some men get to town, never have anyone offer to take them out for a meal, put them in a motel, give them no expense money and basically say I will see you at 7:00 tonight. In other extremes, someone wants to go to breakfast and lunch, serve supper at the church before service and go to fast food joints after the service is dismissed. This absolutely makes an Evangelist miserable, sluggish, and unable to do his best. Find out what is good for the Evangelist. Encourage others to get involved in providing a meal. Just plan it well in advance. Set aside a lady to handle the meals. For example, I perfer to have something light in the morning such as coffee and maybe cereal or maybe nothing. Lunch is my big meal of the day. This is always a good time to fellowship daily with the Pastor. I would rather not eat before service so as not to feel so heavy and stuffed but in cases where someone wants to provide an early supper, I will skip lunch and eat supper about four or five o'clock. Then after service, maybe a snack or even a sandwich. Other men differ. The main thing is to plan but not over plan. Meals in homes are good but just don't overkill. Don't send the Evangelist to an early grave because of heart failure. The good Lord knows there are enough Evangelists out there who have been at the food table too long, including me!
How much should the Evangelist know about church problems and such before he preaches the meetings? Ideas vary here. I personally prefer not to know too much before I come. I want to know the heart and the direction of the Pastor, what he is praying for, and what he desires God to do. But I would rather not know about individuals that are causing problems to the man of God, or issues that are dividing individuals. I would rather be able to pray, get the mind of God, and preach what God gives me and be able to look the congregation in the face when the rubber meets the road and say "I have not talked to the Preacher." This validates the messenger as truly being from the Lord. In some cases, when churches are in danger of closing their doors, or the Pastor is considering leaving, it is probably in the best interest for the Evangelist to know these things. But again, this will vary according to the circumstances.
Then there is the issue of taking care of the Evangelist financially. What is right, fair, and pleasing to God? Let me start out by giving what I believe is a solution to any church that wants to have any Evangelist for a meeting. Some smaller churches have told me time and time again that they would love to have a certain preacher, but they could not afford to bring them in. Then they book me or someone else like me and you can imagine how that makes us feel. Or we just cheaper or maybe we are more economical or what? No preacher should be more expensive or valuable than others except in the case of travel expense to get men from a distant town. Any preacher that comes in should be provided for as best as possible. How can a church do this? My suggestion to churches all across the country has been for them to plan. Schedule as far in advance as possible. Begin to set aside money to cover expenses and love offering. Take up a Wednesday offering or once a month for the Revival fund. Then each night of the meeting, challenge your people to give sacrificially to the man of God and I can almost guarantee the needs will be met. But some churches are still in this fifty or seventy five dollar a night deal and provide no expense money and consecutive meetings like this is what is driving many Evangelists to consider taking a church as Pastor or getting into some money making deal to supplement their income.
Already I can hear some of you under your breath saying, "Well they are just concerned about money." The answer to that is "Yes." That is a part of our lives. Our families have to eat, have clothes, and have a place to live. Consider this. An Evangelist has to live on the road with all its expenses as well as provide for his family back home. In most cases, the Evangelist has no guarantee from week to week of income. He can be cancelled at the last minute or have to deal with the holiday season when few Pastors want to try to have a meeting. Then he may play catch up for weeks to come due to that meeting. Then from time to time, you will have a Pastor say on the last night, "my treasurer is not here to night and I will have to send you your check." We have all been there before.
