Evangelism Thrust ‘73 is part of the Key ‘73 program. Key ‘73 grew from the “Key Bridge Consultation” of 1961, at which some forty leaders met to discuss the possibilities of an evangelism thrust for North America. As a result, there are nearly one hundred denominations, organizations, and institutions planning “to share Christ with every person in North America.” Each denomination is to work out its own evangelism program, developing new resources and helping congregations and organizations to become more “effective redemptive centers and more aggressive witnesses to God’s redeeming power in the world.”
Objectives – What are the objectives of this “new” program?
1. To confront every person in North America more fully and forcibly with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. To employ every means and method in communication of the gospel in order to create the conditions in which we may respond to God.
3. To apply the message and meaning of Jesus Christ to the issues shaping man and his society in order that they may he resolved.
4. To develop new resources for effective evangelism for consideration, adaptation, or rejection by the participating churches.
5. To supplement the evangelistic efforts of Christian congregations and organizations.
Local-church Orientation – At the Thrust ‘73 Institute held October 12-14, we were repeatedly told that the program is local-church orientated. Every Christian must be a witness. And only the local church can create enthusiasm. Nobody is going to do the work for us. We ourselves must be prepared for an all-out effort to reach North America for Jesus Christ.
And in order to be effective in our evangelistic effort, we must set goals. Where do we want to go as a church? Are we out to maintain the status quo? Do we have churches just to accommodate ourselves? We should ask ourselves these questions: “Where are we right now? Where do we want to be? How do we get there?”
In order to aid us in setting realistic goals for our churches, the denominational Board of Home Missions has produced some helpful materials. They are:
1. The covenant pledge. This pledge is made first by the consistory and then it is adopted by the congregation through the regular congregational vote.
2. The congregational questionnaire introducing goals through asking, for example: “What are the needs of our church? What are our personal views on evangelism?”
3. The neighborhood survey.
4. The community agency survey.
5. The resource inventory form to discover talent within the congregation.
6. The consistory self-study. This is designed to enable the consistory to have a clear picture as to how it views the total life and outreach of the church as it now is. The results of all these studies should be used to set up personal and congregational goals.
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“The Idea Series” – We were also introduced to a set of books called “The Idea Series.” These books give some valuable practical hints and insights into “How to Evangelize.” Idea Series Number 2, Establishing Book Clubs, advocates books such as: Harvey Cox, The Secular City; J. C. Hoekendyk, The Church Inside Out; Malcolm X and Alex Haley, The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Scanning through the bibliography I asked myself, “What happened to sound Christian literature?” Take Hoekendyk—he is a liberal to the core.
In Idea Series Number 5, Developing Self Expression, we find statements such as: “In groups of 2, 3, or 4 have each group repeat ‘Mary had a little lamb’ (the entire poem) before the group. One group must do it laughing, the other whispering, another crying, and another angrily” (p. 14); and “Spread it thick in a description of this ‘great poem,’ beautiful choice of literary perfection, plumbing the depths of human emotions. Part of our great American heritage dearly loved by us all for its profound influence on our lives, etc. (Don’t tell the name of the poem until after description.)”
In Idea Series Number 12, Grow Groups (p. 60). we find some sample questions for discussion: “Are you happy with yourself? Do you talk freely about spiritual things? With whom? Do you feel accepted by others? What do you think of your mother? Father? Brothers and sisters? What kind of person do you dislike most?” I am not so impressed with such ideas for grow groups because they can so easily lead into sensitivity sessions.
How can the local churches receive the information needed? Where do they get the help to introduce this far reaching program to their church members? The Board of Home Missions will train consultants, and they will work under the supervision of the classical home missions committees, help consistories with their self-study, interpret data, give encouragement and assistance. The heart of their work is the mobilizing of lay people. A consultant training session will be held in the beginning of next year in Grand Rapids.
Getting Involved – Should we get involved in Thrust ‘73? I believe we should wholeheartedly throw ourselves into this evangelistic effort, keeping in mind that we must be selective with respect to the materials offered. We do not need to use every handbook offered.
Besides that, the Canadian churches will have difficulties with some of the materials because they are too orientated to U.S. problematics. Thus in Canada they should be adapted to our particular situation and needs. This can be done, as they are meant for group leaders’ use.
Are we ready to evangelize? I believe that we are and that we must always be ready to reach others for Jesus Christ. How can we keep this great salvation given to us for ourselves? Evangelism has not been our outstanding forte.
In the Christian Reformed Church Order there is an article often overlooked. It says: “In obedience to Christ’s great commission the churches must bring the Gospel to all men at home and abroad, in order to lead them into fellowship with Christ and His Church. In fulfilling this mandate, each consistory shall stimulate the members of the congregation to be witnesses for Christ in word and deed, and to support the work of home and foreign missions by their interest, prayers and gifts” (Article 13).
Our evangelism efforts must greatly improve. Pray that the Holy Spirit will give us a vision for the lost. Giving money is not enough. Each one of us must become actively involved. This is what the Canadian Council of Christian Reformed Churches realized when it resolved: “That Council urge all Canadian Christian Reformed Churches to rededicate themselves to the task of bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Canadian nation” (Acts 1970). In obedience to the Lord, we must evangelize. The church must proclaim the gospel in our crisis times. But we must be careful to reach the whole person for Jesus Christ and also touch the structures of society.
Evangelism should not be a “soul winning” process only. This is narrowing the gospel. The evangel should not be reduced to the horizontal level either. The Lord Jesus has never said: “Love man only, and God is just an afterthought.” The Lord does say: “You must love God and your fellow man.” Let us evangelize! People need to be touched with the gospel which points not only to heaven but also to earth.
