1999_04

SPECIAL REPORT: BIG CITIES, BIG NEEDS

UPLOOK APR I L

1 9 9 9

COUNTDOWN

TO REALITY CINCINNATI • MOBILE • SALT LAKE ✓ David Dunlap DOOR TO DOOR WORK ✓ R. E. Harlow GOD’S WORLD ✓ Chris Schroeder STREET PREACHING

E DI TO R I A L

COUNTDOWN TO REALITY

The Big Bang of 2 Peter 3:10 will make a few changes. was recently taking my daily constitutional, and was stepping it out along an impeccably kept marble concourse. It was in a shopping mall of the ritzy, glitzy variety—Phipps Plaza in Buckhead, on the north side of Atlanta.

Having been in the advertising business for several years, I tend to notice the varied attempts to woo money out of our pockets. For some reason, I noticed this one.

In large, bold type were the banner words, HISTORY IN THE MAKING. Beneath that were two photographs.

The one on the left was an old black and white, of a street musician with drums on his back and a harmonica poised before his lips. He looks dolefully, disinterestedly toward the camera. The other photo, in full color, shows an upscale bistro-type restaurant.

Then the copywriter explains: “A hundred and twenty years ago, folks at Riverside used to spend Saturday nights at jamborees on the town square, sipping a local concoction known as Forester’s Wild Root Ale and listening to the footstomping music of Zebulun ‘Harmonica’ Harris and his jug band…” The ad goes on to tell what’s happening now at Riverside: a new development of apartment homes. Toward the bottom there was the expected contact information.

Then there was one more line, in very small print. “Disclaimer: Any resemblance between this account of Riverside 120 years ago and actual fact is purely coincidental.”

So they had told the truth—more than we suspected— when the lead caption read: “History in the making”!

This trend of tailoring history to your advantage might be expected from unscrupulous ad men. But postmodernist historians are also being “creative” in their rewriting of history these days—sans the disclaimer.

Politically correct descriptions supposedly attempt to repair centuries of discrimination. Now anyone who wishes may select, delete, or adjust “facts” to their heart’s content. “Since we can never know absolute truth,” they say, “all we can do is construct fictions, interpretations,

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rhetorical models that can persuade others.”

There is, however, absolute truth and only one true Historian. His records are accurate and final. How different His view of history is from man’s. We catch a hint of this as we read the Bible. For example, Luke 3 begins: Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto—none of the above, but to—John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness (vv. 1-2).

Some of the greatest empires in history by man’s reckoning don’t even appear on the pages of Scripture. Others show up only because they dared to touch the apple of God’s eye, the Israelites. Abraham and his family gets a detailed look; the great Hammurabi perhaps receives a single reference. The fishermen from Galilee are stage center in the New Testament; Nero and the Roman government only appear as walk-ons. The Lord Jesus never once mentions Pilate or Tiberius or Herod by name; but He called “His own”—Lazarus, Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter—“by name” (Jn. 10:3).

It won’t be CNN or the London Times, USA Today or the Toronto Globe & Mail that will be the final arbiter of truth. One whose titles include “Author and Finisher” will do the last edit on this world’s history. Little things done for the Lord—a word of witness, a comforting note sent to a weary saint, a rebuff (or something worse) suffered for His sake, an intercessory prayer uttered in the night watches—will mean more in the cosmic scheme than military battles or political campaigns.

“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come…” (1 Cor. 4:5). “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be…?” (2 Pet. 3:11). Ý

J. B . N I C H O L S O N , J R .

UPLOOK

• APRIL 1999

UPLOOK

CONTE N T S

(USPS 620-640) Founded in 1927 as Look on the Fields, UPLOOK is published eleven times a year by Uplook Ministries, 813 North Ave., N.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49503.

UPLOOK Volume 66

April 1999

Number 4

FEATURES RISE UP & BUILD 99—CINCINNATI

4

KNOCK, KNOCK David Dunlap

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CITIES TO WEEP OVER Staff Report

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A NON-EVANGELIST ON EVANGELISM Shawn Abigail

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GOD’S WORLD R. E. Harlow

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LONELY VOICES CRYING IN THE CITY Chris Schroeder

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O INDIA! Sam Varghese

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DEPARTMENTS EDITORIAL FRONT LINES WHAT’S GOING ON? BOUQUET OF BLESSING LIVING ASSEMBLIES HEROES: Henry Moorhouse

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US POSTMASTER: Send address changes to UPLOOK, P. O. Box 2041, Grand Rapids, MI 49501-2041 CANADIAN POSTMASTER: Send address changes to UPLOOK, P.O. Box 427, St. Catharines, ON L2R 6V9 ISSN #1055-2642 Printed in USA. © Copyright 1999 Uplook Ministries Periodical postage paid at Grand Rapids, MI. International Publication Mail Product (Canadian Distribution) Sales Agreement No. 1064363 UPLOOK magazine is intended to encourage the people of God in fidelity to His Word, fervency in intercessory prayer, labors more abundant, and love to the Lord. Believing in the practical Headship of Christ and the local autonomy of each assembly, this is not intended to be an official organ of any group or federation of local churches. The editor and authors take responsibility for materials published. For any blessing which accrues, to God be the glory.

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UPLOOK

• APRIL 1999

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CONFERENCE TIME

Cincinnati getting closer

Well, no. Southern Ohio is staying put, for the time being. But every day brings us closer to our “salvation” which is nearer than when we believed. And if the Lord hasn’t returned before this December, the Rise Up & Build Conference will convene, Lord willing, in Cincinnati. The Rapture is one of very few good reasons to miss it.

PRAY & PLAN

RISE & & RISE SHINE ’99 ’99 SHINE CINCINNATI, OH OH CINCINNATI,

DECEMBER 27-30, 1999 LORD WILLING AT THE

HYATT REGENCY CINCINNATI CINCINNATI, OHIO WITH A SPECIAL MISSION EMPHASIS DAY HOSTED BY CMML

“Give me a FEARLESS HEART, a RIGHT FAITH, a FIRM HOPE, a PERFECT LOVE, that for Thy sake I may lay down my life.”

—JOHN HUSS shortly before his martyrdom We could take no better theme for our conference than this prayer of one of God’s intrepid heroes.

For surely if we are going to Rise & Shine as a testimony for the Lord, before we can let our light shine, we must first lay down our lives at His altar. We invite you to join with hundreds of the Lord’s own from across the continent and overseas for a few life-changing days around the Word of God. • Keynote speakers with a word from heaven for the need of the hour • A wide variety of valuable seminars on timely, practical topics • One of the best stocked bookstores in the country • Singing that is out of this world and fellowship to match • A reasonably priced opportunity in a first class facility • A special day with a mission emphasis to enlarge your vision We have all come to expect that the Lord will do great things for us at these conferences, but we must not presume. Please pray with us that the Word will be magnified, the Lord will be glorified, and the saints will be edified.

WE HOPE TO HAVE APPLICATION FORMS IN NEXT MONTH’S UPLOOK, D.V.

FRONT L I N E S

VESSELS OF HONOR College & Career Conference MEMORIAL WEEKEND, MAY 29-31

The conference will be held from Friday night to Monday morning.To be held at Baldwin, Kansas near Kansas City on the campus of Baker University, which is centrally located in the Midwest. $125 on campus or $75 if you make your own housing arrangements. These prices only if registration is received before Mar. 31, 1999. Contact: Jim Lindamood at (918) 663-1121 or jimlindamood@juno.com.

LIMON IN MAY The Limon Bible Chapel (385 J Ave., Limon, CO) will hold its annual conference May 1-2. Invited speakers are Elliot Van Ryn (FL), Keith Trevolt (KS), and Ben Parmer (CO). Accommodations and meals will be provided. Contact: Limon Bible Chapel (719) 775-9788 or 346-8547 ONTARIO WORKERS’ AND ELDERS’ CONFERENCE The Ontario Workers’ and Elders’ conference is planned (Lord willing) for May 4-6, hosted by the assembly in Markham and others in the area.

Bill Yuille (ON) and Steve Hulshizer (PA) have been asked to be responsible for the morning and evening sessions. Boyd Nicholson, Gary McBride and others have been asked to take plenary sessions.

8TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE The saints at the Claremont Bible Chapel (432 W. Harrison St., Claremont, CA) are planning to host their 8th Annual Spring Conference, scheduled for May 14-16 with speakers Harold Summers (BC) and Joe Reese (ON). Contact: Henry Kamena (909) 985 0437 hwkamena@aol.com

SEEKING THINGS ABOVE On May 21-23, Rex Trogdon (NC) will be speaking on “Seeking Things Above: Practical Lessons from the Book of Colossians” at Bird-in-Hand Inn (Lancaster, PA). The cost of $115 per person includes meals and accommodations. Sunday morning meetings will be with the Monterey assembly. Contact: Mark Kolchin PO Box 305 Lanoka Harbor, NJ 08734 FOREST CONFERENCE Plan to attend the annual spring conference at the Forest Gospel Hall, Forest, ON, Apr. 30 to May 2.

Meetings begin Friday evening at 7:30, Saturday afternoon at 2, concluding Sunday afternoon. Expected speakers: Doug Kazen, (WA) and Brian Gunning (ON). All welcome.

IROQUOINA IS LOOKING… 1. For present and past counselors who would like to sharpen their skills and keep abreast of current legislation regarding camps.

2. For teenagers who would like to get involved in camp work.

3. For those who would just like to see what camp work is all about.

4. Any looking for a missionfield.

You are invited to a counselor UPLOOK

• APRIL 1999

seminar on May 15 at Terrill Road Bible Chapel, Fanwood, NJ. No experience necessary!

Overnight accommodations are available for those from a distance.

Call Tom Freeman at: (609) 585-1835 BRANDYWINE STUDIES FOR YOUNG ADULTS May 15: Hear Iain Rodgers on Living and Progressing in Christ.

Held at Brandywine Bible Chapel (2005 Shipley Rd., Wilmington DE).

