Evangelism and Assimilation into the Baptist Association

From Creation to Consummation the Story of God is about evangelism. As soon as sin enters the picture, God is looking for man to provide redemption and place him into kingdom service. As man experiences salvation and shares it with someone else he is engaged in evangelism.

Evangelism is seen in the life of the Patriarchs and the Prophets. Initially, Jesus called twelve men to bear the Good News of Salvation from God and Service to God. He poured His life into them and gave these disciples a commission: “Go into the entire world…” He taught them that the effectiveness of this global enterprise would be to mimic His servant spirit, stating: “Even the Son of Man, [came] to serve and give His life a ransom for many.”

Dr. Luke, a Gentile, wrote in the Book of Acts, three stories about conversion, portraying God’s unique desire for Global evangelization. God saves someone from the line of the three sons of Noah, seen in three chronological chapters -- Acts 8, 9, 10. These stories show there is a reciprocal dependence between God and us to do evangelism.

The Apostle Paul used the word “gospel” sixty-seven times in the thirteen epistles. His writing revealed his heart’s desire for people: “That I might by all means save some.” The actions of the great apostle are cog and wheel of the Christian’s task to perform evangelism.

Four times the Apostle Peter used the word “gospel” to show that man’s destiny hinges upon the preaching, hearing, receiving, and living out this eternal message.

Why is evangelism necessary? It is necessary because of sin and eternity. Evangelism is necessary because of the Atonement of Christ, or else He died in vain, and because every man has faith, which will either be misplaced in something or placed perfectly and effectively in the Lord Jesus Christ. Evangelism is the key to helping man find hope.

Christian faith is a doing faith. It is not simply, believing something, but, believing something that makes a difference, first in me then in someone else through me. The Christian faith must be conserved in the ones converted. How? By assimilation into the church. This is “A MUST!”

Jesus said, “I am the Vine and you are the Branches.” That is assimilation. Jesus called Himself Head of a Body, and referred to His disciples as the “parts” of His body. That is assimilation.

There is a cost to this work of assimilation - time, energy and resources. Time must be spent with the new convert to teach the fundamentals of the faith and show him how to live the Christian life. Emotional energy has to be expended to weep with them and laugh with them. Many new converts make a decision in crisis, which does not end by becoming Christian. So the soul winner must be willing to share the burden. This means meeting physical needs and other needs which demand our own resources. Bags of groceries, clothes for the body and even for a new job, a car to begin that new job, hospital bills for a new baby rescued from an abortion mill, and other such things are costly if we do personal evangelism.

Many barriers are erected which prevent new converts from being assimilated: lack of discipleship; laziness; having a jealous spirit; the size of the church; age – both youth and seniority; prematurity; geography; mindsets; duty or requirements.

Assimilation into the church is one thing; assimilation into the world (vineyard) is another. It is essential to get the new Christian merged into the Body of Christ, functioning with Spiritual gifts and serving Christ alongside fellow believers. It is also essential to get the new Christian to merge his life into the world, into the market place and be a witness to others. Herein is the value of the Baptist Association.

One great challenge to doing this is materialism. The new Christian has to deal with the issue of who owns what and who controls what. The Lordship of Christ must be taught for effective assimilation into the world. A second challenge is lack of prayer. Many a new Christian fails to realize the need for dependence upon God for ALL that is done for Him. They must be taught that prayer is the power supply and preparation for being assimilated into the body and into the world.

And Jesus said, “If you know these things, happy are you if you do them.”

Dr. Ben Chandler, Associational Missionary
St.Clair Baptist Association
Ashville, AL