Monday, February 15, 2010
I have always been skeptic about evangelists.
Don't get me wrong, it is not that I don't agree with what many street evangelists do, but I have had experiences in my life that have shown me how phony some of these people can be. There are different types of Evangelists out there. Some are called the loud street preachers, I know you have seen them in the streets or busy neighborhoods, with big signs and yelling at people telling them how terrible they are and how they are going to hell. There are others that go out and deceive people, hidding the whole truth and sharing the so called "Prosperity Gospel" that tries not to offend people or hurt their feelings.
But today, I want to tell you about this awesome group of people that I have been able to know for a little over a year now: The Agents for Christ.
The Agents for Christ is formed by two families: The James Family and the Chaffee Family.
After church, we joined them to go Evangelizing over at Young's Park, which for those from Las Cruces know it is always packed. God took us there for a reason since there was a Valentines Day Fundraising Event for Haiti and the park was full with people!
Don't get me wrong, it is not that I don't agree with what many street evangelists do, but I have had experiences in my life that have shown me how phony some of these people can be. There are different types of Evangelists out there. Some are called the loud street preachers, I know you have seen them in the streets or busy neighborhoods, with big signs and yelling at people telling them how terrible they are and how they are going to hell. There are others that go out and deceive people, hidding the whole truth and sharing the so called "Prosperity Gospel" that tries not to offend people or hurt their feelings.
But today, I want to tell you about this awesome group of people that I have been able to know for a little over a year now: The Agents for Christ.
The Agents for Christ is formed by two families: The James Family and the Chaffee Family.Last year, the Agents for Christ came to visit our church to speak to the year and Bill James shared his awesome testimony about how he used to be an undecover agent for drug operations. It was very impacting. I was able to build good friendships with both families and this weekend they came back to our church again to teach on the importance of straight up, Biblical and Scriptural-based evangelism.
What do the Agents do?
The travel around the US in RVs, stopping at different churches and sharing their stories and skills of Evangelism. But that is not the only thing they do, they also do hands on street evangelism sharing with the lost that they run into about the love of Jesus Christ. Their ministry truly amazes me, they have such a heart to share the Gospel with anyone and everyone, no matter what they look like or in which stage of their life they are in.
One of the things I love about the James and Chaffee Families is that just by talking to them, I could see how real they are. They set an amazing example for me and the people from my church that were able to spend some time with them.
One of the things I love about the James and Chaffee Families is that just by talking to them, I could see how real they are. They set an amazing example for me and the people from my church that were able to spend some time with them.
After church, we joined them to go Evangelizing over at Young's Park, which for those from Las Cruces know it is always packed. God took us there for a reason since there was a Valentines Day Fundraising Event for Haiti and the park was full with people!
Usually, I don't feel too comfortable walking up to strangers and sharing the Gospel with them so I tagged along with Dave, one of the agents and a guy I have been able to get to know and briefly learn from him in the couple times I've talked to him. He had such an eagerness to share the Gospel with the lost and the way he approached people was with love and compassion for them, not yelling or pounding their heads with Bibles like other evangelists like to do. I was even able to talk to a few people in spanish about the Gospel. Overall, it was an amazing experience.
One thing that really touched my heart about the whole time with the Agents was seeing their kids and how at such a young age they are out there witnessing to people. Seeing those kids really inspired me and made me think about how I should do more of this.
As believers we are called to share the Gospel and the love of Jesus Christ to the lost. Out in the world there are so many people that are hurting and seeking, everyone is seeking something, they just don't know why.
I was reminded of the Great Commision:
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, [even] to the end of the age." Amen.
Matthew 28:18-20
And also:
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me [fn] in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Acts 1:8
We are commanded to go share the Gospel with the lost, but we are called to share it in our communities. I know people who are very strong on overseas missions, which don't get me wrong, they are very good and I think that the people that do it are very admirable, but we also tend to forget how we are sorrounded DAILY by people that are lost: at work, school, in the streets, when we go grocery shopping, and even friends and family that don't know the Lord. We are called to share the Gospel to the lost, it doesn't matter who it is.
This experience with the Agents for Christ was great and such an encouragement and a blessing and I was reminded of how important it is to do something that I and many other Christians neglect, which is our calling to Evangelize the lost of the World.
I invite you to check out some more information about what the Agents are about in their website: http://agentsforchrist.org
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