Encouragement in Mission
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
Benjamin Kreps:
Hey everyone. And welcome back to the Mark Prater podcast, where our aim is to connect our global family of churches with our Executive Director. Hey Mark! A couple of weeks ago, you gave us an update, an encouraging update, about some developments in Sovereign Grace churches when it comes to church plants that are happening right now are being planned in the future. As you look across this landscape of division and hostility and conflict and difficulty in so many different areas, what encouragement would you have for us in our local churches when it comes to mission?
Mark Prater:
Yeah. Great question, Ben. 2020 continues to be just a unique year that I think is giving us new opportunities to reach the lost with the gospel, to share the good news of Jesus Christ with them. Here's what I mean. You wake up in the morning and you become aware of the news. I mean, even the last couple of weeks, the shooting this week in Kenosha, Wisconsin. By the way, be praying for Jacob Blake and his recovery. Be praying that justice be done there. Along with a second week of a political convention in an election year that's very contentious and emotionally charged. And then just the ongoing effect of the pandemic where we're six months into it. And it seems like there's no end. And so many of us, including our neighbors, who don't know Christ can just wake up in the morning and feel weary, continue to have questions, and can be hopeless. And so, I just think when you have a wonderful opportunity—meaning the members and pastors of Sovereign Grace churches—for evangelism.
Benjamin Kreps:
Evangelism, always a good topic. But what thoughts or encouragement would you have for us as we work through the malaise, and the sadness, and difficulty when it comes to moving more into evangelism? Do you think evangelism is a historical strength for us?
Mark Prater:
I don't think it’s a historical strength. I don't think it's a present strength, actually. And one of the ways I'm praying that we grow as a family of churches over the next couple of years is to just be more effective in evangelism. But I think one approach is for the neighbors that you talk with, the coworkers that you may be around, you're still with people, even though we're still somewhat more isolated. I would just share out of your own hearts, some of how 2020 is affecting you because I think most people can relate to that weariness and to the questions we all have. And I think it's just asking a simple question like, “Tell me how 2020 is effecting you.” I think that opens up a conversation where you're praying that the spirit leads you to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Benjamin Kreps:
That’s wonderful. And I think many would describe in the season they feel burdened and heavy laden. And so, to be able to introduce them to the one who promises rest, this is a wonderful it's time for that.
Mark Prater:
It is. And we're seeing that somewhat, this is anecdotal, but we're seeing that in our churches. So anecdotally pastors are telling me that they've had people who watched their live stream before they began to meet in person, whether that's indoors or outdoors. And now some of those folks are showing up at church because they're looking for answers and they're hopeless. Just over the last couple of weeks again, anecdotally Eric Turbedsky told me about a man in his church that was just born again. Matt Gray who’s in Fayetteville, Arkansas, leading Living Hope Church, sent me a picture of a man they were baptizing as a new believer who just came to Christ. So there is the pandemic affecting people in a way that is turning them to Jesus and we get to participate in that. And I just praying that we have more fruit as a result.
Benjamin Kreps:
Yes. I've been affected personally in this past week thinking about Jesus in Matthew 9:36, he saw the crowds and he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. And then called his disciples to pray for laborers in the harvest. I think it's safe to say, when we look out on this world, we see crowds of harassed and helpless people and how, what a wonderful opportunity for us to take on the compassion of Jesus Christ to sort of break through the sense of numbness and malaise and begin to pray for that work in our churches.
Any other thoughts before we go?
Mark Prater:
Yeah. Well just keep in mind, the Church Development website has some wonderful resources for you and for your church. So, in June Mickey Connolly wrote a blog post entitled Minimum Daily Requirements for Evangelism. That's not just for pastors, but for members. Jim, Donohue's written a couple of posts, last couple of months in July, a post entitled Looking at People and in August, an article entitled Do Not Become Weary—don’t grow wear in doing evangelism. And as a reminder, you know, we've asked Jim to just help us grow in this area. Jim Donohue is available to you. If you want to have him come and just train your folks in the area of evangelism, he would be glad to do that. I mostly want you to just be aware of the resources that you have as pastors, just so we can help you grow and help us grow the family of churches in reaching a lost.
Benjamin Kreps:
Wonderful. Jim is such a great resource. We thank God for Jim. Mark, thank you for encouraging us in our shared mission together and in our mission in local churches. And thank you everyone for watching and we'll see you back here next week.