GOSPEL, People Chosen to Share

GOSPEL, PEOPLE COMMUNICATE

“God has chosen people to communicate the gospel to other people.  This is why when it comes to evangelism and missions, there must be purposeful intention. 

Edward Kimball sold shoes.  But on Sunday he taught Sunday school.  He was one of those meek and mild-mannered men who has a heart for sharing the gospel.  One day Edward shared the gospel with a young salesman by the name of D. L. Moody, and the rest of that story is history.  Edward, the shoe salesman, led to Christ a young man who became one of history’s greatest evangelists.

            Under the preaching of D. L. Moody, a young preacher by the name of Frederick Meyer was in the congregation.  God moved on his heart to start a nationwide preaching ministry.  One evening while Meyer was preaching a young man by the name of Wilbur Chapman prayed to receive Christ as his Lord and Savior. 

            Eventually Chapman felt called to evangelism.  While he was out preaching he came to the conclusion he needed help.  He knew a young man by the name of Billy Sunday who was looking for a job.  Chapman hired Billy and asked him if he would preach for him from time to time.  You know how that story turned out.  Sunday became a great revivalist and evangelist. 

            Billy Sunday was preaching in Charlotte, North Carolina, and God was moving in an unusual way.  Many people were saved.  Many were convicted and convinced that they needed to have another gospel meeting, so they called on a preacher by the name of Mordecai ham.  One night in that meeting a young man named Billy Graham came to faith in Jesus Christ.

            All of that began not with a preacher, not with an evangelist, but with a shoe salesman who taught Sunday School—with a man who had a passion for sharing Christ.  There must be a purposeful intention to our evangelism.”

[Bryant & Brunson, The New Guidebook for Pastors, 123-24 taken from Greg Laurie, Upside Down Church, 65-66]