Contact Tim Bhatt at (302) 425-0324 or (610) 354-1722. tim.c.bhatt@lmco.com FAMILY CONFERENCE Grace Gospel Chapel (Erie, PA) invites you to join them for a Family Conference to be held on Saturday, May 22. Our speaker will be Rob Sullivan from New York. Sessions and activities are planned for adults, teenagers, and children. Also, a special musical concert by Angel Rivera, former Emmaus student, is planned for Saturday evening.

For information, contact: Jay and Karen Washburn (814) 456-2657 ltlmailman@juno.com or Doug and Cheryl Tryon (814) 899-0063 5

FRONT LINES OLNEY PRE-MEMORIAL DAY CONFERENCE Christians are invited to attend this annual conference on May 2930, preceded by a prayer meeting at 7:45 on May 28. All meetings are to be held at 314 W. Chew St., Philadelphia, PA. Usual order of meetings for ministry and gospel preaching at 2:30 and 7:00 pm. Speakers expected: Roy Hill (Bath, England), Tom Wilson (NJ), Wade LeBlanc (NB, Canada) and Harold Smith (NS, Canada).

Accommoda-tions available. Call Harry Wiegand: (215) 635-0822

ministry from God’s Word, contact: Mark Kolchin PO Box 305 Lanoka Harbor, NJ 08734

44th ANNUAL CONFERENCE The 44th Annual Conference will be held, Lord willing, May 29 and 30 at Bethany Gospel Chapel (242 Clark St, Worcester, MA). Speakers expected are Henry Sardina, Charles Oxedine, and Jim Cochrane. A prayer meeting will precede the conference on Friday, May 28. Contact: Louis Miller, Jr. (508) 820-1548

NEW ASSEMBLY IN IA CITY An assembly of believers is now meeting weekly in Iowa City. For more information, contact: Dave at (319) 351-4601 or Tim at: tfrewing@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu

HOUSE PARENTS NEEDED A couple is needed from Jun. 1 to Sept. 6 as house parents for the summer staff at Greenwood Hills Bible Conference (Fayetteville, PA).

This couple must agree with and practice New Testament assembly principles, and enjoy working with young people. It is an opportunity to influence the lives of some seriousminded youth who are serving God’s people and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Contact: Ed Suess, Manager (717) 352-2150 esuess@greenwoodhills.org.

WILLOWBANK, BERMUDA Dr. Dave Reid (IA) will be the speaker June 12-18 at Willowbank, Bermuda. If you are planning a vacation, and wish to fellowship with other assembly believers and enjoy 6

TOUR OF GREECE & ISRAEL Alan Parks (Myrtle Beach, SC) is planning to host a tour of Greece and Israel June 20-30, 1999. Greece will include visits to Athens and Corinth, and Israel will be (as usual) from Dan to Masada. Philip Halperin will be the Israeli guide, Lord willing.

Alan Parks Phone: (843) 238-4844 Fax: (843) 238-8883 waparks@juno.com

ASSEMBLY IN SARNIA AREA In December 1995, a group of believers with a renewed determination to follow God’s Word started meeting in the basement rec room of a home.

Three months later, the group started renting a recently vacated evangelical church building. This was a provision that was better than anything they dared to hope for, but like so many other needs, the Lord did exceeding abundantly above all they could ask or think.

In December 1998, the group was able to purchase the building they had been renting. It is located at 6535 Waterworks Sideroad, Bright’s Grove, Ontario (a northeastern suburb of Sarnia). Visitors and anyone living in the area are welcome to the meetings. For information, call: George Campbell (519) 542-7856 MEETING AGAIN The Gospel Chapel in Avera, GA, UPLOOK

• APRIL 1999

was built in 1931 as a meeting place for a number of folks who were saved during the gospel meetings in a tent with David Brinkman.

Amid changing circumstances, the property was sold and eventually passed into private ownership.

The assembly that meets at Wrens Bible Chapel (Wrens, GA) was recently able to buy the building from a private owner—an evident answer to prayer. Relocation of the assembly meeting place to this central rural area was finalized in late December 1998. Much prayer is desired for this testimony and its outreach. The new address is: Gospel Chapel c/o Curtis Thigpen PO Box 124 Avera, GA 30803 (706) 547-6276 LOOKING FOR LIKE-MINDED BELIEVERS Craig and Jean Swan are living in Celina, TX, north of Dallas. They would like to meet with other Christians in the area who are interested in gathering according to New Testament principles. Contact Craig Swan at (972) 382-4146.

MEETING IN LEWISVILLE,TX The group of believers in Lewisville, TX, received occupancy permission on Dec. 10 and met for the first time in their new building, Edmonds Lane Bible Chapel (1724 South Edmonds Lane, Lewisville, TX) on Dec. 13. An open house was held on Feb. 7 with ministry from Don Welborn. The number in assembly fellowship has increased from

FRONT LINES five families in 1994 to 20 families.

Schedule of meetings is as follows: Sun. Breaking of Bread 9:30 Family Bible Hour 11:00 Bible Hour 6:00 Wed. Bible Study & Prayer 7:30 All are welcome to these meetings.

TRAVEL FROM UK TO RISE UP & BUILD CONF. Anyone from the United Kingdom interested in attending the Rise Up & Build Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio Dec. 27-30, 1999 should contact Roy Hill for information on group travel arrangements.

Roy Hill The Glebe House Bristol BS39 4EH UK Home: 01275-332475 Fax: 01275-33596 RoyHill@compuserve.com SERVICE OPPORTUNITY Logos School (Cyprus) requires a teacher of High School Mathematics to Advanced Level, starting Sept.

1999, DV. The candidate should have computing experience and at least 3 years’ teaching experience. For more on this Christian school, see: www.logos.ac.cy fax 357 5 335578 e-mail pr@logos.ac.cy COMMENDATIONS Kenneth R. Gross The saints at Believer’s Gospel Chapel, Augusta, GA, announce the commendation of Chaplain Kenneth Gross to work among law enforcement personnel. Ken has been Chaplain of the Richmond Co. Sheriff’s Department for many years on a part-time basis and full-time since January 1998. He has also been named Chaplain to the Georgia Division of the FBI. Pray for Ken and Pat as they labor for, and depend on, our blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Daniel P. Koeller The Christians meeting at Wauwatosa Community Chapel (Milwaukee, WI) are pleased to commend our brother Daniel Koeller to the work of the Lord.

Dan has been in happy fellowship in our assembly. He is trusting the Lord’s leading him to the work in Albania. He has a burden to teach God’s Word to believers there and is concerned about communicating the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost.

We know that Dan is a godly man, and we are thankful for his spiritual dedication and humble attitude.

He is planning to spend six months (Feb.-Aug. 1999) in Albania working with the assembly in Tirana, and this commendation is for that purpose. We trust that the Lord will make His will clear to our brother Dan with respect to future Christian service.

This commendation carries with it a commitment from the believers at Wauwatosa Community Chapel to pray for his welfare, progress and usefulness in this work as well as practical help and support as the Lord enables. We are happy to commend him to this work.

Christopher George The elders and saints meeting at Fairbluff Bible Chapel (Charlotte, NC) have commended Christopher George for a short-term missionary project in Chiapas, Mexico.

Christopher will be assisting Peter and Jamie Terrill with their work of vernacular media presentations throughout Mexico. In the Lord’s will, he will be there for 4-6 months.

Ben and Frances Iler Ben and Frances Iler, who had been working in South Africa, are now living in Southern California.

They are still commended workers from Claremont Bible Chapel (Claremont, CA), as home workers UPLOOK

• APRIL 1999

now rather than foreign. Their new address is: Ben and Frances Iler 20076 Bear Ridge Rd. Grass Valley, CA 95949 B-Iler@USA.net HOME CALLS Owen Hoffman Owen Hoffman, a well-known evangelist from Washington, GA, was called home February 1 at the age of 88. Mr. Hoffman grew up in New York City and began preaching on the streets there when he was 17 years old. In his mid-20’s, he moved south and began a ministry which became known in many parts of the

world. Mr. Hoffman was involved in the planting of what is now the Washington Chapel and the development of a children’s summer camp.

He was known for his unusual “black light” sermons and devotionals.

Mrs. Myrtle Landis On January 22, the Lord called Myrtle Landis home to be with Himself. Ninety-three years old, her last days were spent at the Gospel Hall Home in Longport, NJ. She suffered from Alzheimer’s and congestive heart failure. Her family have been actively involved in the work of the Lord, primarily in Pennsylvania.

Her daughter Ruth and Ruth’s husband David Steifler have a wellknown ministry throughout the Ý Northeast.

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Machapuchari, Nepal

WHAT’S GOING ON?

Store sued for what?

Because they had the audacity to claim that the Bible is God’s Word! on Rudd, owner of a Christian bookstore in Atascadero, California, was forced to appear in court after being sued for $5000 citing false advertising for calling the Bible the Word of God. The case was dismissed when the complainant, Queenie Edwards, failed to appear at court.

Edwards made a number of phone

calls to the bookstore and sent letters explaining that the correct terminology for God is “Jove” and calling for Rudd to sign a document that the Bible is not the Word of God. According to one lawyer, the case is not really a cause for alarm. Many states prohibit frivolous or meritless cases, which this one seems to be. On the other hand, people may sue for any reason.

—Christian Retailing

TAXI EVANGELISTS A seven-year alliance of Christian taxi drivers in Uruguay’s capital city of Montevideo has grown to the point where members now have a radio program and a renovated house that serves as a ministry center. Sixty of the city’s 3000 drivers are members of the Christian association.

Alvaro Rodriguez views his taxi as a pulpit. “People open up and share their problems because they think they’ll never see you again.”

Night shift drivers meet downtown for prayer every day at 2 AM at a notorious meeting place for drug dealers and prostitutes. Day drivers do the same at 11 AM. The association also has a vision to reach other taxi drivers in Uruguay with the gospel. They pool their money to finance trips to interior Uruguayan cities. They want to preach the gospel to every taxi driver in the country.

—CT

of causing 37,000 deaths while leading the Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s fight for autonomy.

Dozens of Kurdish protesters stormed the Israeli embassy in Berlin after Mr. Ocalan’s arrest. Three Kurds were killed, and at least 43 people were injured, including 16 demonstrators and 27 police officers.