Johan D. Tangelder is pastor of the Riverside Christian Reformed Church of Wellandport, Ontario, in Canada.
Objectives – What are the objectives of this “new” program?
1. To confront every person in North America more fully and forcibly with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. To employ every means and method in communication of the gospel in order to create the conditions in which we may respond to God.
3. To apply the message and meaning of Jesus Christ to the issues shaping man and his society in order that they may he resolved.
4. To develop new resources for effective evangelism for consideration, adaptation, or rejection by the participating churches.
5. To supplement the evangelistic efforts of Christian congregations and organizations.
Local-church Orientation – At the Thrust ‘73 Institute held October 12-14, we were repeatedly told that the program is local-church orientated. Every Christian must be a witness. And only the local church can create enthusiasm. Nobody is going to do the work for us. We ourselves must be prepared for an all-out effort to reach North America for Jesus Christ.
And in order to be effective in our evangelistic effort, we must set goals. Where do we want to go as a church? Are we out to maintain the status quo? Do we have churches just to accommodate ourselves? We should ask ourselves these questions: “Where are we right now? Where do we want to be? How do we get there?”
In order to aid us in setting realistic goals for our churches, the denominational Board of Home Missions has produced some helpful materials. They are:
1. The covenant pledge. This pledge is made first by the consistory and then it is adopted by the congregation through the regular congregational vote.
2. The congregational questionnaire introducing goals through asking, for example: “What are the needs of our church? What are our personal views on evangelism?”
3. The neighborhood survey.
4. The community agency survey.
5. The resource inventory form to discover talent within the congregation.
6. The consistory self-study. This is designed to enable the consistory to have a clear picture as to how it views the total life and outreach of the church as it now is. The results of all these studies should be used to set up personal and congregational goals.
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“The Idea Series” – We were also introduced to a set of books called “The Idea Series.” These books give some valuable practical hints and insights into “How to Evangelize.” Idea Series Number 2, Establishing Book Clubs, advocates books such as: Harvey Cox, The Secular City; J. C. Hoekendyk, The Church Inside Out; Malcolm X and Alex Haley, The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Scanning through the bibliography I asked myself, “What happened to sound Christian literature?” Take Hoekendyk—he is a liberal to the core.
In Idea Series Number 5, Developing Self Expression, we find statements such as: “In groups of 2, 3, or 4 have each group repeat ‘Mary had a little lamb’ (the entire poem) before the group. One group must do it laughing, the other whispering, another crying, and another angrily” (p. 14); and “Spread it thick in a description of this ‘great poem,’ beautiful choice of literary perfection, plumbing the depths of human emotions. Part of our great American heritage dearly loved by us all for its profound influence on our lives, etc. (Don’t tell the name of the poem until after description.)”
In Idea Series Number 12, Grow Groups (p. 60). we find some sample questions for discussion: “Are you happy with yourself? Do you talk freely about spiritual things? With whom? Do you feel accepted by others? What do you think of your mother? Father? Brothers and sisters? What kind of person do you dislike most?” I am not so impressed with such ideas for grow groups because they can so easily lead into sensitivity sessions.
How can the local churches receive the information needed? Where do they get the help to introduce this far reaching program to their church members? The Board of Home Missions will train consultants, and they will work under the supervision of the classical home missions committees, help consistories with their self-study, interpret data, give encouragement and assistance. The heart of their work is the mobilizing of lay people. A consultant training session will be held in the beginning of next year in Grand Rapids.
Getting Involved – Should we get involved in Thrust ‘73? I believe we should wholeheartedly throw ourselves into this evangelistic effort, keeping in mind that we must be selective with respect to the materials offered. We do not need to use every handbook offered.
Besides that, the Canadian churches will have difficulties with some of the materials because they are too orientated to U.S. problematics. Thus in Canada they should be adapted to our particular situation and needs. This can be done, as they are meant for group leaders’ use.
Are we ready to evangelize? I believe that we are and that we must always be ready to reach others for Jesus Christ. How can we keep this great salvation given to us for ourselves? Evangelism has not been our outstanding forte.
In the Christian Reformed Church Order there is an article often overlooked. It says: “In obedience to Christ’s great commission the churches must bring the Gospel to all men at home and abroad, in order to lead them into fellowship with Christ and His Church. In fulfilling this mandate, each consistory shall stimulate the members of the congregation to be witnesses for Christ in word and deed, and to support the work of home and foreign missions by their interest, prayers and gifts” (Article 13).
Our evangelism efforts must greatly improve. Pray that the Holy Spirit will give us a vision for the lost. Giving money is not enough. Each one of us must become actively involved. This is what the Canadian Council of Christian Reformed Churches realized when it resolved: “That Council urge all Canadian Christian Reformed Churches to rededicate themselves to the task of bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Canadian nation” (Acts 1970). In obedience to the Lord, we must evangelize. The church must proclaim the gospel in our crisis times. But we must be careful to reach the whole person for Jesus Christ and also touch the structures of society.
Evangelism should not be a “soul winning” process only. This is narrowing the gospel. The evangel should not be reduced to the horizontal level either. The Lord Jesus has never said: “Love man only, and God is just an afterthought.” The Lord does say: “You must love God and your fellow man.” Let us evangelize! People need to be touched with the gospel which points not only to heaven but also to earth.
Johan D. Tangelder is pastor of the Riverside Christian Reformed Church of Wellandport, Ontario, in Canada.