Some of you by now are saying, "Does this really go on?" Yes! Sometimes offerings may be very large for the week due to friends who support the meeting and get under a burden for the Evangelist. Yet at the end of the week, those large offering vanish into one typical church check with no explanation as to where those extra funds went. Or in most cases, the church has already budgeted a specific amount for the week and never take up an offering giving people an opportunity to share in this man's ministry. What is right? Well only God knows the answer. But suffice it to say, churches need to be re-taught. In most cases they are not taking care of their own men of God so is should not be a shock that the Evangelist goes away suffering. A good suggestion is to designate a certain amount that the church will give to the Evangelist for the meeting and then each night just pass the plate, encouraging the people to give and let God do the rest. You can never give too much to the man of God but you can do too little. God will bless the church who blesses his man. I would like to say here, that in over 30 years, there are two things I have never made an issue of. One is the size of the church and the other is the size of the offering. I have never refused to go to any church because of its size nor have I ever turned down a brother in need because he could not take care of me financially the way he desired. In every case where maybe a struggling mission church could not give as others, I have watched God provide my needs through another church to make up the difference for my obedience and sacrifice. That is not where the problem lies. It is where either jealousy or outright disobedience leads to God's man suffering for want after giving his life and spending his energy for the benefit of God's people. That has to change. It would be good if every Pastor could travel on the road for about six months living totally by faith and depending only on his income from churches. He should have to deal with the excuses of Pastors as to why they can't have him for a meeting at this time or why the meeting has to be canceled. He needs to be away from his family for weeks at a time, sleeping in some "roach coach motel" or living in the back of the Sunday School wing while church ladies come in daily to quilt or sew. Then every Evangelist needs to Pastor a church and understand the heart of a Pastor and the struggles of the ministry to a flock. In each case it would cause understanding and sympathy on the part of each ministry and could help in the development of good habits in the care taking of the Evangelist.
The relationship between the Pastor, church and the Evangelist can and should be a good one. The experience should be a memorable one and the results should be gratifying and worth praising God for. This can only happen if all involved strive to do "all to the glory of God." All will be in vain unless God is glorified through our efforts.
It is obvious to all that the church is in real need of Revival. If God has planned and provided men called to the office of Evangelist to be a gift to the church to stir the church and point sinners to Christ, then we are denying our churches the benefit of God's provision when we do not avail ourselves of Biblical Evangelists. It is not that their style promotes better results, or their popularity draws bigger results, but it is taking advantage of that which God has provided the Church to accomplish his will. In some cases, the Evangelist does have a special anointing. Sometimes he will deal with things that may be difficult for the Pastor. He may have clearer vision as an outsider to see some things from a different perspective. Whatever the difference is, we all know from experience that God uses his Evangelist.
The Evangelist does not have a flock to "pastor" each day he wakes up. He does not have someone in the hospital to visit. He does not have to plan a Sunday School promotion nor deal with a building project. But he does get up each morning with the burden of a nation in his heart. He carries the load of sinners everywhere, churches that are in trouble, pastors defeated and the urgency of the hour. The Evangelist needs to have the support of men and women everywhere who will lift him up in prayer to God. He is not the only hope for the nation, but if God draws his modern day "prophets" off the land, then the picture looks much darker.
The vision of leather-lung, fire-breathing evangelists traveling across America, in church after church, under old Gospel tents, in camp-meetings and brush arbors, on the streets and in the schools, is a picture we cannot afford to erase. It is not only part of our national and spiritual heritage, it is a picture of hope for the future. In a day when preaching has been replaced with teaching, positive thinking, and behavior modification, we must have the Evangelist. His preaching is not only needed, it is mandatory! Without old-time preaching, I'm afraid the church will continue to drift off course. And remember, Paul did challenge Timothy to do the work of the Evangelist. Every God-called preacher should from time to time follow the example of the Biblical Evangelist. Get him a tent, have an open area campaign or just walk into church Sunday with the fire of God in your souls and lay the axe to the root of the tree! We have got to get back to preaching! No doubt every Pastor desires what is best for his congregation. With that being so, he should prayerfully consider the God-called Evangelist as part of the answer. What a blessing he can be if only he is used. And what a blessing the church can be to the Evangelist by investing in his ministry, supporting his family, praying for his needs, and demonstrating the true love of God for God's man that he so desperately needs and deserves. You will never know how much of an encouragment you can be to a tired, weary preacher who sacrifices week after week, traveling this country side for Jesus. You will also never know the discouragement you can bring to the Evangelist when he leaves a meeting worried about how he will take care of his family this week. Driving down the road, Satan begins his attack on the mind and before long he has the Evangelist believing the week was fruitless, a waste of time, and God's people really don't care. Is that what we want our men of God to think?