Israel denies reports that its Mossad intelligence agency helped track down the guerrilla leader. —World

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TURKS VS. KURDS Turkey cleared all 250 inmates off an island prison to make way for one prisoner—Kurdish guerrilla leader Abdullah Ocalan. He stands accused 8

EVANGELISM IN TURKEY An historic event took place in Turkey at the end of February. A country that is 99% Muslim hosted an evangelistic series with Luis Palau. Kevin Palau says 10 years ago evangelistic meetings would never be held, but now there has been a tremendous change, a very positive change. The government is more open in allowing freedom to the churches there. Both the Turkish national believers as well as other people who are there working say they have the freedom for the first time to hold public meetings.There are only 2,000 known believers in Turkey, says the report.

—MNN UPLOOK

• APRIL 1998

GOOD NEWS FROM NEPAL Reports of Christian persecution in Nepal continue, but Youth for Christ’s Art Deyo says it isn’t as bad as it could be—he believes the persecution that does occur could be a result of fear of Christianity’s rapid growth. There were 20,000 Christians in 1991 and today they say there are between 300,000 and 600,000. Increased religious freedom is allowing a Youth for Christ team to do some medical work there.

SIM also confirms the report that there is a growing Christian church in the midst of the world’s only Hindu kingdom. Eight years ago, the government of Nepal officially decided to allow freedom of religion, an act which opened doors for a few primary mission groups to enter the country; but they must still operate very carefully. The mission groups are largely health and development oriented; they have an agreement with the Nepal government not to start any churches.

We have been informed that there are three assemblies in East Nepal and one new one that has just started meeting in Katmandu, West Nepal.

Assembly workers from India, Korea, and, amazingly, from the U.S. serve the Lord there.

GETTING IT STRAIGHT One of our readers pointed out that, in our article on the death of Graham Staines, we described “Bajarang Bali” as a Hindu goddess.

It is in fact a monkey god. Our apologies to our readers. No apologies to the monkey god.

Ý

DA R E TO TH I N K

KNOCK, KNOCK

Yes, traditional door-to-door evangelism really works! n 1960, D. James Kennedy graduated from seminary and began preaching at the Coral Ridge Church in Fort Lauderdale, FL. After just eight months of ministry there, the congregation dwindled from 45 to 17 believers. Although he was very discouraged about what was happening, he would not give up. He realized the problem was that he lacked courage to confront unbelievers with the truth of the gospel. To his surprise, he was invited to Decatur, GA, to conduct a gospel campaign for ten days. He preached each evening, but during the mornings and afternoons, he received training and visited homes, pre-

Lord has effectively used this method throughout the history of the church, from the time of the apostles (Acts 20:20) to the modern day. Today, church leaders are calling for renewed efforts in teaching and training Christians how to use door-to-door evangelism, proving the timelessness of this evangelistic method.

In a study of the fastest growing 576 Southern Baptist churches in the U.S., Southern Baptist researcher Dr. Thomas Rainer concluded that traditional door-to-door evangelism was still a very useful evangelistic method. In the churches surveyed, 50.2% of these churches ranked weekly door-to-door evangelism as one of their most

senting the gospel door-to-door. Those experiences at the doorways of the unsaved would transform his ministry.

After the evangelistic campaign, he returned to Florida, where he implemented what he had learned in Georgia, calling these principles, “Evangelism Explosion.”

By presenting unsaved people with the claims of the gospel on their doorsteps, the Coral Ridge Church grew from 17 individuals to more than 2,000 in nine years.

These simple door-to-door evangelistic principles would be the means of winning thousands to Christ in the U.S. and in 93 other lands throughout the world.1 Door-to-door evangelism is one of the few ways that each family in a city can be reached with the gospel. The

effective evangelistic tools. Bill Hohenstreet, of Post Falls Baptist Church in Post Falls, Idaho, states that door-to-door visitation was critical to their evangelistic outreach. He explained that their primary outreach efforts were door-to-door, cold-call visitation, and Tuesday evening visitation using a prospect list. This church of 200 saw 48 come to faith in Jesus Christ in 1996.

“Churches that rated door-to-door evangelism highly did not believe that it was any less effective, or that resistance to visits was any greater, than in years past.” 2 Churches throughout the U.S. are beginning to find that consistent evangelistic visitation, when followed up with literature, Bible study, and hospitality are effective

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DAV I D UPLOOK

DUNL AP

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KNOCK, KNOCK means in winning the lost to Christ.

Nevertheless, door-to-door evangelism is not without its critics. Since 1973, church growth experts have unwisely labeled this method as old-fashioned and ineffective in modern society. However, recent studies have challenged the validity of these widely-held convictions of church growth researchers. Thomas Rainer, who conducted a survey of the fastest growing churches, speaks of this issue when he writes, “But what about the studies of growing churches which made the conclusion that traditional door-to-door evangelism was on the decline?

The research of those studies was based on growing churches, not necessarily churches that were increasing in size by conversion growth. In fact, many of the churches were hardly growing at all through new con-

WhoÕs there?

This is no joke.

verts, but by Christians who were leaving one church to join another. Additionally, the other studies rarely looked at more than forty to fifty churches; our research is based upon a study of over 500 churches.”3 The results of this recent study have soundly contradicted the tenaciously held beliefs of church growth experts. This fact has caused concern among many church leaders, and has led them to reexamine their evangelistic methods. Many are beginning to see that traditional methods are indeed biblical, important, and effective means for producing conversion growth in churches.

Evangelism is not a special activity for special people at special times. It is the normal activity of all Christians as the Lord gives opportunity. A church’s evangelistic effort should be a blend of youth and children’s ministries, evangelistic Bible studies, prayer, regular gospel campaigns, and individual witnessing. But church lead10

ers are coming to the conclusion that door-to-door evangelism is an essential if a church is serious about contacting an entire community for Christ.

Some churches have been content to arrange a series of meetings for the gospel and to send out newspaper announcements inviting the unsaved to attend. In many cases, the result has been the glorious salvation of souls.

Yet prior to the gospel meetings, many in a community were never contacted about the meetings, they were never spoken to in person, and an announcement was never personally delivered after a brief presentation of the gospel.

Some of the most effective evangelistic organizations have used door-to-door visitation in presenting the gospel. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, since its inception, has placed a premium on the need for

UPLOOK

door-to-door visitation prior to the nightly preaching of the gospel. The Billy Graham Team, in each of its gospel crusades, mobilizes thousands of workers to contact the unsaved door-to-door. In October, 1998 in Tampa, FL, the Billy Graham Crusade Team organized 3,000 workers from 100 churches to visit 300,000 homes over a three-day period one week prior to the Crusade. The Tampa Crusade chairman, Peter Lowe, said, “The promotional campaign is important, but we think this personalized approach is the most effective of all.”4 There is a great need not only to invite the unsaved to hear the gospel, but to take the message to the unsaved.

Presenting Christ door-to-door puts the “go” back into the gospel and emphasizes the “woe” of personal responsibility. George Verwer, the founder of the international mission organization Operation Mobilization, writes, “Without a doubt the most effective means of getting the

• APRIL 1999

KNOCK, KNOCK gospel message to the unsaved is by taking it to them.

That is where the bottleneck lies. The evangelistic method of the Apostle Paul was not so much a ‘You come hear me’ evangelism, as it was an ‘I’ll bring it to you’ evangelism. Paul was a great officer in the army of the Lord, a man of intellect and influence, but he never stopped knocking on doors to witness for His Lord. Yet today it is very difficult to find Christian men and women who are willing to go from house to house witnessing and distributing literature to the unconverted.

Satan is a master strategist; he will do everything to keep us from eye-to-eye contact with the unconverted.” 5 Assembly workers and evangelists have carried the gospel door-to-door effectively for many years. This type of labor in the gospel is spiritually demanding, yet profitable and effective. John Martin has labored for many years in Ontario, and through his efforts (with others) many assemblies have been established. His efforts in the gospel and the blessing which followed attest to the fruitfulness, and also sacrifice, inherent in door-to-door evangelism. In the book, Saved to Serve, he writes, “All of these assemblies referred to represent a great deal of hard work. Much visitation was done in all of these areas. The attendance at the Bible studies was sometimes discouraging, but perseverance and patient, persistent plodding brought its reward.”6 August Van Ryn, recounting the way God used his efforts in speaking to the unsaved door-to-door, writes, “I shall never forget our first season in the city of Owosso, Michigan. Another young brother and I covered the town with tracts and printed invitations, going from door to door. It took several weeks to do this. I shall never forget the sight that met our eyes when we came to the tent for the first evening meeting. We were amazed to see its 500 capacity crowded to the doors and hundreds more standing on the outside. And how wonderfully God blessed His Word in the salvation of many precious souls.” 7 How can we see blessing in our own evangelistic efforts? How can assemblies today reach their communities for Christ? How does one go about presenting Christ door-to-door? Many who have labored in this work have found the following principles very useful: 1. When you go, have a specific goal in mind. Some go with the general purpose of distributing tracts or giving a word of witness. Many have found that it is better to have an announcement to a gospel meeting, Vacation Bible School, Awana club, or home Bible study to offer one who is responsive to the gospel.

2. Use literature wisely. Many have effectively used tracts, Bible portions, and gospel booklets. The booklet Ultimate Questions has been very effective. Some find it fruitful to offer a card with which one could order an UPLOOK

Emmaus correspondence course, which the chapel can provide. A New Jersey assembly used this method in their community and 32 persons responded to the offer.

3. Follow up contacts. Many opportunities have been lost due to a failure to follow up effectively. Those who show interest should be revisited and offered suitable literature, such as a Gospel of John, a book, cassette tape of a gospel message, or a fitting Emmaus course. Contacts should receive a follow-up phone call and an invitation to a home Bible study or to a one-to-one study. A lunch or dinner invitation should be extended, as many have come to Christ at the dinner table.

