Every morning I try to remember that I am here to follow Jesus and help other people follow Jesus. That is it. But how? Here is a little description of what I call Operation Evangel and why it works…
Be Nice
Here is a classic re-post.
Last weekend I was in a bookstore to pick up book for my wife. It was a fairly pricey book, something she would use for her photography. When the young lady told me the price I winced. I started to write the check and mentioned that I had a discount coupon at home but that I had forgotten to bring it.
She said, “I can help you. I have one here.” When she announced my new total it was a savings of $10.00. I was happy. Before I left the store I went to the information desk and said, “May I speak to the manager on duty?” The young lady at the information desk looked at me suspiciously and said, “One moment please.” In a few minutes a young woman came to the desk and tentatively asked, “Can I help you?”
“Yes, I want to commend one of your employees. She was very pleasant and courteous and went out of her way to help me. I appreciated that and I thought you should know.”
The manager’s look turned into a big smile. “Thank you, she said. I’m glad you called for me. That doesn’t happen very often.”
Maybe costumer service and morale would improve if it did happen more often. As I walked away I was glad I took the time to encourage another human being. It was easy and fun and it didn’t cost a penny.
Maybe it would be a good idea to keep that in mind when you are trying to influence others for Christ, just determine to be especially thoughtful and kind. Say nice things to people. Go out of the way to be kind and considerate. Genuinely like people. If you don’t naturally like someone, make up your mind to learn to like them, for the sake of Christ and His Kingdom. If you show enough interest in a person you may begin to understand them. It is hard to dislike someone you understand well. And I have learned that it’s a lot easer to learn to like someone than it is to keep putting up with someone you don’t like.
I have a friend who is an especially effective witness. One of the things he does is give tracts to people. Years ago his father found a gospel pamphlet in a restroom in a General Motors factory here in Flint and it changed his life. Eventually his whole family came to know and love Christ because the that tract left anonymously in the restroom. My friend is an busy, successful attorney, but he is not to busy or important to leave tracts wherever he goes. He has introduced many to Christ.
I have often heard him say that when he goes through the fast-food drive-through he will often give a gospel tract with a nice tip sticking out for them to see. Since I heard his story I try to do the same from time to time. It’s fun to see their face light up with gratefulness. It is an expression of human kindness and personal warmth and it must make it a lot more likely that that little pamphlet will be read.
There you have it. Be nice, for Jesus’ sake. You never know, maybe if you make it a habit to go around being nice to people they will wonder why, and when they wonder why you get a chance to tell them about Jesus. It’s fun, it’s free, it’s easy. Anybody can do it.
Ken Pierpont
Riverfront Character Inn
Flint, Michigan
August 15, 2005
Evangelism and Discipleship through Storytelling
If we are going to have a great harvest we are going to have to sow much seed. Little seed is being sown. This coming year in the church I pastor I am going to try to train and inspire the people of Evangel to sow more seed. I am going to help them have more gospel conversations. I am going give them tools and ideas so they will pray for more, talk to more, and influence more people who are far from God.
This is a simple but powerful series of talks on evangelism and discipleship through storytelling. Try to watch just one of these… They are like peanuts. One calls for another…
Additional resource links:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B65FqZkueQVfX3cwMllFUFBZQWc/view
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yQZoYAMOXBzWuJKhVexmZKa0eyRBd4P7uaBITeOh5nk/edit
https://t4tonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/6b-Vision-Casting-Vignettes.pdf
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B65FqZkueQVfY1lEeEViQUswc2s/view
https://t4tonline.org/
https://www.churchplantingmovements.com/images/stories/resources/Rapidily_Advancing_Disciples_(RAD)_Dec_2011.pdf
One Willing Heart At A Time
One of my duties this time of the year is to do program and concert “wrap-ups” …devotional messages at the conclusion of the Christmas events at Evangel. Last night was our annual Christmas concert. For the second year in a row I joined the Christmas Choir. When it was time for my little message I stepped out on the platform and told the congregation that I was reading John Ortberg’s wonderful book; Who is the Man? It is a book about the influence of Jesus Christ on the world. I also showed them a copy of a book a read years ago called; What if Jesus Had Never Been Born by D. James Kennedy.
The influence of Jesus on this world is amazing. It is miraculous. Dr. Kennedy is with the Lord, but in his book What if Jesus Had Never Been Born the chapter titles alone tell the story of the influence of Jesus.
