EDITORIAL
Transformation | Derwin L. Gray
For nearly 20 years, I have prepared sermons, written books and prayed at a local coffee shop. The primary reason I do this is because coffee shops are the modern-day Jacob’s Well. People buy overpriced coffee because they are longing to be seen and heard; so many are looking for Jesus and don’t know it. That’s why I am there—to meet them, to listen to them, and as God the Holy Spirit opens a door, to share the gospel with them. By God’s grace, I’ve seen many people come to faith in Jesus over a cup of coffee. I have had hundreds of gospel conversations where seeds are being cast into the soil of their souls (1 Cor. 3:6–7).
If we do not equip the precious souls under our care and leadership to think and act like missionaries, the church in America will continue to reach fewer people, and discipleship in the church will continue to suffer. The church is the result of God himself having a mission (Gen. 12:1–3). The Father, out of love, sent the Son to deliver his image bearers from slavery to sin and death through his redemptive work (Col. 2:13–15; Rom. 6:3–14). The Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit to indwell and empower those who have faith in Jesus. Now the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit sends his blood-bought, Spirit-sealed people on mission (John 17:20–21; Acts 1:8). Because of the gospel, God’s people are everyday missionaries.
So, what is an everyday missionary? They are people who:
1. Adore Jesus. They treasure Jesus above all and want others to experience the power of his rescuing grace. Because they are so close to him, what matters to Jesus matters to them. Jesus loves lost people. He came to seek and save them (Luke 19:10). Simply put, everyday missionaries shine with the love of Jesus and want that grace to heal others.
2. Believe God sovereignly puts them in the right place in order to influence others for the sake of the gospel. As they walk in the Spirit’s power, their eyes are open to the mission field that is their job, school, gym or wherever they find themselves. As Jesus said, “Open your eyes and look at the fields, because they are ready for harvest” (John 4:35).
3. Serve as people of prayer. They know that the more they pray and ask the Holy Spirit to bring lost people to them, the more lost people will cross their path.
4. Stay curious about others. They listen more than they talk. They are wise and humble as they apply the saving work of Jesus to people’s deepest hurts.
5. Are more relational than confrontational. Most evangelistic training emphasizes confrontational evangelism, which looks like meeting a stranger and sharing the gospel. Confrontational evangelism is not wrong; it is just that very few believers are effective at it. But we can all build relationships with people and share the gospel. Our church has seen massive success in reaching lost people through relational evangelism.
For these people, the church is a missionary training center. May church leaders be so lit up with the love of Jesus that we equip our people to think and act like everyday missionaries. The future of the church depends on it.