Christians also met in the local synagogue, for in James 2:2 we read, “For if a man comes into your assembly [synagogue] with a gold ring . . .” (NASB). In a town or city where many Jews would become saved often they would use the synagogue as the meeting place for the newly planted church.20 As we investigate the record of the churches in the book of Acts we see a pattern established of evangelizing in the synagogues (Acts 13:15-44, Antioch in Pisidia; Acts 17:1-4, Thessalonica). Michael Green's remarks are pertinent: The synagogue provided the seedbed for evangelism among the Jews. Wherever there were Jews, there were synagogues, and all loyal Israelites were expected to attend weekly; furthermore, they attracted a number of “godfearers” among thoughtful Gentiles. Here was a ready-made congregation for Christian missionaries to address.21 The example of the church at Corinth provides another proof that evangelism and edification can both occur within the church. In I Cor. 14:2325 it is obvious that unbelievers might at any time enter the local assembly and the result of a proper experience would bring conviction and “he will fall on his face and worship God.” Wagner, referring to Latin American Pentecostals, gives us a contemporary example of urging believers to evangelize outside the church but also inside the church. Those who analyze what they are doing theologically [Latin American Pentecostals] will tell you that they are only obeying Jesus' commands to go and preach the gospel to every creature. But they stress the word go in contrast to many others who expect unbelievers to come. They are aggressive in their evangelism while slower growing churches are invariably more passive. They untiringly proclaim the message of salvation to the lost, but they are not satisfied with proclamation only. They believe in persuading their unbelieving friends to commit their lives to Christ and become responsible members of His church. This last phrase, “responsible members of His church,” is a key concept in unlocking the secrets of Pentecostal growth. To a very high degree, Pentecostals are church-centered, and this increases their effectiveness. By “church-centered,” I do not mean that they are ingrown and introverted -just the opposite! They know that Christ has commanded them to “make disciples,” and they also know that disciples are made from those out there in the world. If Pentecostals were centripetal (inward-moving), they wouldn't grow. They are, instead, centrifugal (outward-moving), intent on meeting unbelievers on their own ground, and there persuading them to become disciples of Jesus. They do not expect the people to come to the gospel; they diligently take the gospel to the people.22 But contrary to some modern churchmen who hold the “go” concept to the exclusion of any “come” concept, Wagner affirms that many Pentecostals are led to Christ not only outside
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