Some Suggestions On The Proper Care of The Evangelist
This is only some suggestions for you to consider in preparing and providing for your Evangelist. These things will be good for your Evangelist and will be rewarding for you and your congregation. First of all, (1) Use the Evangelist. Take advantage of their ministry. Invite them in on a regular basis. Plan something every year with the ministry of the Evangelist in mind. (2) Plan Ahead. Call the Evangelist long before the date you are seeking. Don't expect the Evangelist to be available a few weeks or months ahead. I understand there are exceptions to the rule. Sometimes there are cancellations or even a last minute meeting orchestrated by the Lord. But in most cases, the Evangelist is booking meetings more than a year ahead. Keep this in mind when seeking to schedule him. (3) Make Travel Plans. If the Evangelist needs to fly to your meeting, then check with him about when he wants to fly out and return and from which airport. Secure the ticket and forward the information to him by letter or e-mail. If the Evangelist is driving, then consider if the distance is greater than a few hundred miles, sending some travel money for gas and food so as not to create a strain on the Evangelist' family budget. Realize that the Evangelist traveling without his family, must leave behind enough money to keep his family operating while he is gone and then have enough cash with him to pay his expenses to get to the meeting. (4) Do everything possible to make the meeting a success. Promote, Pray, and Prepare! Invite other Pastors, friends, family and sinners. Begin praying long before the meeting begins. Prepare the facilities, prepare the families, prepare the hearts. Often the meetings are not successful simply because of no preparation. (5) Make sure the lodging is secured and ready. If a motel is used, make sure the reservation is in place. Possibly have a basket or some drinks and snacks in the room waiting for the Evangelist. If a Prophet's chamber is used, make sure it is clean, supplies are in stock (toilet tissue, towels, etc.), and again snacks and drinks are in stock. If the Evangelist is staying with a family, make sure the family is aware when the Evangelist is to arrive and everything is ready. One note here concerning staying in an individual's home. Do not put the Evangelist in a situation where he will be in a home where a wife or young girls would be there alone with him. Also too, consider the privacy issue for the Evangelist that will be traveling with his family. It sometimes is difficult for a family to stay with a family. Another issue with staying in a home is the late hours sometimes of the Evangelist and the privacy he needs in praying and studying. (6) Have Meals Scheduled for the Evangelist. Find out what he likes or needs and do not overbook in the food area. Enough, but not too much is the key. (7) Make sure the Evangelist has the ability to get around on his own if he arrives by air. Either provide a vehicle or provide a driver available for him. (8) Give the Evangelist plenty of time to pray and study. Besides, that is what he is here for. Fellowship with him, use him and glean from him but do not run him to death while he is there. (9) Consider giving him some spending money when he gets to town. He may need some personal items or he may need to mail some letter or he may just want to buy a little something for his wife. Don't assume that he has money in his pocket when he gets to town. It may have taken everything he had just to get here. So maybe seventy-five or one hundred dollars on the first day will give him a little pocket money. (10) Have an amount already planned for the Evangelist before the meeting begins. Start saving a little toward the meeting months in advance. Don't expect the entire need of the Evangelist to be met by a General Fund Check. Set aside what the Church will do and then encourage the people each night to give to the Evangelist. Every thing that comes in should go to the Evangelist. At the end of the week, the Church should write their check and the offerings should go to the Evangelist. This gives individuals an opportunity to be a part of this man's ministry. It also gives the church a chance to meet the needs of God's man. I can almost guarantee that if this is done, every need will be met and the Lord will be pleased and the Church will be blessed. (11) Consider doing something for the Evangelist' wife during the meeting. Maybe the ladies can plan in advance and purchase for her a gift card or prepare a basket of goodies. Whatever you do is not the issue. Doing something for the wife is so important because of the sacrifice that they make and the amount of recognition is so little. A church recently gave my wife a large financial gift for Christmas and only God knows how much that meant to her (and she did not even get to be at the meeting!). (12) Consider rescheduling the Evangelist for another meeting befores he leaves. This is so important. It so encourages an Evangelist to have a Pastor re-book him. It adds to his confidence in the will of God and it helps prevent Satan from discouraging him into thinking that the meeting was a flop. (13) Seriously consider adding the Evangelist to your monthly mission support. Invest in his ministry. Help keep him going for Jesus. Make it possible for him to provide for his family even when the schedule gets a little slow. (14) Encourage your people to pray for the Evangelist and somehow take part in what he is doing. Attend other meetings in your area where he is preaching. Get involved in his special projects. (15) Remember the Evangelist on special days and at Christmas. This is always a difficult time for Evangelists. They have no church to do for them. The home church usually does nothing simply because their focus is on their Pastor and rightfully so. But if several churches would do a little something, it would help make these times real special for these often forgotten servants. (16)Stay in touch with the Evangelist. As a Pastor, talk to them from time to time just to see how things are going. They need friends and fellowship too.