-World History–the very way we mark time is dated from the time of the life of Christ.
-Human dignity and the value of human life increased where Christianity increased.
-Regard for women and children and people with disabilities changed as the influence of Christ spread.
-Compassion and mercy ministries spread as the influence of Christ spread.
-Education for everyone became common wherever the influence of Christ took root.
-Christianity has a powerful effect for good on civil liberties, on science, on democracy, on freedom, on economics and on sexuality and the family.
How did this happen? How did a man who never wrote a book or ruled a nation or led an army transform the world for centuries?
One Willing Heart At A Time
…and how did Jesus do this? He did it one willing heart at a time. He did not behead anyone. He did not oppress anyone. He did not intimidate anyone. He didn’t conquer anyone. By the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit the influence of Christ has spread around the world and it’s benevolent influence is incalculable. He changed the world one willing heart at a time.
The Story of Mel Trotter
Mel Trotter was an alcoholic. At one point his child was ill. Looking for money for a drink he took the boots of the child’s feet and sold them for money for a drink. When he returned home he discovered that his child had died. He staggered out into the night, unable to overcome the pull of drink. He would throw himself into Lake Michigan. In this condition he stumbled into the Pacific Garden Mission and heard Harry Monroe share his testimony of how God delivered him from drunkenness. Trotter was saved that night. He went on to direct a rescue mission in Grand Rapids and then found over 30 more around the country. He was transformed by the power of Christ.
Where nations and cultures and men and women yield to Christ, He has a powerful and transforming effect on their lives and families, their villages and towns, their regions and nations.
What about you needs to change? Have you willingly yielded your heart to the powerful transforming influence of Christ? What better time than Christmas to do so?
Ken Pierpont
Granville Cottage
Riverview, Michigan
December 14, 2015
Operation Evangel; The First Element–Pray
I am a simple parson—storyteller. It is my goal in life to tell the story of the gospel and the stories that surround the gospel. When I do that people’s lives are transformed and then I train them to embed the same life-transforming stories in the hearts of others. I’m out to change my world—through storytelling.
This the second installment in a series of writings about how to live on a mission from Jesus. You can read the first article here. Let me know what you think. I would love to hear from you.
Operation Evangel: The First Element—Prayer
by Ken Pierpont
Last week in the Stonebridge Newsletter I called for fewer meetings and more ministry. I believe the first priority of the church is to make disciples. If you are a follower of Jesus, you are a disciple, a learner-follower, apprentice of Jesus. He has commanded—commissioned—given each of us a mission to be on what I call a “missional team.” In the simplest and most direct form, how can we obey our Jesus to make disciples?
Let me suggest a simple and organic strategy. I like to call it Operation Evangel. There are four elements in Operation Evangel—a disciple-making evangelistic strategy. Here they are: Pray—Love—Invite—Gospel Conversation. Today let’s talk about the first and foundational element. Pray.
An Unforgettable Spring
In March of 2011 Lois and I had the life-changing privilege of a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. When we flew out of Detroit it was cold and gray—still very much winter-like. When we landed in Ben Gurion Airport it was spring. We spent our first balmy night in Israel in an inn in Haifa perched high over the Mediterranean. The next morning the sun rose into a clear sky and, after a trip to Caesarea on the Sea, we drove through lush-green flowering fields into Galilee where we would spend a few days in a Kibbutz on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. The second morning we drove through the bustling city of Tiberius up to Mt. Arbel. Mt. Arbel is the prominent geographical feature of the region. It is the highest peak overlooking the Sea of Galilee. I believe it was a very special place in the history of the church. I believe it was the place where Jesus arranged to meet with his disciples after his resurrection.
Being a Follower of Jesus Means Living on Mission
Jesus told his followers that he would die and rise again. He arranged to meet them after his resurrection on a mountain overlooking the Sea of Galilee. On that mountain post-resurrection meeting he gave them a mission—we call it the great commission. It was simple. He told them that wherever they were going he wanted them to gather other Jesus-followers. “Make disciples of all 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…” There it is in it’s simple strait-forward form—the mission of Jesus. It is a perpetual mission. It is still binding on all followers of Jesus everywhere today. He promised his presence and power to all who would take up that commission to gather other Jesus-followers from all nations.
