Seven lessons for Church Army's new Evangelists

16 July 2009

Six new Evangelists were admitted to the Office of Evangelist on 15 July, in Sheffield Cathedral, and later commissioned by Church Army's Chief Executive Mark Russell.

Brett Price, Kate Hatton, Peter Bone, Lynne Bone, Jon Price and Nikki Thornhill are now Church Army's newest Evangelists. In his admitting speech, the Bishop of Sheffield, the Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, said that "the Church has never needed Church Army more than now." He also offered the new Evangelists seven lessons to take with them, as they go out into communities to share faith through words and action.

Each lesson provided by the Bishop was for a day of the week, beginning with the Sabbath itself: "On Sundays remember that you are sent out by Jesus, just as he sent out seventy disciples, and has been sending people ever since (Luke chapter 10). Mondays are when most people set out for their daily work, so remember in your prayers that you are not sent alone. Jesus sent out the seventy two by two. So make finding colleagues who can support you in your ministry your first act.

On Tuesdays remember the great truth: this is not your mission. You are sent to join in what God is already doing, that is to share in the great mission of God. On Wednesdays remember that the middle of the week is when tiredness can set in. You are sent in the hope and expectation that there will be a harvest. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers.

Thursdays, with the end of the week approaching, is a good point in the week to remember that there will be hard times and uncertainty. Trust in the Lord's promise to provide for you. Fridays are a good time tor reflect on the good news that you demonstrate in your actions, that you model in your life, that you scatter into your conversations like salt. You are bearers of the gospel of peace which, like the seventy, you are to proclaim in every house and every town which receives you.

On Saturdays, the last day of the week, remind yourselves that you have been sent out to grow community. The seventy were not called to bring their converts back to Jesus in Jerusalem. They were called to begin new communities and new churches in scores of different towns and cities. Communities which would grow through common meals, fellowship, the breaking of bread; through word and sacrament and prayers."

For a brief introduction to the six new Evangelists go to the latest issue of Shareit! magazine.