4. Read helpful books concerning door-to-door evangelism. Two of the most helpful are The ABC’s of Doorto-Door Visitation by Ron Smith, STL Books, P.O. Box 28, Waynesboro, GA; and Evangelism Explosion by D. James Kennedy, Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, IL. 5. Organize a gospel team in your area. Gospel teams laboring for Christ in tract distribution, open-air preaching, and door-to-door evangelism have been used very effectively. These teams have covered cities, such as Little Rock, AK, or smaller communities, such as Key West and Citrus Park, FL. These efforts can be limited to a Saturday, a weekend or an entire week. The training in the gospel, witnessing for Christ, laboring in prayer, and the joy of seeing souls saved is a life-transforming experience. After a weekend outreach in Florida, a worker wrote, “The outreach was such a blessing to me and I will never forget it…the times of prayer and the fellowship together were fantastic…I wish we could do this more often.” May God mightily use all your efforts in the gospel to reach the lost, spiritually transform the saints, and most importantly, to bring glory to the Lord Jesus Ý Christ.

ENDNOTES: 1 D. James Kennedy, Evangelism Explosion, Wheaton, IL, Tyndale House Publishers, 1977, p. 6 2 Thomas Rainer, Effective Evangelistic Churches, Nashville, TN, Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1996, p. 20 3 Thomas Rainer, ibid., pp. 19, 41 4 Crusaders Raise Profile, Tampa Tribune, October 17, 1998 5 George Verwer, Literature Evangelism, Send The Light Books, Bromley, England, 1977, p. 11 6 John Martin, Saved to Serve, Gospel Folio Press, Grand Rapids, MI, 1994, p. 54 7 August Van Ryn, 60 Years in His Service, Truth for Today, Hialeah, FL, 1996, p. 23

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BOUQUET OF BLESSING

REVIVE US AGAIN The primary qualification for a missionary is not love for souls, as we so often hear, but love for Christ.

—Vance Havner Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Isaiah 57:15

From the day of Pentecost, there has been not one great spiritual awakening in any land which has not begun in a union of prayer, though only among two or three; no such outward, upward movement has continued after such prayer meetings declined.

—A. T. Pierson

O Living Stream! O Gracious Rain!

None wait for Thee, and wait in vain.

—G. Tersteegen Tearless hearts can never be the heralds of the Passion. —J. H. Jowett

When God intends great mercy for His people, the first thing He does is set them a-praying. —Matthew Henry All decays begin in the closet; no heart thrives without much secret converse with God, and nothing will make amends for the lack of it.

—Berridge

WHAT IS REVIVAL BUT A FRESH BEGINNING OF OBEDIENCE TO GOD?

IT WAS SEVEN YEARS… …before Carey baptized his first convert in India. …before Judson won his first disciple in Burma. …that Morrison toiled before the first Chinese person was brought to Christ. …declares Moffat, that he waited to see the first evident moving of the Holy Spirit upon the Bechuanas of Africa. …before Henry Richards saw the first convert, among the Banza Manteka.

—A. J. Gordon O brother, pray; in spite of Satan, pray; spend hours in prayer; rather neglect friends than not pray; rather fast, and lose breakfast, dinner, tea, and supper—and sleep too—than not pray. And we must not talk about prayer, we must pray in right earnest. The Lord is near. He comes softly while the virgins slumber.

—A. Bonar 12

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Oh! for a heart that is burdened!

Infused with a passion to pray; Oh! for a stirring within me; Oh! for His power every day.

Oh! for a heart like my Saviour, Who, being in an agony, prayed.

Such caring for OTHERS, Lord, give me; On my heart let burdens be laid.

My Father, I long for this passion, To pour myself out for the lost— To lay down my life to save others— “To pray,” whatever the cost.

Lord, teach me, Oh teach me this secret, I’m hungry this lesson to learn, This passionate passion for others, For this, blessed Jesus, I yearn.

Father, this lesson I long for from Thee— Oh, let Thy Spirit reveal this to me.

—Mary Warburton Booth

Wilt Thou not revive us again: that Thy people may rejoice in Thee?

Psalm 85:6

• APRIL 1999

SPECIAL REPORT

and pray Cities to weep over

half of this century has been in major urban centers. The question is, have we met the challenge?

The three largest metropolitan areas (New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago) all have numerous assembly testimonies. New York, for example, has 55 New Testament gatherings, as listed in the Walterick directory. These fall within the official metro area which includes Northern New Jersey, Long Island and more.

Fifty-five is a large number, until one considers the population of almost 20 million souls. No one ought dare suggest the work is done!

Not surprisingly, in these huge metropolises an important part of the work is done by and among diverse ethnic groups. There are a number of Spanish assemblies in each center, as well as others that are made up primarily of West Indians, East Indians, Asians, and Portuguese believers.

Here, for your personal exercise and prayer, are some major centers in

the US with no groups of believers gathering in New Testament simplicity, as far as we know. There are, no doubt, many fine believers in these cities. For that we thank God and take courage. However, we believe that the Great Commission does not end with the gospel but with, “…teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I command you.”

Those of us who hold dear such truths as the weekly remembrance of the Lord in the breaking of bread, gathering in His Name alone, the practical Headship of Christ, the presidency of the Holy Spirit in the gatherings of the saints, the full expression of the priesthood of the believers with no clerical distinctions, and the recognition of the One Body by the refusal of man-made distinctions—we ought to long for others to enter into these riches, too.

To this end, not in a competitive spirit, but with humility and grace, we ought to seek the salvation of souls through the preaching of the gospel to every creature in our missionfield (including North America) and to seek the maturing of these new converts by declaring to them the whole counsel of God.

miles north of the Gulf of Mexico.

Mobile is one of the nation’s oldest cities. A French-Canadian explorer founded it in 1702 as Fort Louis de la Mobile. He named the city after the nearby Mobila Indians who belonged to the Choctaw tribe. It is called the city of six flags because six governments have controlled it: France, Britain, and Spain ruled during the 1700’s. Then the U.S., the Republic of Alabama, the Confederate States, and again the United States flew their flags here.

Mobile has a successful and diversified economic development program attracting investments and

jobs from around the world.

Recently, the city was ranked as one of the fifteen best cities for jobs by Time magazine’s list of “Where the Jobs Are: 15 of the Hottest Places.”

Quite a number of assembly Christians have been exercised to have an outreach there this coming June 6-12. However, we wait on the Lord—if this is His mind—to move the right couple (or couples) to provide a base for the work there, Aquila-and-Priscilla-like. Pray on.

For any interested in this potential work, you may wish to contact Bob Brown at jesusistheway@juno.com or call: (505) 641-4028.

Our Lord viewed Jerusalem through His tears. It is the only way to see our cities clearly.

STAFF REPORT

P

ioneer evangelism seems to naturally conjure images of gospel meetings in the community building and visiting every farmhouse in the county with the Good News. Assemblies meeting in New Testament simplicity have known tremendous blessing in their pioneer gospel labors in areas such as Iowa, the Piedmont of North Carolina, and southern Ontario. But as North America continues its postWar trend to increasing urbanization, the definition of a pioneer evangelist has left many of us outdated.

Today, according to the 1999 World Almanac more than 79.8% of the American population lives in metropolitan areas. And many of the remaining 20% live in smaller cities with around 100,000 people. The heart of “pioneering” in the second

❶ MOBILE, ALABAMA Population: 202,581; metropolitan area of almost 500,000.

Mobile is Alabama’s second largest city and its only seaport. The city lies on the Mobile River where the river flows into Mobile Bay, 31

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CITIES TO WEEP (AND PRAY) OVER

LAS VEGAS, NV

SALT LAKE CITY, UT

COLUMBUS, OH

MOBILE, AL BAKERSFIELD, CA CORPUS CHRISTI, TX

SHREVEPORT, LA

THE US POPULATION SUBDIVIDED BY REGION LISTING THE PERCENTAGE OF MAJOR RELIGIONS REPRESENTED WEST Protestant 49% Roman Catholic 24% Orthodox 1% Jewish 1% Mormon 4% Other 7% None 14%

MIDWEST Protestant 60% Roman Catholic 28% Orthodox 1% Jewish 3% Other 2% None 6%

❷ SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH Population (metro.): 1,217,842 The capital and largest city in Utah, the city is located about 15 miles southeast of Great Salt Lake. It is one of the chief centers of culture, finance, industry and transportation of the Rocky Mountain States.

The Church of Jesus Christ of 14

SOUTH Protestant 71% Roman Catholic 15% Orthodox 1% Jewish 1% Other 6% None 6%

EAST Protestant 47% Roman Catholic 37% Orthodox 1% Jewish 4% Other 4% None 7% According to the 1998 Gallup Poll

Latter Day Saints (Mormon Church) has its headquarters there. Mormon pioneers founded the city in 1847.

Today, Mormons form considerably more than half of the city’s population. The Mormon temple stands in Temple Square in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City.

There was a small assembly there in the 1960s, but it ceased some time ago. A couple of families moved from Iowa to SLC a few years ago and have been fellowshipping in their homes. Unknown to them, another two families had also moved to the city and were seeking to see a NT assembly planted. Recently, they have begun meeting together in rented facilities, and are excited to see UPLOOK

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the work the Lord is going to do in that city. A number of other believers have expressed interest in being of some help there. A group of Air Force cadets from Colorado Springs planned to travel to SLC at the end of March to help as they can. Pray that we may see a strong testimony there “where Satan’s seat is.” To let them know you’re praying, contact Roger Wardell at: wardelldist@virex.net or Ted Dewing at: DEWINGT@hillwpos.cits.hill.af.mil

❸ LAS VEGAS, NEVADA Population (metro.): 1,072,227 While Salt Lake City may be compared to Jerusalem for all of its Christ-less religion, in Las Vegas we

CITIES TO WEEP (AND PRAY) OVER

see a reflection of pleasure-loving Corinth. Long known for its gambling casinos, the city has welcomed hundreds of thousands to indulge their baser cravings.

No other US city is experiencing a population explosion comparable to Las Vegas. From 1980-1990 the population increased 61.5% and from 1990 to 1996 it increased another 40.9%. In less than two decades the city has doubled. New housing developments are being built almost constantly.

With the legalization of casinos in other areas, Las Vegas is doing whatever it can to keep visitors coming, expanding to virtually every realm of

entertainment imaginable in an effort to change their image to be more than simply a gambling town.

More and more businesses are moving to Vas Vegas and transferring employees there, which also helps to change the image.

Nevada is virtually void of New Testament assembly testimony. A group of believers meets in a home in the Reno/Sparks area, but other than that there is no ongoing work of which we are aware.