Missional Teams
That commission was given to a group of his followers. Not just an individual. It was meant to be obeyed by groups, little clusters of Jesus followers. The passage in Matthew specifically mentions “the eleven.” I believe the passage at the end of Matthew describes the same post-resurrection appearance referred to in Paul’s first Corinthian letter. “He was seen by over five hundred at once…” There on beautiful Mt. Arbel looking down on all the “nations” he could have swept his arm toward the different people groups to which he was sending his disciples.
There it is. It is strait-forward and simple. I think it is a huge mistake to over-complicate what Jesus said. Break into teams and wherever you go make disciples—gather follower-learners wherever you go. Jesus said; “I have authority-power and I will be with you in power and authority when you do this.”
The history of the early church shows that God would give them a special spiritual empowerment and they would spread out in little Jesus-groups and gather other Jesus-followers. You can read about this in the book of Acts in the New Testament. This spread across the earth and down through time. That is how you came to be a follower of Jesus. A significant chunk of the New Testament was written as letters to clusters of Jesus-followers.
Nothing Else Will Ever Satisfy You
I think we were designed to participate in the mission of Jesus in little groups and we will never find full satisfaction in this life unless we are on this mission to make disciples. John Piper says; “God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in him.” He proves his point with thick volumes brimming over with Scripture. (Desiring God or The Dangerous Duty of Delight or the audio Christian Hedonism). He is right… God made us and our fulfillment and his glory go together. None of us will ever truly flourish until we understand the most selfish thing we can do is live a selfless life. God’s plan is for each of us to participate in the Mission of Jesus and God’s plan is what’s best for us. When we build our lives, our churches, our individual lives around this we flourish and grow and we are deeply satisfied, blessed, and genuinely happy.
This is Not the Exclusive Privilege of Pastors and Missionaries
This is not the job of the Pastor any more or less than it is the responsibility of little groups of Jesus-followers. Pastors are like outfitters. It is the job of the pastor-teachers to “outfit the saints” for the adventure of living on mission. “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-12)
This plan is simple, spontaneous and sustainable if we don’t over-complicate it. We can’t get distracted by multiplying programs instead of multiplying disciples. We must not allow ourselves to get too busy with selfish things or even “church-work.” If we stay on the mission to gather in little Jesus clusters and pool our gifts to gather other Jesus-followers this plan will still work today. God will still empower those who act on his behalf in this way. It is not a faithful church that gathers repeatedly every week for more meetings of endless talk and simply hangs out a sign that sinners are welcome. That is nothing like the mission that Jesus gave to his disciples.
It’s easy to over-complicate the simplicity of that mission and substitute the maintenance of programs or the defense of traditions or the preservation of customs that are dear to us. When church becomes the maintenance of programs, the defense of traditions, and the preservation of customs then it has the stench of death on it. When the church follows her Master to make disciples of every nation, it has the fragrance of life on it. It smells like baking bread. We have to continually keep the simple mission on our hearts and give it the highest priority in the strategy of the church.
No Gospel Blimp Tactics
Years ago Joe Bayley made a gospel film about people who wanted to evangelize. Instead of simply befriending their neighbors and building relationships with them they bought a gospel blimp and irritated people by dropping gospel pamphlets on them wrapped in colored cellophane. Jesus didn’t commission his followers to operate gospel blimps. Instead of following Jesus in simple Jesus-clusters and gathering other Jesus followers over meals and natural relationships we have been tempted to mass-produce Jesus-followers. But Jesus plan was for groups to make disciples by hand, hand-crafting them with the help of the Holy Spirit in a small community of Christ-follwers, sometimes as small as two or three.
It is not the job of the pastor to force people into gimmicks and circus tricks to promote the gospel. It is not the job of the church to baptize business models and mass-market Jesus treating people like consumers. Jesus never intended for us to create religious organizations offering religious goods and services in competition with other organizations offering religious goods and services. He intended for his to see each other in cooperation with other clusters of Jesus followers on mission.
