This is
third of a series exploring the “modes of evangelism”. Earlier posts have explored Body Witness and
Natural Witness. This posting explores Ministry Witness.
Many
people today lack either connection to a healthy community of believers for
body witness or personal relationships with individual believers who will
engage in natural witness. The only way for these individuals to be reached
with the gospel is through intentional outreach ministry—the ministry mode of evangelism.
It is
important to recognize that ministry witness is also a relational mode. But it
is a different kind of relational
connection than natural witness, because it occurs through the intentional
ministry activity of the believer. This context has a profound influence on the
style of witness, requiring openness and transparency coupled with genuine love
and care. But when a ministry witness is empowered by God’s Spirit, it can have
a profound impact on the lives of individuals and communities. Event-based and
media outreaches can be considered subsets of ministry mode evangelism. Though
the relational element is less personal, the communication of the gospel occurs
because someone is engaged in intentional ministry outreach.
Jesus
is, of course, the model of ministry witness, par excellence. Fulfilling his
mission involved going “to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That
is why I have come” (Mark 1:38, 39). He sent the twelve and then the 72 on
ministry mode assignments, declaring the kingdom of God (Luke 9:1-6; 10:1-17).
After
his ascension, the apostles led the expansion of the gospel through this type
of ministry witness. (See for example, Acts 5:41-42). Philip engaged in a ministry
mode of witness in a city in Samaria (Acts 8:5) and on a dessert road with the
Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40). Barnabas did so in Antioch (Acts 11:22-24) and
then joined efforts with the
Apostle Paul, as they engaged in ministry witness throughout their missionary
journeys (Acts 13 and beyond). Ministry witness is the leading edge of gospel expansion.
Through it, new audiences are penetrated and new communities of believers are
established.