There are so many more things that I could probably deal with, but I know by now you get it. It is all about doing "good to all men, specially them of the household of faith" (Gal. 6). We are all in this together. We need each other. We can do so much more if we only will do it God's way. May God help us to work together for His Glory and may we in my life time experience a Real Old Time Revival that will change us.
Written by: Dr. David Harrison
December, 2007
Guidelines For Taking Care Of The Evangelist
I. Preparing For The Evangelist:
A. Preparing the Place:
1. Place of Worship:
a. It is important that the House of God be Ready Physically.
(1) Clean (Especially Bathrooms and Nursery)
(2) Decorated (Banners, Flowers, etc.)
(3) Extra Chairs, Tables for Fellowship, Display Tables, etc.
(4) Parking, Security. (Early)
(5) Ushers, Greeters. (Early)
(6) Altars, Decision Cards, Convert Books, etc.
(7) Check Sound System. Get all bugs out, Batteries, etc.
(8) Check Supplies, Toilet Tissue, Kleenex, Diapers, Wipes, etc.
(9) Outdoor Landscape. That is first thing visitors see.
b. It is important that the House of God be Ready Spiritually.
(1) Sanctify the Building with prayer.
(2) Pew by pew, room by room, ask God’s blessing on that place.
(3) Begin weeks or months before meeting, praying for church property
(4) Beg God’s presence and conviction on that place.
(5) Pray Specifically for the Pulpit area. (For Power!!!)
2. Place of Rest:
a. Some churches have “Prophet’s Rooms”.
(1) Have facilities clean and ready.
(2) Stock with supplies. (Towels, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.)
(3) Have Coffee maker with all the necessary supplies.
(4) Have snacks, or fruits, drinks, water, etc. (Call the Evangelist and
ask what he likes. Avoid waste)
(5) Make sure you have sufficient space for the number traveling. (Call)
(6) Have some form of entertainment. (Radio, TV, Videos, tapes, etc.)
(7) Have Internet connection available. (Most Evangelists use Internet)
(8) Consider the Evangelist’s Privacy. Don’t forget he needs privacy!!!
b. Motels
(1) Be sure the motels are safe, clean, and offer privacy. (Convenience)
(2) Have drinks and snacks in the room before he arrives.
(3) Consider how close the motel is to shops and eating places.
(4) Make sure it has Internet connection.
3. Miscellaneous.
a. Consider how important this meeting is and how special the Evangelist
is.
b. You should consider that God deserves the Best!
c. You should consider that God’s Man deserves the Best!
d. The best does not mean outlandish or extravagant. Simply your best.
e. Don’t forget the Pastor’s Wife and Family. Consider preparing a
special bag for the wife. If children are small, maybe some crayons,
coloring books, puzzles, etc.
B. Preparing The People:
1. Be sure to plan well in advance so your people can schedule.
2. Encourage your people to promise to attend every service.
3. Enlist workers for the meeting. Ushers, Parking, Food Committee, etc.
4. Plan Special Music. (Choir, Special music, etc.)
5. Promote the Meeting through advertisements, bulletins, radio, etc.
6. Promote inviting visitors to the meeting.
7. Preach messages that will prepare the hearts of the people.
8. Messages on Revival, faithfulness, commitment, etc.
9. Get Youth involved. (Don’t leave out the young people)
10. Believe God to do great things. (Set goals for attendance)
11. Enlist workers to serve on Phone committee. Do mail out to Pastors and
follow up with phone call.