When You Need What Only God Can Do—Start With Prayer
When you have a task ahead of you it is good to break it down and think, “What is our next step?” Here is the next step. Start with a prayer partner or a small prayer group. Get someone else who is interested in obedience to Jesus’ mission and meet with them to pray. It is that simple. You can include a small group, but keep it very simple. Just get a prayer partner or two. When you meet each of you make a small list of 5-10 people who are on your heart who are not yet followers of Jesus. Write down their names and begin to pray for them together. Arrange a time every day to pray for them. Connect that prayer time with a daily routine as a reminder. Start with prayer. When you need what only God can do, always start with prayer. There are three other elements to the evangelism-discipleship strategy I like to call Operation Evangel, but those can wait. Begin quietly and simply in a prayer meeting. Remember this. The early church that swept the world began in a prayer meeting with a relatively small group of people. When the power of God fell, the thing exploded.
The first thing the freshly-commissioned disciples were told to do was wait—tarry in the Upper Room and pray for ten days. According to Acts 1:14 they devoted themselves to prayer in the Upper Room. Acts 4:31 says that “…while they were praying the place was shaken… they spoke with boldness after they were filled with the Holy Spirit.”
You can do this. Meet with one or two others. Make a list. Pray. I will share the second element with you next week.
Ken Pierpont
Granville Cottage
Riverview, Michigan
March 23, 2015
Fewer Meetings-More Ministry
I have a profound stirring in my heart to have fewer meetings at church and more ministry away from church. I’m not against the big assembly—I just think that weekly assembly is going to be much more dynamic if it is filled with new believers who were mined like diamonds out of the community around the church building. That is only going to happen when we get out of our pews and out of our huddles into the homes and coffee shops where the unconvinced and unconverted live. We will have to be embedded among them not isolated from them.
Bible Christians or Bible-Belt Christians?
Francis Chan was speaking at Liberty University, talking about living a life in the world—engaging the world like they did in the Bible. He pointed out that is too easy to stay in comfortable huddles of Christians and not ever mix it up with people who are far from God. He said that he wants to live a life like they did in the Bible he reads. He said, “I want my life to look like I stepped out of the Bible—not like I stepped out of the Bible-Belt.”
I was eating breakfast last week and reading Tim Steven’s new book on leadership, Fairness is Overrated. One of the leadership principles he emphasized is the importance of ministry outside meetings in the church building. Here is what he wrote:
“God does not live at your church. (I hear gasps of disbelief.) It’s true. Some of the most unspiritual people I’ve met are those who spend the greatest amounts of time at church. They attend every Bible study and every prayer gathering, and sign up for every event and team, but still they manage to avoid become godly, or even nice to be around. If you had to choose between cutting off your leg and spending more time with those people—be honest—it would take a few minutes to decide. Church attendance and involvement are poor substitutes for genuine spiritual growth.”
Much ministry happens in the church buildings, but more and more in our time the people who most need Jesus are not going to come to our buildings. We are going to need to go to them. That is my burden and by God’s grace I am going to do everything I can to inspire people more and more people to experience the exciting adventure of connecting with people who are not yet convinced and converted.
Red-Faced and Crying All the Time
I have two younger brothers. Both of them are pastors here in Michigan. Kevin is the older of the two. He is a pastor in Mt. Pleasant. His birthday was last week and I wrote him a little note. It went something like this:
“Hey! Little brother. I am one of the very small handful of people who were there and distinctly remember the sunny March day you can home from the hospital to the little house on Francis Street near Garfield Park in Grand Rapids. I was really disappointed when I saw you. You were so little and red and just cried all the time. I had no idea that you would grow up to be such a blessing to so many and such a dear and useful brother. I love you and cherish you …and I’m glad you finally got a little color in your cheeks and stopped crying all the time and made yourself useful.”
We need to lead useful lives, not just be red in the face about what’s happening in our culture and crying all the time. Jesus did not shed his blood and lay down his life to inspire us to populate endless meetings. We don’t know how much time we have. We don’t know when Jesus will return. We don’t know when our lives will end. We don’t know how long we will have our neighbors and loved ones with us. We don’t know when our windows of opportunity for spiritual influence will close. We need to make ourselves useful while we can.
At Bethel we have developed a strategy to do this. The strategy is simple and organic and it can be adopted by any person or family or church. There are four elements in this powerful strategy. If you write me I will share them with you.
Until then—make yourself useful. Start by learning the name of someone who is unconverted and unconvinced.
Here is a video that captures the basic idea I am trying to express here:
Ken Pierpont
Granville Cottage
Riverview, Michigan
March 16, 2015
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