Every believer bears the responsibility of learning, understanding and proclaiming the gospel to the world (Matthew 28:18-20).
Every believer bears the responsibility of learning, understanding and proclaiming the gospel to the world (Matthew 28:18-20). We therefore endorse a lifestyle of evangelism among our members. We, of course, recognize that it is essentially the Holy Spirit who convicts and regenerates the sinner, yet we also acknowledge His use of means, including human agents, to accomplish this work (Rom. 10:14-17).
The Pillar
The Scriptures tell us that we are to unashamedly proclaim the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost (Rom. 1:16). This involves compassion for the lost, a sense of urgency in bringing the Gospel to sinners, and even the heart to persuade and plead with all to accept the Lord’s offer of salvation. The presentation of the Gospel must contain these basic ingredients:
a. God is holy and demands holiness from us (1 Pet. 1:16)
b. Man is a sinner, spiritually dead and separated from God (Rom. 3:10-11, 23; Eph. 2:1; Is. 59:2)
c. The judgment for sin is eternal death. (Rom. 6:23; 2 Thess. 1:8-9)
d. The finished and complete atoning work of Jesus Christ alone made possible the salvation of sinners (1 Pet. 2:24; 2 Cor. 5:21)
e. Salvation is a free gift, given by the grace of God, and not earned by works (Eph. 2:8-10; Rom. 6:23b)
f. Repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are necessary to appropriate this gift of salvation (Mark 1:15; John 1:12; Rom. 10:9)
g. Submission to the lordship of Jesus Christ is a key ingredient of genuine saving faith (Matt. 7:21-23; Luke 6:46).
The Practice
Evangelism in our particular context usually occurs through a one-on-one sharing of the Gospel (Acts 8:26-39) and planned corporate activities of our members like camps, visitation of hospitals, orphanages, and outreaches to other needy sectors in society, sports events, symposiums, seminars, skits, concerts, films, and the like. We also recognize that the fields are ripe for harvest and that the church may engage in mission-sending work—e.g. establishing outreaches or daughter churches, engaging in short-term missions and other ministry opportunities. Evangelistic efforts require discernment and wisdom for each particular situation and full dependence upon the Holy Spirit (John 16:8-11).
For a person to become a true believer, he must, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, understand the Gospel and respond in genuine saving faith. Therefore, the sharer must clearly present the Gospel and urge his hearer to repent and believe it.
We likewise see the need for a person to examine himself to determine if he is in the faith according to Scripture (2 Cor. 13:5). However, we recognize that only the Holy Spirit can give true assurance of salvation. We therefore refrain from assuring an individual of his standing in Christ, lest we bring him to a false sense of security and to spiritual ruin.
The Parameters
Only trained and duly-recognized members may be involved in the church’s outreach endeavors. Evangelistic activities will not include the collection of money or any form of material remuneration from those being ministered to (Matt. 10:8; 1 Cor. 9:18; 2 Cor. 11:7-9).