12. Start having prayer meetings specially for the upcoming meeting.
13. Consider having people pray around the clock the week before. Enlist
someone to pray each hour.
14. Pass out flyers maybe two to three weeks before on Saturdays.
15. If you have vans and buses, consider running them some if not all nights.
16. Get excited about the meeting. Consider this may be the best meeting or
maybe the last meeting.
II. Providing For The Evangelist:
A. Expenses:
1. The cost of travel is increasing each day. Consider that when you book the
Evangelist.
2. If the Evangelist comes by Airline, you can either:
a. Pre-pay for the ticket. You can order it or you can send the money to
the Evangelist and he can purchase it.
b. Repay the Evangelist for the price of the ticket. You can mail it to him
before the meeting, or you can give it to him when he arrives.
c. Remember, it is sometimes difficult for the Evangelist to have enough
money on hand to purchase all the tickets he needs. If possible, pay for
the ticket before the meeting.
d. The best solution: Church buy the ticket for the Evangelist and send
him the itinerary.
3. If the Evangelist travels by automobile, you could:
A. Send him some travel money before the meeting.
B. Give him travel expense when he arrives.
C. Either way, consider providing for his travel expenses. Consider the
distance he travels, food expense to get there, also family members
traveling with him.
4. Consider expense money once he arrives. Set aside some cash for him and
give it to him when he gets to town.
5. If the Evangelist is local and travels back and forth each night, consider
gas money for him. The money you would have spent for motel and plane
tickets can be given to him for gas and eats.
B. Love Offering:
1. Prepare for the Love Offering.
A. Set aside a certain amount in the General Fund.
B. Take up special offerings long before the meeting.
C. Raise enough money before the meeting to take care of the expenses.
(Motels, meals, etc.)
2. Take up special offering each service during the meeting.
3. Encourage people to do some special for the Evangelist.
4. Make sure that everything that comes in for the Evangelist, goes to him.
5. Do not be jealous if the amount is large. (You can never give too much)
6. There is no certain amount for the offering. Don’t base his offering on your
own income.
7. Understand you may be able to be a blessing to the Evangelist. Some
places he goes, he is not provided for. You can make that up.
8. Teach the people the joy of giving. Make much of the offering.
9. Do your best and it will be enough.
10. Do not judge the Evangelist by what others have done.
11. Remember also that he does not get paid when he is not preaching. He does
not draw a salary like a Pastor. Your offering may have to do for more than
one week due to lack of a full schedule.
III. Praying For The Evangelist:
A. His Physical Needs.
1. “Lord, give him strength, and stamina while he is in meeting with us.”
2. “Lord, keep him well, free from diseases, sicknesses, viruses, etc.”
3. “Lord, keep him safe. Don’t let him experience any accidents or harm.”
4. “Lord, help him to rest at night when he sleeps.”
5. “Lord, keep him pain free, while he is with us.”
6. “Lord, give him good health and long life.”
7. “Lord, help him to be at his best when he is with us.”
B. His Mental Needs.
1. “Lord, give him wisdom.”
2. “Lord, help him in his studies. Open up the Word to him.”
3. “Lord, help him to be fresh, and have good recall.”
4. “Lord, keep him from depression, anxiety, etc.”
5. “Lord, keep his mind from running wild when he goes to bed at night.”
6. “Lord, help him not to get distracted during the meeting.”
7. “Lord, help him to stay focused while he is preaching.”
8. “Lord, keep him from fear and worry.”
9. “Lord, give him peace of mind.”
10. “Lord, make his studies easy, and messages to be fresh.”
C. His Spiritual Needs.
1. “Lord, keep him pure and free from sins of the flesh.”
2. “Lord, keep him in love with Christ.”
3. “Lord, help him to maintain a life of devotion to Christ.”
4. “Lord, help him to not forsake his daily Bible study.”
