All creatures
It is Saturday afternoon, just after dinner time. As always, it is oppressively warm, but the sun is not shining. The sky is, as so often, grey and gloomy. Still, as far as we are concerned, it is perfectly fine weather this afternoon.
We stand with our whole family at the entrance of the church building. A little tense. Who would come this afternoon? This past week we repeatedly invited all visitors of the congregation to come today. But whether that call would be heeded remained to be seen.
On the other side of the main road that runs past the church building, things are already bustling. The parking attendants try to guide the stream of cars smoothly and direct them to a suitable parking spot. But those are not the people we are waiting for. Today they are heading to one of the biggest events in our town, on the grounds right across from our church building. The large site is packed with people. The many stands of various small businesses try to draw the crowd’s attention with loud music. At the entrance of the festival grounds, vendors try to sell food. They are quickly sent away by the organizers. Only on the other side of the street are they allowed to set up their stalls.
We watch it all from a distance. Meanwhile, several church visitors come walking up and join us. It is good that these people came! Several young people are also present. Some of them have brought a guitar. A number of them are clearly a bit nervous. And that is understandable. What we are going to do today is new.
I explain to the small group that has gathered what we are going to do. Today the plan is to go and evangelize. Such a major event right next to the church building offers a wonderful opportunity to invite all those visitors to come to church and, if possible, to also share something of the gospel. Once it is clear what we are going to do, we go together in prayer to ask the Lord for His guidance and help.
Then I suggest first having a conversation with the event organizers. To explain what we intend to do and to ask where we may and may not stand. This way we avoid difficulties or misunderstanding. A man who regularly attends the church says: “I’ll come along, I know some people there.”
Together we walk to the main entrance and explain to the doorman what we intend to do. “Just wait here for a moment” he says. “I’ll call the person in charge”. A little later a woman comes walking up. “What’s going on?” she asks, somewhat gruffly. Carefully we explain that we are from the church across the street and that we would like to sing a bit and hand out flyers to festival visitors, and where that would and would not be possible. “Are you going to sell anything?” No, that is not the case, we explain. “Well, go stand here then” she gestures to a spot right next to the entrance, where a vendor had just been sent away. Still a bit stunned by such an unexpected stroke of luck, we walk back to the church building. Right next to the entrance, who would have thought?
A little later, the whole group is standing next to the entrance, singing. Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Somewhat drowned out by the dull thud of pop music. But nevertheless clearly audible and present for the hundreds of people who show up at the entrance. The nervousness has quickly disappeared. Young and old hand out the flyers, in which the gospel is explained and people are invited to the church services. It leads to several brief conversations. Hundreds of people go home with a message: There must be peace between God and you. And that is possible through Jesus Christ. Come to the church to hear about that great wonder.
Now, a word to you, reader. The word ‘evangelize’ often brings an uncomfortable feeling. Perhaps for you too. Why? Because, in truth, evangelism hardly happens, and because we all know that this ought to be different. There is much reluctance and uncertainty: What should I say? That is genuinely difficult too. But let that not stop us from doing it anyway! The Lord Jesus gave the command: Go into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature. Every creature means: every person created by God. Including those who live around you. So this is your assignment too.
This column was written by Peter Fris and previously appeared in the Christian magazine Om Sions Wil: https://www.omsionswil.nl/