❹ CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS

the Corpus Christi Bay, near the Gulf of Mexico. About half of the population are of Hispanic ancestry. The mild climate attracts many tourists and conventions every year.

The city is situated near major gas and petroleum fields and fertile farmland. The Corpus Christi Naval Air Station opened in 1941 today is headquarters for the naval Air Training Command.

Texas is the largest state in the country sizewise and is second only to California in population, yet the assembly directory lists only 17

Population: 280,260 The 59th most populated city in the US, the name of this city reminds us of the Roman Catholic dominance that once dominated (and sometimes still dominates) major cities in North America. Corpus Christi obviously means “The body of Christ.”

A major US seaport and center of industry and tourism, the city lies on

HOW BAD IS IT IN OUR BIG CITIES? The following description from our soon-to-be-reissued The Pilgrim Church by E. H. Broadbent is not a portrait of 20th Century America but 18th Century England just before the Wesleys and Whitefield arrived! Are things hopeless today? It looked like that then, too.

Infidelity and indifference to matters of religion and morals prevailed in England in the 18th century, to an extent, and with consequences, that arrested the attention of all careful observers. With the upper classes it was fashionable to be irreligious and immoral, while the lower classes were plunged in the grossest ignorance and sin.

The clergy were, with few exceptions, no better than the people. Literature was atheistic and impure, drunkenness was considered no disgrace, violence and crime were rampant. The effort to restrain crime and preserve property by savage punishments

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increased recklessness, the condition of prisons was abominable, the oppression of the poor and helpless was without mercy.

There remained a strong undercurrent of religion and faith, but it was hidden by the popular indulgence in sin and mockery of all that was good. The companies of believers were few in number compared with the bulk of the population and a certain languor had crept over many of them which showed that they were in need of reviving.

It was in these circumstances that a spiritual revival was given of extraordinary extent and fruitfulness. pp. 297-298

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CITIES TO WEEP (AND PRAY) OVER assemblies outside the Dallas and Houston metro areas. This leaves large territories that have no group of believers meeting according to New Testament principles that we know about, within reasonable driving distance. But we have recently received word of a group of believers who have just begun to meet on New Testament lines in Hico, TX. And notice several items from Texas in this issue’s Front Lines. The Rose of Sharon is still being planted here.

❺ BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA Population: 205,508 Listed as one of the 100 most populated US cities, Bakersfield is tucked between the Sierre Madre Mountains and the Sierra Nevadas.

While California is blessed with quite a number of assembly testimonies along the coast—especially around Los Angeles and San Francisco—the work is weak east of the mountains.

This is where the “real” Californians live. Along the coast, many of the people are transplants.

What a challenge it would be to step away from the security of longestablished, strong local churches along the coast to invest in the spiritual lives of the people who live on the other side of the mountains. There is a growing burden among some to

❻ SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA Population: 191,558 A major center for industry and trade, Shreveport lies on the Red River, in Northwestern Louisiana.

The city has about 260 manufacturing plants including fabricated metals, glassware, telephone equipment, wood products, chain saws, trucks and steel casings. The cotton industry provided most of the town’s income during the 1800’s, then in 1906, oil and natural gas were discovered. It looks like some exercised brethren could find “tent-making” jobs there and set up a lighthouse there.

There are only eight assemblies listed in Louisiana in the Walterick directory, 6 of which are in the vicinity of New Orleans. Louisiana’s population is strongly Roman Catholic— at least in name. There is increasing fascination and involvement with witchcraft and voodoo. Just the kind of challenge for serious evangelists!

There is much work to be done to reach the Deep South for the Lord.

❼ COLUMBUS, OHIO

see works started in some of the larger untouched cities of this state.

An evangelistic effort is beginning in San Jose; there is prayer being made for the Modesto-Stocton-Tracy triad. Thank the Lord for faithful witnesses in this very needy state.

16

Population: 657,053 (16th largest city in the nation).

The capital and largest city of Ohio, it is the home of the main campus of Ohio State University, one of the nation’s largest universities. The city pioneered in several areas of education. In 1837, Columbus began the country’s first state-operated school for the blind. The first junior high school in the US opened here in 1909 and in 1922, Ohio State U. founded WOSU radio station—the UPLOOK

• APRIL 1998

first educational radio station in North America.

Located in the middle of the state, Columbus is fairly accessible from the other major Ohio cities, where groups of believers are meeting according to New Testament principles. A group of Christians (perhaps 40-50) do meet here (presently in an Adventist building), breaking bread weekly and have both outreach and prayer and Bible studies. Unlisted in Walterick’s “Address Book of Some Assemblies of Christians,” they represent many groups of believers (with varying degrees of light) who take the Word as their only guide for doctrine and practice who are unknown to us, but known to the One around whom they meet. We are grateful for every gathering of His people who take the Word of God as their sole infallible guide.

MUCH LAND to be POSSESSED In addition to these cities, there are scores of mid-size cities which are in themselves a missionfield, more than an hour’s drive from the nearest local assembly. Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo, MI, Bismarck, ND, and Rapid City, SD, are just a few examples; no doubt you can think of such areas in your own state or province. Even the Niagara Peninsula with its vigorous assembly work, has its Fort Erie, Grimsby, and Beamsville.

Then there are major cities with one small work like Chatanooga, TN, and Indianapolis, IN. When travelling, stop in (with a letter of introduction from your assembly, of course). When you aren’t, take them with you to the Throne of Grace. Ý

LIVING ASSEMBLIES

HEALTH FOOD

You are what you eat. Especially when it comes to doctrine. he next time you read 1 & 2 Timothy and following the apostles. For instance, an understanding Titus, underline the word “doctrine.” You will and ability to teach the Word would be an essential qualnotice how frequently the word appears and ity of an elder (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:9). Timothy was the importance Paul gives the subject. exhorted to “commit…to faithful men, who shall be able “Doctrine” simply means “teaching.” It was an activity to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2). The apostles’ doctrine the early church engaged in consistently. Acts 2:42 states: was not to be taught only by the apostles, but by suc“They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine….” ceeding generations. Although the apostles were the last Here are some observations about doctrine and why to receive direct, authoritative revelation from God, they the early believers wholeheartedly embraced it. were not the last to teach that doctrine. The apostles’ doc1. It was part of the progressive revelation of God, trine was to be lived out in practical obedience. Our attiunderstood to have equal authority with the Old tude at work is connected to this (1 Tim. 6:1; Titus 2:10).

Testament prophets (2 Pet. 3:2, 15-18) and the Lord.

5. The apostles’ doctrine would be the means of pre(Acts 20:35; 1 Tim. 6:3). The spoken serving the church from corruption until ministry of the Lord was incomplete the Lord returns. Good doctrine‚ accordREGULAR SOLID according to His own statements (Jn. ing to Paul, would be a continuation of BIBLE TEACHING IS 16:7, 12) and He continued His revelathe ministry of the Lord Himself (1 Tim. PREVENTIVE MEDICINE tion to Peter (Acts 10:13-15) and to Paul 4:6). He is still building His church. Paul FOR THE LOCAL BODY (1 Cor. 15:8; Gal. 1:2; Acts 22:6-10, 14). saw teaching as necessary to preserve us 2. It was the final revelation of God. (1 Tim. 4:16; Acts 20:32). Sound doctrine The Lord stated this (Jn. 16:12-13, “all refutes false teaching (Titus 1:9) and truth”). The application of the apostles’ inoculates us against error. doctrine was intended for the church What do we need to do to promote sound right up to the Lord’s return (1 Cor. teaching of the Word of God in our 11:26; 15:51-58). In 2,000 years of assembly? church history there has never been seri1. Some must give themselves to consisous acceptance of divine revelation and tent Bible study. This will take time and authority other than the New Testament. sacrifice. Timothy was exhorted to “give 3. The apostles’ doctrine would be attacked, counterattendance to…doctrine” (1 Tim. 4:13). feited, and confused (intentionally or unintentionally) 2. Many assemblies arrange frequent weekend Bible from the very beginning to the present day. The gospel studies for consecutive Bible teaching. These are usually itself would be twisted (Gal. 1:6-7). Christians would be well attended. A gifted teacher can be invited. Time is called to return to the law as a means of living a godly devoted to several hours of good teaching. This gives the life (Gal. refutes that). On the other extreme, Christians assembly consecutive teaching without a single brother would be led to think that the grace of God allows any taking an unreasonable number of regular meetings, kind of behavior, living without regard to God’s moral quenching the development of gift in others. law (1 Cor. deals with this). The Person of Christ would 3. Weekly prayer meeting can be a good time to take be attacked (see Phil., Col., and John’s epistles). False up a subject or book in the Bible. Some assemblies sucteaching would arise not only from outside the church cessfully have open discussion led by a capable brother. but from within (see 1 & 2 Tim. and Titus). Jude warns Others have one brother give a series of messages. us the presence of evil men among us.

Make sound Bible teaching a characteristic of your 4. The apostles’ doctrine was intended to be underassembly. It will attract like-minded believers and feed stood, taught, and obeyed by believers in the generations those in fellowship—God’s way of keeping us healthy. Ý

T

by

BRIAN GUNNING UPLOOK

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K EEP I T SI M P L E

A non-evangelist on evangelism

Sometimes those who listen to evangelists preach have some helpful suggestions on how to herald it.

ions or quoting some hymn or poem.

SHAWN ABIGAIL

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? Many people in today’s world simply do not understand many of the words in the King James Version.

Again, this is the product of a biblically illiterate society. A preacher of the gospel can feel free to use the KJV when he preaches, but he must take time to explain the words. Some of the phrases that are so familiar to us are completely foreign to those who were not raised in a church background. For example: Are you washed in the blood? Justification is something you do in typesetting.

Redemption is something you do with coupons. Even terms like sin and iniquity must be defined.

L

et me start out by making an admission—I am not an evangelist. When called on to preach the gospel, I will step up and do my best, but by gift and inclination, I believe the Lord has gifted me otherwise. And yet I would like to suggest a few thoughts that might be helpful to all who are called on to preach the gospel.

