Calling all evangelists!
There was an electricity in the air that was palpable and it was clear to all present that something special was happening. Simply put, this was no ordinary workshop. God was very present among us and moving in a powerful way. As the workshop drew to a close, the Rev. Jay Baylor, co-host of the event, was moved to ask if there were any present who would like to work with him to form a diocesan-wide Evangelism committee. One-third of those present volunteered. When was the last time you witnessed three dozen people volunteering to serve on a diocesan committee at one time? And on Evangelism, no less!
By Tom Herrick
More than 100 enthusiastic participants crowded into the Multi-Purpose Room at All Saints' Church three weeks ago for a three-hour evangelism workshop that preceded the annual diocesan synod. Responding to a wide-spread desire to learn more about effective evangelism, the Great Commission Committee gathered testimonies from five congregations in the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic who are doing a good job of it. Entitled “Five Ways to Love Your Community,” the workshop featured wonderfully engaging speakers who shared how God has been leading their congregations to build bridges and share the Gospel.
There was an electricity in the air that was palpable and it was clear to all present that something special was happening. Simply put, this was no ordinary workshop. God was very present among us and moving in a powerful way. As the workshop drew to a close, the Rev. Jay Baylor, co-host of the event, was moved to ask if there were any present who would like to work with him to form a diocesan-wide Evangelism committee. One-third of those present volunteered. When was the last time you witnessed three dozen people volunteering to serve on a diocesan committee at one time? And on Evangelism, no less! These are exciting times.
Jay has been thinking and praying for some time about how to build a cohort of evangelists throughout the diocese that can be sent to church plants, missions, and congregations to help with evangelistic initiatives. He is also envisioning that this group will gather periodically for special training, equipping, and fellowship. Over time, they will become a think-tank for best practices in evangelism and pass their knowledge and experience on to others within the diocese. As his thinking has taken shape, all that was needed was a way to identify and gather those whom God was calling. The pre-Synod workshop provided the perfect opportunity. An organizational meeting has been scheduled for January 16, 2016 (1:00-3:00 p.m.) at 2302 Cheshire Lane, Alexandria, Virginia, and hosted by Meredith Brown. All who are interested in participating or just finding out more are heartily encouraged to come. Please mark the date on your calendar and begin praying about next steps in this exciting venture. Please contact Jay Baylor at jaysbaylor@gmail.com with any questions.
Many thanks to Jay for his work in organizing this exciting new team to give leadership to our evangelism efforts. A special thanks also to the others who helped make “Five Ways to Love Your Community” such a special event—our speakers: Matt Hemsley (Truro Anglican Church), Patti Brown (The LAMB Center), Meredith Brown and Elden Stoffel (The Falls Church Anglican), Joe Acanfora and Anita Aberley (Church of the Apostles Anglican), Jay Baylor and AC (Apostles in the City), and Clancy Nixon (Church of the Holy Spirit). Your testimonies were inspiring and we deeply appreciated your willingness to share your experiences with us. Many, many thanks to all of you!
The Rev. Canon Tom Herrick, D.Min., is Canon for Church Planting for the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic and chair of the Great Commission Committee.
Adventures in Samaria
“I think that healing stuff is a bunch of bunk, but I’ll take a cup of coffee and a prayer.”
“I think that healing stuff is a bunch of bunk, but I’ll take a cup of coffee and a prayer.” This is what Greg told me when I stopped him on the street outside a methadone clinic in East Baltimore (Methadone is synthetic heroin. It is prescribed to treat chronic pain and heroin addiction). We were there with students and leaders from a youth group that was staying with us for a week of Urban Missions. The tailgate of my truck was the platform for giving away pastries, coffee, healing, freedom, blessing, peace and friendship- the goodness of the Kingdom for free.
The cartilage in Greg’s knees was basically gone and he couldn’t stand for much more than a minute. He certainly couldn’t walk. So he was confined to getting around on a scooter. A couple of students and I prayed briefly for Greg and asked him how he felt. He was surprised when he flexed his knees that he didn’t have pain, so he got up to walk around! He had no pain or stiffness. He stood and walked around and talked with us for over an hour. He was healed, praise God! When he had to go, he got back on his scooter and said, “I thought that healing stuff was bunk, but now I believe. I’m going home and put this scooter away!”
Since then I’ve seen Greg every week at the methadone clinic. Since he’s no longer in pain he is coming down off of methadone and should be clean in another month. Until then, he walks the 12 blocks to the clinic every day without any trouble! A few weeks ago Greg told us that before he got healed he didn’t really have much faith in God, but now he knows God. He reads his Bible daily and is praying with his wife. His wife used to try to drag him to church, but now he really wants to go. Greg’s life was completely changed in one encounter with Jesus!
As I celebrate this testimony with you I’m wondering why I don’t do this every day. The goodness and kindness of God just never ceases to amaze me. We’ve seen broken vertebrae healed, bullets disappear out of bodies, countless knees and backs healed, miraculous detoxing and addictions broken. We often pray for places to live, peace in homes, restoration of relationships, jobs, favor with the courts, safety for family members in prison, you name it. It’s such a privilege to give His love away.
My neighborhood, where I’m living and planting a church is only 2 miles away from the methadone clinic in East Baltimore. Jesus told the disciples to go to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. East Baltimore is my Samaria. It is very close, just next door. But the people and their culture are very different from mine. I am determined to reach my own neighborhood. But I cannot ignore those nearby who have such great need. The intense desperation in East Baltimore is palpable.
My sense of justice is assaulted by the systemic problems of poverty, unemployment, poor education, drug addiction, violence and oppression. I can’t stay in my neighborhood and pretend this isn’t happening right down the street. The Lord has a dream to restore all the earth, Baltimore included, your city or region included. I am convinced this is part of our call as a believing community to join with the Lord to do our part in transforming our city. Where is your Samaria?
It would be easy to be overwhelmed by the scope of the problem. I know that the gospel is answer. So we just serve one cup of coffee at a time, taking time for each person who stops by, sharing the goodness and love that we have received with them. The Lord is always faithful as He so miraculously displayed for Greg. Go find your Greg.
To find out more about what Burning Heart is doing, or to come join us in an Urban Mission, visit www.burningheartforthecity.com or you can contact me at 410-459-5404, jaysbaylor@gmail.com