Lausanne World Pulse – Education and Training for Missions and Evangelism
By Kumar Abraham
Ministry Exposure—Mission
Every missions student must have a map of the world and a copy of Operation World. Before short-term mission trips are undertaken overseas, trainees should be encouraged to (1) learn about other religions; (2) observe other religious practices and forms of worship, cultures and how to relate the gospel to those who practice other religions; and (3) learn another language, if possible. Churches or mission groups who wish to take a short-term team overseas to reach a particular ethnic group also should not ignore the same group in their own city. They should first be exposed to this ethnic group in their own country before proceeding overseas.
Ministry Exposure—Evangelism
Every student of evangelism should have an extensive list of unbelievers for whom he or she is praying. This will include friends, relatives and acquaintances. In addition to the list, there should be a plan to build a relationship, praying everyday for the people on the list, that God will give you opportunities to share his love with them and cultivate friendships. Along with friendship evangelism, the trainee should be exposed to various methods of evangelism so they can gain broad knowledge about other appropriate ways to share their faith.
Evangelism trainers should ideally be evangelists who are gifted teachers who can help their trainees grow in character, knowledge and skills. In the early Church, it was not education but character that was considered the primary qualification to be a leader over others. However, all three components are essential to a well-trained missionary or evangelist.
Endnotes
1. Peters, George W. 1972. A Biblical Theology of Missions. Chicago, Illinois, USA: Moody Press, 11.
2. Ayling, Stanley. 1984. John Wesley. Nashville, Tennessee, USA: Abingdon Press, 176.
3. Eims, Leroy. 1981. The Lost Art of Disciple Making. Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA: NAVPress, 36.
4. Coleman, Robert. 1983. Master Plan of Evangelism. Old Tappan, New Jersey, USA: Spire Books, Fleming H. Revell Company, 78 and 80.
5. Cited in Davis, Ron Lee. 1991. Mentoring: The Strategy of the Master. Nashville, Tennessee, USA: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 220.
6. Green, Michael. 1992. Evangelism Through The Local Church. Nashville, Tennessee, USA: Oliver-Nelson, 96-97.
7. Reid, Alvin. 1998. Introduction to Evangelism. Nashville, Tennessee, USA: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
8. Green, Michael. 1992. Evangelism Now & Then. London, UK: Darton, Longman and Todd.
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Dr. Kumar Abraham is a Sri Lankan national living in Melbourne, Australia and has served as a missionary in the Philippines for twenty-one years. He is an evangelist, a trainer of evangelists, equipper of Christ-followers in evangelism and a Bible school lecturer. He can be reached at: [email protected]. |