CLARITY IN THE MESSAGE The good news must be preached clearly, with the unbeliever in mind. I sometimes find myself walking out of a meeting hearing the saints say, “It was good to hear the gospel preached so clearly”—yet I had concluded that an unbeliever would have had little understanding of what was said. The unbeliever has enough of a problem understanding the gospel without the preacher confusing the issue (2 Cor. 4:4). What are some practices that might hinder the unbeliever in understanding the gospel?

TWO TARGETS WITH ONE ARROW? We confuse the unchurched with a message merely telling unbelievers about the need to accept the gospel instead of a message telling them the gospel. Yes, unbelievers need to be told they must respond, but it isn’t a good gospel message if we don’t stress what they must do to be saved.

We are to preach the gospel of God (Rom. 1:1), the Author of it; the gospel of God’s grace (Acts 20:24), the means of it; the gospel of His Son 18

BRIDGING THE GAP

(Rom. 1:9), the Provider of it; and the gospel of the glory of Christ (2 Cor. 4:4), the objective of it. And while it is necessary to talk about man’s need of salvation, we do the evangel a grave disservice when we spend all of our time talking about man’s need, and fail to lift up Christ.

WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? If we quote Scripture without pointing out that it is Scripture, it can often lose some of its impact. The sad fact is: we live in a biblically illiterate world. A few years ago, most people would have recognized verses from Scripture; today many people could hardly identify a single verse. If we don’t tell them that this is the Bible we are quoting, they might assume we are just expressing our own opinUPLOOK

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When unsaved persons come into our meetings, are they greeted by stares and then carefully ignored? If we want people to come—and come back—they must be greeted with warmth and love, not suspicion and fear.

Some friends of mine once visited a little church group on a Sunday evening. The saints there literally lined up to meet them and by the end of the evening, they had three invitations for supper. What a powerful impression this would make on people visiting our gospel meeting if we showed this sort of love for the Saviour’s sake!

Does all of this mean that we have to water down the message and compromise on the content? Does this mean that we need worldly methods and approaches? Absolutely not! But it does mean that we need to tailor

A NON-EVANGELIST ON EVANGELISM our message to our audience. It means that we need to continually point to the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It means that we must cultivate love and warmth for saint and sinner alike!

ONE FINAL WORD The preaching of the gospel in our meetings does not absolve us of the responsibility to share the gospel in our everyday lives. Just because we invite people out to a

gospel meeting or a special crusade doesn’t mean that our responsibility is over. Whether gifted as evangelists or gifted in some other way, we all bear a responsibility to share our faith. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you Ý with meekness and fear” (1 Pet. 3:15).

GODÕS WORLD

od formed Adam, built Eve (as the Hebrew has it) and was well pleased with His work. The beautiful harmony was soon soured by sin, but Jehovah promised that the woman’s Seed would be the Victor. He commanded Adam and Eve to be fruitful, to multiply, and fill the earth, which they started to do. The Lord gave the same charge to Noah and his sons. God knew that all of them would be sinners, but He had a superb plan to nullify the effects of sin.

We should be able to easily deduce that God loves men, but we need read only a few positive statements, beside John 3:16, to convince us that God wants all men to be saved. He promised Abram, the father of the faithful, that all families of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 12:3).This man’s Descendant would be a Light to the Gentiles (Isa. 42:6; 60:3). He was and is the Light of the world. His life was the Light of men.

But before Christ came, men had light from God through His work in creation.The celestial and terrestrial heavens certify His existence, eternal power, and Godhead day and night (Ps. 19:1-4; Isa. 40:26; Rom. 1:19-20).

God wants His way and salvation to be known among all nations (Ps. 67:2). He would grant double peace to men near and far (Isa. 57:19), to the ends of the earth (Rom. 10:18).

The Lord wanted Israel to spread His Name and fame (Ps. 2:10; 117:1; Isa. 43:10; 49:6; Jer. 1:5).Their partial compliance attained—of course—only partial results (Isa. 9:2; 65:1; Rom. 10:20). But then Christ arrived! He completed the work through which God can offer to forgive all sinners. He rose from death, alive and well.

What He said as He left them was that the believers should fulfill God’s plan. Each Gospel has its own special stress: in John 20:21 (on Resurrection day) He bestowed on them the same privilege as the Father has given Him; in Luke 24:48 (perhaps the same day, see v. 36) His suffering and death fulfilled prophecy, and so the witnesses should preach the gospel to all nations—but not in their own strength, for He was about to send the Holy Spirit; in Mark 16:15 (a few days later) a universal command was given for all the world, every creature.

This word preach is aorist imperative, meaning a direct command without time limit. Go is the participle, implying continuous or repeated action. Christ would bless their message. In Matthew 28:18-20 (some time later, perhaps with 500 brethren, 1 Cor. 15:6), the express orders of the One to whom all authority in heaven and earth was given is first to go; then to make disciples in all nations; and baptize them in the name of the holy Triunity.They were to keep on teaching them to obey all His commands.The promise here is the continuous, never-ending presence of the Commander.This assured them of protection, direction, and supervision.

So at long last the message of God’s love would indeed saturate all races, nations, clans, families on the whole earth! Alas, 1969 years later, hundreds of millions have yet to hear His Name!

Yet imagine one million of the born-again believers starting on April 1 to make disciples and to teach them to obey. Say in one month they each have one convert, who is also taught to win one more in thirty days’ time.

Here is the scoreboard:

G

September 32 million January 2000 May 1 2 million October 64 million February June 4 million November 128 million March July 8 million December 256 million April August 16 million But there are less than 6000 million world population. Even with a substantial increase…

512 million 1024 million 2048 million 4096 million

You say, It can’t be done.The Commander said all authority was given to Him. If at least each reader was set to witness and win one, it would still be a big step forward. May God help me to do so!

—R. E. Harlow

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19

H ERO ES

HENRY MOORHOUSE

The man who moved the man who moved the millions. enry Moorhouse (1840-1880) is called “the man that moved the man that moved the millions” referring to his influence with Dwight Lyman Moody. Who was the man they familiarly called “Harry”? Born in Manchester, his father was a kind, hardworking Christian who taught classes for the Methodist Sunday School. At twelve years of age, Henry went to work in a shop where he gravitated to the most mischievous of the young people. He was daring, and loved to do daredevil feats. As a young man, he was sent to jail on several occasions.

At sixteen he was on his own, a gambler and gang leader. He carried a pistol—for the purpose of killing himself should the need arise. He was reckless, devious, thieving, and often suicidal.

It was during the 1859 Revival that Lord Radstock, Reginald Radcliffe, and Richard Weaver preached in Manchester and one of Henry Moorhouse’s friends was converted. He went and spoke to Henry. Then, passing the Alhambra Circus in Manchester, where Richard Weaver was preaching, Henry heard a commotion, and thinking a fight was on, rushed in, expecting to join a brawl.

Instead he was arrested by one word— “Jesus!” It was a voice to his conscience.

After a hard struggle of weeks of abject misery, he also came to the Saviour.

To illustrate how he had served his infernal master before his conversion, Henry would tell of a man who bet on dog fights. His bulldog was one of the best. But after a bad night at the fights he was carrying his torn-up dog under his arm. Disgusted at the dog’s poor showing, as he passed the zoo that night, he threw the creature over the gate into the lion’s den to get rid of it. Later as he passed the zoo, he spied a strange sight.

There was his fighting dog, recuperating from his wounds as he rested under the lazy paw of a great lion.

Realizing his mistake, he went to the zoo-keeper to report his lost property and demanded his dog back. The zoo-keeper responded, “Go and get him.” Henry would

add, “I had served Satan well, but one day the old devil lost me, and I found myself at the feet of the King of kings and Lord of lords. Every once in a while the devil comes back to reclaim me, but when he does I just nestle close to the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, and say to the devil, “Come and get me.” Then he would break into Thomas Kelly’s hymn,

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Happy they who trust in Jesus, Sweet their portion is, and sure; When the foe on others seizes, He will keep His own secure.

John Hambleton, a converted actor, appreciated the earnestness of the young man, and became a mentor and co-worker to Henry. And Henry needed mentoring. His conversion was dramatic, but so had been his former life of sin.

The 1850s and 60s were a time of fearless evangelism. By comparison to his fellow-workers, Henry Moorhouse was not a powerful orator, or a brilliant organizer. A small man, in his thirties he was still called “the boy preacher.” He must have been an oddity standing among specimens such as Richard Weaver, otherwise known as Undaunted Dick, the boxer from the coalpits, whose style Moorhouse largely followed. Other fellow preachers included Edward Usher, a dockyard laborer, Henry Varley, the butcher, Reginald Radcliffe, the Liverpool lawyer; Brownlow North, the converted highroller; and Joshua Poole, known as Fiddler Joss.

Henry’s call to devote all his time to evangelism came through a man known as “the hatless preacher.” One evening when Henry was engaged in crying his wares as “auctioneer of notions,” and rapping for bids, the man appeared in the crowd and shouted, “Thou oughtest to have thy Bible in thy hand out amongst the people, and not that hammer for the devil,” and immediately left. That abrupt speech was a thunderbolt to Henry. He dropped the auctioneer’s hammer, went to Liverpool looking for

A.

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• APRIL 1998

HENRY MOORHOUSE John Hambleton, and entered with him on an evangelistic tour. Henry labored as an evangelist without a fixed salary, or human promise of support.

In Dublin, Henry Bewley erected a large building to be used for the gospel of Jesus Christ. The auditorium built on Lower Merrion Street could seat 2,500 persons.

Merrion Hall was opened in 1863. Throngs came to hear Denham Smith, Henry Moorhouse, George Müller, F. C. Bland, and Richard Weaver. “Eternity alone will reveal the numbers of whom it may truly be said that ‘this and that man was born there.’ From this assembly many have gone forth to various parts of the world, serving God as evangelists and missionaries who owe their salvation to the Word they heard preached in Merrion Hall.”

If they could not get them in, they went out to them.

The power of the gospel invaded the most vice-ridden haunts. Sometimes fourteen theaters were filled in London on a Sunday night for gospel meetings. These “labors more abundant” are told in John Hambleton’s book, Buds, Blossoms, and Fruits of the Revival.