5. “Lord, help him in his prayer life.”
6. “Lord, don’t let anything interfere with his prayer and study.”
7. “Lord, help him to know the mind of God each night for the service.”
8. “Lord, give him liberty when he preaches.”
9. “Lord, keep him from being distracted from the task at hand.”
10. “Lord, keep him from bitterness, jealousy, criticism, etc.”
11. “Lord, give him favor with God and man.”
12. “Lord, open up new doors for him.”
13. “Lord, give him power on his ministry.”
14. “Lord, give him souls for his labor.”
15. “Lord, use him to bring glory to God.”
16. “Lord, fill him with the Holy Spirit.”
17. “Lord, help him to be an example to the believers.”
18. “Lord, give him the desires of his heart.”
19. “Lord, keep him from temptations of the flesh and world.”
20. “Lord, give him victory over his enemies.”
21. “Lord, deliver him from evil.”
22. “Lord, keep him in the will of God.”
23. “Lord, use him to promote revival in our church.”
24. “Lord, give him the messages that I and my family need.”
25. “Lord, use him to change our church.”
26. And there are so many more things you can pray. Think and Pray!
D. His Financial Needs.
1. “Lord, supply the needs of his home.”
2. “Lord, supply the expenses that he incurs on the road.”
3. “Lord, help him to be able to provide for his family properly.”
4. “Lord, keep his automobile, appliances, etc., from breaking down.”
5. “Lord, give him favor with those he does business with. Help him to get
the best deals.”
6. “Lord, give him extra from time to time so he can encourage the family.”
7. “Lord, move on the hearts of churches and businessmen to do special
things for him from time to time.”
8. “Lord, help him not to get distracted with money.”
9. “Lord, help him to trust God with the finances.”
10. “Lord, help him not to make foolish financial decisions.”
11. “Lord, give him the ability to make special family days, special.” (Birthdays, Christmas, etc.)
12. “Lord, supply the finances needed for him to accomplish the will of God
for his life.”
E. His Family.
1. “Lord, give him the wife he needs to do the work of God.”
2. “Lord, give him good children, that will be a testimony to his faith.”
3. “Lord, keep his family safe while he is away.”
4. “Lord, give his family good health.”
5. “Lord, give his family strong faith in God.”
6. “Lord, give his family talents that can be used in God’s work.”
7. “Lord, provide every need of the home.”
8. “Lord, give harmony and peace in the home.”
9. “Lord, help the family to demonstrate a good testimony in the world.”
10. “Lord, put a hedge around his family.”
11. “Lord, keep the family from accidents, injury, or harm.”
12. “Lord, keep Satan’s attack off his home.”
13. “Lord, keep his children and wife pure and godly.”
14. “Lord, keep the spirit of rebellion out of the home.”
15. “Lord, provide good Christian friends that will be a support to the family.”
16. “Lord, honor the labor of the Evangelist and reward him for his faithfulness
through his family. Let them follow his faith and serve God when they are
grown.”
F. Miscellaneous.
1. Prayer is the most important thing you can do for the Evangelist.
2. Don’t stop praying for the Evangelist after the meeting is over.
3. Pray for the Evangelist and for his ministry.
4. Let the Evangelist know that you are praying for him. (Phone call, letter, or
email)
5. Pray for the Evangelist not to quit. We need Evangelists.
6. Pray that God will raise up new Evangelists.
7. Pray that Pastors will start using Evangelists regularly.
8. Pray that the family not get discouraged and put unnecessary pressure on
the Evangelist.
9. Pray a hedge around him, his mind, his family, and the churches he
preaches in.
10. Be a friend to the Evangelist. Feed him and provide for him and pray for
him.
11. Pray for him regularly, fervently, seriously, and specifically.
12. Pray that after he leaves the meeting, that his work will remain with you.
13. Do not take the Evangelist for granted! He is a gift from God!
14. Again, these are not all inclusive, for there is much I have not covered. Yet
I hope this gives you an idea of how you can be a blessing to the
Evangelist. For He will be a blessing to you!
(More to Come!) REPRINT BY PERMISSION ONLY
