THE MASTER EVANGELIZER

Evangelism, like much else in the spiritual world, has been sabotaged. Squint-eyed, red-faced hounders of souls have transformed the sweet love extension of God into a robotic memory presentation of aligned passages geared to meet at the baptistery. This has created a pseudo-urgency which has not always been for love of neighbor but as combatant of a neighboring religion.

Jesus helps us.

The Master possesses that God-knack of drawing people. While it could be legally noted that Jesus reached out; he did so by inviting others in. In simple terms, Jesus found that the way to a person's heart was to ask him or her for assistance.

Take the woman at the well. How did Jesus break the ice on that warm day? He asked her for help. Could he have a glass of water? Thus the story unfolds which eventually drew an entire city to his feet.

Consider the man up a tree. Jesus inquired if he might go home with him to get a bite to eat. The kingdom story not only unfolds; it continues to inspire.

And then there was that kid with a sack lunch and 5000 who needed to be fed. The disciples ask the kid if he would give them assistance. How do you think the lad felt as he skipped back to the house?

A neighbor of mine showed little interest in the church. We had baptized his wife. In the midst of a Joy Bus explosion in Illinois, I asked him for help; would he go with me and drive a newly acquired bus to the church parking lot? Eventually he was baptized and became the Joy Bus driver for my wife's route. Today this man is the head of a Christian organization in Dallas that ministers to abandoned children.

Another neighbor lived on my Tulsa street. I rang his doorbell seeking his help to remove a car battery. This led to a study, his conversion, and his faithful service to this day.

The Master Evangelizer clearly shows us the path to a neighborly encounter. Simply find a way to seek their help. This both softens our approach and ushers a confidence that works so much more effectively.