Around the year 1864 the last public execution at Armley Gaol, Leeds, took place. Two men named Myers and Sarget were hanged. “Henry Moorhouse, one of the best known evangelists of his time, took advantage of the occasion and in company with Gawin Kirkham and William Walker preached the gospel to an immense crowd that had gathered to witness the gruesome spectacle. This work in the gospel, which created some considerable stir in the city, brought about lasting results….”

Through incessant labors in Britain, Henry Moorhouse, never strong at the best, showed fatigue. He set out for the United States, arriving in Philadelphia in 1868. His welcome was so hearty, and his ministry so appreciated, that he paid five visits in the following ten years. How he “moved the man who moved the world” is told by D. L. Moody himself. In 1867, Moody went to Dublin, where he met Henry Moorhouse, “the boy preacher,” who introduced himself and said he would like to come to Chicago and preach.

“I looked at him. He was a beardless boy. Didn’t look as if he was more than seventeen; and I said to myself, ‘He can’t preach!’ He wanted me to let him know what boat I was going on as he would like to return with me. I thought he could not preach, and did not let him know.

But I had not been in Chicago a great many weeks before I got a letter which said he had arrived in this country, and that he would come to Chicago and preach for me if I wanted him. I sat down and wrote a very cold letter: ‘If you come West, call on me.’ I thought that would be the last I should hear of him, but soon I got another letter, saying that he was still in this country and would come on if I wanted him. I wrote again, telling him if he hapUPLOOK

pened to come West to drop in on me. In the course of a few days I got a letter stating that next Thursday he would be in Chicago. What to do with him I did not know. I had made up my mind he couldn’t preach. I was going to be out of town Thursday and Friday, and I told some of the officers of the church: “‘There is a man coming here Thursday who wants to preach. I don’t know whether he can or not. You had better let him try, and I will be back Saturday.’

“They said there was a good deal of interest in the church, and they did not think they should have him preach then; he was a stranger, and he might do more harm than good. “‘Well,’ I said, ‘you had better try him. Let him preach two nights.’ They finally let him preach.

“When I got back Saturday morning I was anxious to know how he got on. The first thing I said to my wife when I got in the house was: ‘How is that young Irishman coming along?’ (I had met him in Dublin and took him to be an Irishman, but he happened to be an Englishman.)

‘How do the people like him? Did you like him?’ “‘Yes, very much. He has preached two sermons from John 3:16, and I think you will like him, although he preaches a little different from what you do.’ “‘How is that?’ “‘Well, he tells sinners God loves them.’ “‘Well,’ said I, ‘he is wrong.’

“She said: ‘I think you will agree with him when you hear him because he backs up everything he says with the Word of God.’ “I went down to church that night, and I noticed everyone brought his Bible.‘My friends,’ began Moorhouse, ‘If you will turn to the third chapter of John and the sixteenth verse, you will find my text.’

“He preached a most extraordinary sermon from that verse. He did not divide the text into ‘Secondly’ and ‘Thirdly’ and ‘Fourthly.’ He just took it as a whole, and then went though the Bible from Genesis to Revelation to prove that in all ages God loved the world; that He sent prophets and patriarchs and holy men to warn them, and last of all sent His Son. After they murdered Him, He sent the Holy Ghost.

“I never knew up to that time that God loved us so much. This heart of mine began to thaw out, and I could not keep back the tears. It was like news from a far country. I just drank it in.

“The next night there was a great crowd, for the people like to hear that God loves them, and he said, ‘My friends, if you will turn in your Bible to the third chapter of John and the sixteenth verse you will find my text!’ He preached another extraordinary sermon from that wonderful verse, and he went on proving God’s love again

• APRIL 1999

21

HENRY MOORHOUSE from Genesis to Revelation. He could turn to almost any part of the Bible and prove it. I thought that sermon was better than the other one. He struck a higher chord than ever, and it was sweet to my soul to hear it.

“The next night—it is pretty hard to get a crowd out in Chicago on Monday night, but they came…He said again, ‘My friends, if you will turn to the sixteenth verse of the third chapter of John you will find my text,’ and again he followed it out to prove that God loves us. He just beat it down into our hearts, and I have never doubted it since. I used to preach that God was behind the sinner with a double-edged sword, ready to hew him down.

I am done with that. I preach now that God is behind the sinner with love, and he is running from the God of love.

“Tuesday night came, and we thought surely he had exhausted that text and would take another, but he preached the sixth sermon from that wonderful text, ‘God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have’—not going to have when you die, but have it right here, now—everlasting life.’ Although many years have rolled away, his hearers never have forgotten it.

“The seventh night came, and he went into the pulpit.

Every eye was upon him. All were anxious to know what he was going to preach about. He said, ‘My friends, I have been hunting all day for a new text, but I cannot find one as good as the old one, so we will go back to the third chapter of John and the sixteenth verse,’ and he preached the seventh sermon from that wonderful text. I remember the close of that sermon. Said he: “‘My friends, for a whole week I have been trying to tell you how much God loves you, but I cannot do it with this poor stammering tongue. If I could borrow Jacob’s ladder, and climb up into heaven and ask Gabriel, who stands in the presence of the Almighty, if he could tell me how much love the Father has for the world, all he could say would be, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”’”

It was a revelation to Moody. “I have never forgotten those nights. I have preached a different gospel since, and I have had more power with God and man since then.” Moody had seen the inexhaustibility of Scripture.

From that time he became a more diligent student of the Bible. He asked Moorhouse how to study, and invited friends to his Chicago home for “Bible readings.”

This event may have connected Moody with the writings of C. H. Mackintosh, which Moody endorsed and promoted. Thereafter Moody sought out and welcomed the influence of Moorhouse’s friends. For instance, in Chief Men Among the Brethren, we read, “During D. L. Moody’s well-remembered meetings at the Opera House 22

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in London, scarcely a day passed that he did not spend an hour with F. C. Bland over the Bible.”

In 1870, Henry wed a Christian woman named Mary who had often witnessed to him in his lost days. They wished for nine children. Years afterward an acquaintance asked, “How about the large family, Henry?” He replied, “My heavenly Father knew what was best for Henry. He has given me one little paralyzed girl, and she has done more to soften my heart for other poor little children… than a crowd of healthy ones could have done.”

Speaking on the promise, “I will help thee; Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness,” he said, “I have a little child at home, seven years old, paralyzed from babyhood, who, seeing me with a parcel I wanted to take upstairs, said, ‘I will carry the parcel for you, father.’ ‘How can you carry the parcel, Minnie?’ I asked. ‘I will carry the parcel, and you will carry me!’”

During the last few years of his life he preached from a mobile book store, a novel idea that Henry introduced, which caught on across Ireland, England and Australia. In two years he sold 150,000 Bibles and Testaments, giving away millions of books and tracts.

In 1876 his service was evidently closing, and his last year of labor was painful. Doctors said his heart was twice the size it ought to be. “If it were the Lord’s will to raise me up again, I should like to preach from the text, ‘God so loved the world,’’’ he said. He entered his rest on December 28, 1880.

The bodies of Richard Weaver and Henry Moorhouse lie near each other in Ardwick Cemetery, Manchester.

John 3:16 is engraved on Moorhouse’s stone.

John Hambleton’s farewell interview with Henry summed up his life: “Calling to see him on Monday last, before he left us, I grasped his arms, as his face betokened that the enemy death was doing his last work, and said, ‘Harry, we shall soon meet up yonder.’ He replied, while gasping for breath, ‘Sure, sure, sure!’ How plainly visible is the work of God in putting into such a little frail vessel as our brother such a treasure, showing us all that the excellency of the power is of God.” In Henry’s last letter, he wrote, “Ask prayer for me to suffer for Christ better than ever I preached for Him; I ONLY WANT TO GLORIFY HIM.” MATERIAL IN THIS ARTICLE WAS GATHERED FROM: Arthur P. Fitt, Moody Still Lives: Word Pictures by His Son-in-Law and Former Secretary, Fleming H. Revell David J. Beattie, Brethren: The Story of a Great Recovery, John Ritchie John Macpherson. Henry Moorhouse: The English Evangelist, Morgan & Scott

• APRIL 1999

GO S PEL ST R AT E G Y

Lonely voices crying in the city A plea for open-air evangelism CHRISTOPHER R. SCHROEDER

H

e was hurriedly walking down the street when he stopped to listen. He heard the message of the love of Jesus and trusted Him as his personal Saviour.

When counseled, it was revealed that this man was on his way to commit suicide. His comment was that had that group of Christians not been there, he would have killed himself.

In a crowded project in Harlem, the eight-year-old boy shared with the preacher that a man in one of the buildings took a gun, shot and killed himself. In the same breath the young boy explained about a man who shoved a woman backwards into an elevator and fathered her child. Most would call that suicide and rape.

Christians should call it a shame.

These scenes are very common in our cities. The hurried pace of life in the city is brutal. Henry Van Dyke wrote, “The very things that make the church most needed in the city are the very things that make it hard for the church to survive there. The throng and pressure of multitudinous life; the intensity of business competition and social emulation; the extravagance of wealth and the exigencies of poverty; the scarcity of time and the superabundance of pastime; the presence of crowds and the absence of fellowship; the avarice-chill and amusement fever; the vitality of vice and nervous prostration of virtue; the rush and whirl and the glare and busy emptiness of life at top speed—in these things the church finds its

The sketch board is a portable, visual, attractive way to catch a crowd. opportunity, its call—and its danger.”

Interesting fact about Mr. Van Dyke’s comments: they were written in 1905. His depiction is as accurate today as when he perceived them then. By the way, in the last census (1990), the United States population was 76% urban. That is a shift from 72% in 1980. This is probably true of Canada as well. People are moving to the cities. Our two countries are becoming increasingly urban.

With that urbanization comes increased crime, heartache, misery, and lawlessness. For the Christian, these issues beg the question: How do we reach these precious lost souls with the gospel? How do we care for the untold millions that inhabit our cities? We are commanded to go into all the world and preach the gospel, but how and by what means?

For some in the church the Great Commission has turned into the great omission. We focus on entertainment to arouse the interest of the lost UPLOOK

• APRIL 1999

(some don’t even call them lost or sinners anymore, referring to them as “unchurched”) to get them into the building. They then water down the gospel and the issue of sin because they don’t want to “turn them off.”

