Department of Lay Ministry

THEGENERALDEPARTMENTOFLAYMINISTRY

CHRISTIAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH Dr. Clifford L. Harris, General Secretary

“Reaching, Teaching, and Ministering to All Generations, Equipping Them for Greater Works and Service for Him”

LAITY REACHING THE LOST

I stated in the February Christian Index that I wanted to use my February, March, and April submissions to the Christian Index to remind us of our Quadrennial Lay Ministry Theme, Defending the Cross, Reaching the Lost, Encouraging and Equipping the Saved, which was adopted during our 2017 Lay Ministry Institute, held in Atlanta, Georgia. . . This theme is always relevant and continues to be incorporated very effectively with the CME Churches’ Quadrennial Theme. . . Thus, I want to, in this writing, remind us as laity of our focus and need to “Reach the Lost!”

Reaching the lost or unsaved does not start or rest in singing, preaching, praying, and reading scriptures on Sunday morning. Certainly, I am in no way discounting the role of our pastors or any aspects of our coming together in worship - in person or virtually. As laity, we must, with purpose and persistence, live out our responsibility each day. . . Our actions, reactions, comments, and responsiveness to challenges speaks to the unsaved more loudly than our voices. . . A right attitude and sincere actions can help melt away the resistance that is encountered in efforts to get and hold the attention of the lost. Deceased Bishop Edward Lynn Brown would often say, “Christians shouldn’t live holy lives on Sunday and shotgun lives on Monday.” So, our true witness to others must begin with a spirit to be consistent in our living and a genuine concern for others. With this intent buried in our hearts, actions, both in speech and in deed, will help us reach, witness, and provide ministry to the lost. While there are others, I believe these two scriptures - Matthew 9:37 and First Corinthians 9:22 - are very practical for this writing. . . If we study and digest them, they will help us stay focused.

In Matthew 9:37-38 Jesus says to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few; ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” As laity, we cannot keep our faith to ourselves; those who need to hear the call to God’s saving grace far exceeds the number of laborers; so, we must pray earnestly to the Lord and pledge to be one of the laborers that is being called to go into the field (community, workplace, family, etc.) to reap the harvest. . . We must not stop short after praying; we must thrust ourselves into the harvest and be consistent in our efforts.

First Corinthians 9:22 says, “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all possible means I might save some. ” One of Paul’s qualities was his ability to meet (reach) others where they lived (place himself in their shoes). This allowed him to identity with and reach those who were different from him. . . As laity, we must seek all who do not believe - those who may be weak in mind, body, or spirit – and I would submit to us, those who look strong, but who do not have Christ in their lives, are weak and don’t know it . . . So, as Paul, we must, in carrying out God’s mandate, seek to become in spirit and witness “all things to all people!” This means that we are not to judge and avoid those who have prospered financially, just as we are not to shun/avoid those who are struggling. We are in a battle and God has given us two guns . . . What are they? They are our words and our deeds. Thus, as laity, if we profess to be “on the battlefield for our Lord, ” we must seek to get off a shot when the opportunity presents itself (i.e., - I’m thankful; I’m blessed; God bless you; Let’s pray for your situation right now; Do you know Christ and have you professed Him as your personal savior; Allow me to bless you with this gift). We must meet folk where we find them and get off a shot of hope, healing, and encouragement. Let’s become more intentional in reaching and witnessing to the lost! Hallelujah! Amen!