Evangelism

Evangelism is giving information about ones beliefs to those who do not share those beliefs. Though by no means exclusive, the best known evangelists are Christians. And using this definition, most Christian evangelists may not deserve the title. The International Bulletin of Missionary Research has some interesting statistics on Christian evangelists: 1) 91% of all Christian evangelical efforts are directed at other Christians; and 2) less than 10% of Christians actually practice their faith (attend church, etc.). Point two may explain point one, but then that begs the question, If someone doesnt practice their religion, are they indeed a member of that religion? No other great religion has so small of a percentage who actually practice their religion! If the number of true Christians is indeed inflated by a factor of ten, then only Judaism has fewer adherents among the worlds great religions! Any survey of Western Civilizations laws and media over the past one hundred years will show the starkly declining influence of Christianity in Western countries. So the title evangelist may indeed be proper for Christian missionaries in the Western countries after all! Who were some of the most effective Christian evangelists? Maria Woodworth Etter (18441924), Howell Harris (1714-1773), David Livingstone (1813-1873), Mary MacKillop (1842-1909), Duncan Matheson (1824-1869), Asahel Nettleton (1783-1844), John Wesley (1703-1791), and

George Whitfield (1714-1770) are often listed. It should be noted that most of these evangelists worked with nominal Christians to ignite revival and suppress latent pagan tendencies among them. Unfortunately, the past one hundred years have witnessed increasing numbers of scandals among famous Christian evangelists. Scandals concerning Aimee Semple McPherson, 1920s40s; Lonnie Frisbee, 1970s1980s; Billy James Hargis, early 1970s; Marjoe Gortner, early 1970s; Jim and Tammy Bakker, 1986; Jimmy Swaggart, 1986 and 1991; Peter Popoff, 1987; Morris Cerullo, 1990s; Mike Warnke, 1991; Robert Tilton, 1991; W. V. Grant, 1996 and 2003; Roy Clements, 1999; John Paulk, 2000; Paul Crouch, 2004; Douglas Goodman, 2004; Kent Hovind, 2006; Ted Haggard, 2006; Paul Barnes, 2006; Lonnie Latham, 2006; Gilbert Deya, 2006; Richard Roberts, 2007; Earl Paulk, 2007; Coy Privette, 2007; Thomas Wesley Weeks, III, 2007; Michael Reid, 2008; Joe Barron, 2008; Todd Bentley, 2008; and Tony Alamo, 2008 have sundered the reputations of Christian evangelists in general. These scandals go a long way in explaining the massive falling away of Americans from practicing Christianity! It also helps explain why so few young people in the United States seek a relationship with our Elohim through Christian sources. Instead, they flock to Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Kabbalah, New Age, Scientology, Wicca, and other beliefs or religions. The spirit of the antiChrist is strong in the West. As noted above and in other writings, he does his most effective work through those who loudly call themselves believer, minister, pastor, preacher, rabbi, or saved! The antichrist does his best work through the so called church or synagogue! He depends upon desperate, fearful, gullible, lazy, misinformed, and often rebellious believers to make up his flock. Note that he rarely calls it Gods flock - it is his flock to fleece. Added to Satans successful campaign to discredit Christian beliefs by creating a counterfeit conflict between science and Christian theology, the antiChrist and his tools are making it increasingly difficult for Christianity to even survive in its former strongholds. In spite of all of this, Christian evangelism is still successful among the poor and needy. Evangelists whom themselves are poor and needy succeed in projecting faith and Elohims love for His children. The effective evangelists noted above all had a period of learning and testing. Through trial and tribulation these evangelists resulting faith shown as a beacon to those seeking Elohim. Even many of those evangelists who discredited the faith by their actions started their ministries working with the poor and needy. Perhaps it was their very success, their accumulation of fame, wealth, and power that put them on the slippery slope to the pits of hell. Because of todays economic depression in the West, Christian evangelists have an opportunity to reverse the losses of the past century. Added to the successful evangelical efforts in non-Christian countries, Elohim is giving His children the chance to restore their primacy. But this shall probably be Christianitys last chance - because these are indeed the end-days!

Hallelu Yahuah Sabaoth! Hallelu Yah Shua HaMashiach! Hallelu Ruach HaKodesh! Hallelu Yah!