The pattern for evangelism is simple, the resources are inexpensive, and the training available. We, however, must have a heart for it. If we, as believers, don’t reach out, those readied tools in harvesting the lost for Him lie useless. Passion is the need of the hour if we are to have a sustained thrust in reaching the lost.

All the techniques in the church’s arsenal will never make up for a lack of zeal and passion. One with zeal and knowledge is a formidable instrument in the Saviour’s hands.

People on this planet crowd our cities. The best way, the least expensive, and probably the most efficient way to reach them is by way of the street. Who can afford TV or radio 23

LONELY VOICES CRYING IN THE CITY

The streets are full of needyÑoften openÑpeople time? Not the common Christian! However there is available to us a biblical ministry that meets the needs of both Christian and non-Christian alike. For the Christian, it is low cost, highly mobile and very effective. For the nonChristian, it is attractive, interesting, and brings clarity to thinking that is often cluttered with bias and misunderstanding. This ministry is open-air evangelism.

Before you panic, we are not talking about a “foaming lipped” preacher screaming himself hoarse as people go by. We are talking about communicating the gospel in clear, intelligent, and unmistakable terms that the common man on the street can truly understand. This is the goal of the open-air communicator—or it should be.

For much too long the idea of preaching on the streets has been defined by those who were relegated to the streets because they could not get a hearing anywhere else. This too, should change. If there is any excellence to be shown, it should be shown on the streets, for that is where the people are—in the streets, parks, campuses— and they are there in abundance.

The employment of the simple sketchboard has revolutionized the street meeting. Open-air evangelism has gone from the lone voice talking to passers-by, to an actual gathering of people from all walks of life, all financial backgrounds, varied educational accomplishments, varied ethnic backgrounds and ages, and even 24

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(sometimes) the very famous, all in one meeting. Really?

Absolutely!

How can this be, one may ask. It happens because the Christian communicator is on their turf. It’s not a threatening place like a church building, but a neutral platform from which people listen to the message which many have never heard before. They listen to a preacher share words from the heart and see on the sketchboard a graphic that illustrates the spoken word. This is very effective.

The use of illusions like the three-rope trick and the disappearing red ball trick also attracts people to this gathering.

A well told testimony has been a hallmark of this type of meeting. “Madison Avenue” has known this form of communication in selling their wares to the world. There is nothing like a person’s own experience, in confirming the life-changing power of the Lord in our lives. The public listens and rarely argues, because of the ring of truth regarding what has happened to you.

Distributing well-produced literature should never be underestimated. Some saints seem to think that the public distribution of literature is just a source of litter. This, of course, could be a possibility, but if the literature is well-produced, i.e., colorful, eye-catching, and meaningfully relevant (taking the reader from what they know to what they don’t know), the literature will rarely be thrown away. It will be read and, in many cases, kept.

Open-air evangelism can be done alone. Actually, the old adage, “One with God is a majority!” is certainly true. However, it is better to have a well-trained team, working and “…standing in the gap together.”

Encouragement in the work is one of the benefits of a team. Team members can render multiple contributions such as singing, instrument playing, unusual testimonies, and other offerings that will attracta crowd and give variety to the ministry in the open-air meeting. A well-trained team can be a blessing to newcomers who want to see this viable ministry first hand.

Open-air evangelism is certainly a ministry for today.

It helps the church reach out to a lost world efficiently and with effectiveness. If done correctly, it can be a longterm ministry for the local assembly, reaching the lost where they are.

What if the first group of Christians never went into the open-air that day? What if the group mentioned in the first paragraph would have decided that fellowship was more important than witnessing? What if that man would have never heard and quite possibly killed himself? He would have found himself in hell.

The question is, do we see the way the Lord Jesus Christ sees? Do we love the way He loves? Do we care the way He cares? These are questions that we must per-

• APRIL 1999

LONELY VOICES CRYING IN THE CITY

For some in the church the Great Commission has turned into the great omission.

You can talk to more lost people in an hour on the street than in your lifetime at church gatherings. sonally address in our own ministries. Do we really care about the lost?

Bill Hanks, Jr., wrote a song that should depict the heart and conscience of the church: Lonely voices crying in the city, Lonely voices sounding like a child.

Lonely voices come from busy people, Too disturbed to stop a little while.

Lonely voices fill my dreams, Lonely voices haunt my memory.

Lonely faces looking for the sunrise, Just to find another busy day.

Lonely faces all around the city, Men afraid, but too ashamed to pray.

Lonely faces do I see, Lonely faces haunt my memory.

Lonely eyes, I see them in the subway, Burdened by the worries of the day: Men at leisure, but they’re so unhappy, Tired of foolish roles they try to play.

Lonely people do I see, Lonely people haunt my memory.

Abundant life he came to truly give man, But so few His gift of grace receive.

Lonely people live in every city, Men who face a dark and lonely grave.

Lonely faces do I see, Lonely voices calling out to me.

Will we answer? We must! There is no option. We must share the gospel with them where they are.

For more information regarding this form of evangeUPLOOK

lism, you can contact The Ezekiel Project, an assembly ministry dedicated to reaching the lost where they are and to training the saints to do the same. We are here to serve you so that you can serve a lost and dying world. Let us “Stand in the gap!” together. Ý

EVANGELISM TRAINING SEMINARS: • MIDWEST SEMINAR: May 17-21, 1999 at the Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, IL; • NEW YORK CITY SEMINAR: July 2630, 1999; Aug. 2-6, 1999 at Grace Chapel, Tenafly, NJ The Ezekiel Project School of Evangelism is a nine-month program (Aug. 23, 1999-May 5, 2000) designed to give in-depth training in evangelism and related subjects, to deepen the student in the ministry of evangelism and the missionary life. Contact: The Ezekiel Project, Inc. P. O. Box 463123 Mt. Clemens, MI 48046-3123 (810) 954-9191 oapreacher@compuserve.com

• APRIL 1998

25

E VA N G E L

REPORT

O India!

SAM VARGHESE arrived in Bombay on the morning of December 29 and during the month of January travelled to many areas throughout the country. I was exercised to go to India to encourage the local evangelists, many of whom are coming under increasing persecution and mounting opposition. The visit was also a good opportunity to meet with those involved with the Christian Youth Clubs and to discuss plans for the future.

The Christian Youth Clubs (CYC) are regular children’s meetings designed to teach animal husbandry (to help alleviate their poverty) while presenting the gospel to the youth and their families.

My first Sunday in India I had the privilege of worshipping the Lord with the poor fishermen of the Anchuthengu assembly. Our ministry has recently assisted several families with the purchase of a chalathady (deep-sea fishing boat). This assembly is the only testimony among the large Catholic population in the area.

The believers were mostly Catholics but have been saved through the preaching of a local evangelist.

I

A Hindu temple at Udyapur 26

Tribal people at SrikakulamVizag That evening, I attended my parents’ assembly for their annual testimony meeting. God gave me the opportunity to testify how wonderful He has been for me over the past 42 years, since I trusted Him as my personal Saviour. This was the very place—many years ago—that I was expelled by one of my Sunday School teachers for my misbehavior.

On January 11, I flew from Madras to Vizag, where we started the CYC several years ago. Many parents and relatives of the youth who attended that first CYC have professed to be saved and are now meeting together in this area.

I travelled with A. G. Jacob, one of the evangelists from the area, to a village up in the mountains. Some local Christians took us in their Jeep as far as they could, but soon we had to leave the vehicle by the roadside and walk. We crossed a river and then started to climb the mountain. As we reached the peak, we could hear music. Soon several girls approached us and put garlands around our necks—a customary way of welcoming guests of honor to their village.

Here I was given the task of inaugurating the new assembly hall and sharing a portion from the Word.

That evening, we travelled to another village where a group of tribal believers waited patiently for us.

The travel was tedious, but we walked with joy. It was dark by the time we arrived; the kerosene lamps were lit. Everyone listened as we preached the gospel from John 3:3.

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• APRIL 1999

Funds for goats were left for the poor believers as well as practical fellowship to help with the ministry of several of the Lord’s servants. At 4 the next morning, we headed out by foot, back down to the valley.

Four assemblies in the area of Vizag had organized an outreach meeting with the only local evangelist, Mr. Jacob. We distributed gospel tracts and preached through a PA system which was connected to an auto rickshaw. Later we moved to a colony and visited every house in the area with tracts. At every street corner, the gospel was preached.

Currently there are around 250 evangelists serving in North India.

This is only a drop in the bucket, considering the massive population of India, approaching one billion.

A FEW PRAYER REQUESTS: 1. For the spread of the gospel through CYC to the youth and their relatives. There are 45 clubs in 1999.

2. The Lord’s provision to continue the goat and sewing machine projects, providing resources to help the believers help themselves.

3. Provision for the education of the children of poor believers, including the children of evangelists.

4. Direction from the Lord for a Christian Youth Exchange for Christ.

We are praying about the possibility that in 2000 we will be able to send twelve American youth to India and have twelve Indian youth come to America so that they can join in a ministry for Christ. Ý

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✗ THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE! ✓E

But with GOD all things are possible

very Christian should be looking to the Lord for something to do in the kingdom of God, and everyone should be asking God to honor him with a job too big for him. That’s why I pity anybody who can do everything he is trying to do, who limits himself timidly to that which he knows he can do. I think it may be safely said that God is still looking for men and women who know their own insufficiencies so well that He can perform the miraculous through them.

If we are to accomplish what God expects of us, the improbability of our task will surely drive us to our knees with the cry, “O God, who am I?” And God replies:“Son, it doesn’t make too much difference who you are—I am all you need! So I give you today the One who is everything you need. “Christ Jesus…is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord” (1 Cor. 1:30-31). Christ is all we need.

Remember, all your demerit is no bar to your acceptance. For God has, by His grace, made it possible for men with no merits to enter into the merits of His Son. Your weakness is no bar—“for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

In this day of glorification of human talent, we’re grateful for all human abilities, and we are not envious of any of it. But, we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of men!

—A.W.Tozer in The Tozer Pulpit