Introduction
During the first
week of August 2013, students and faculty from Emory University participated in
the Venezuela Regional Evangelism Seminar sponsored by the World Methodist
Evangelism Institute. After months of
study and preparation, our team from Emory, accompanied by several pastors from
across the southeast, arrived at the Wesleyan Seminary in the city of
Barquisimeto ready to lead a weeklong seminar on evangelism. Yet despite our best efforts to anticipate
how the week would go, nothing could have prepared us for what we experienced
over those eight days. As strangers in a
foreign land, our group experienced Christian community at its finest, as more
than eighty Venezuelan Christians welcomed us as brothers and sisters in
Christ. There was a clear movement of
the Holy Spirit in ways that were new to me personally, and the spiritual
disciplines of prayer and fasting were employed in an effort to prepare
ourselves for the work God might do through us.
When the seminar
had finally concluded, I was left with an increased motivation and optimism
about the power of holistic evangelism.
Not only have I grown to see evangelism as an indisputable imperative
from Christ Jesus, but also a joyous opportunity for participation in the work
of God through the announcement of the coming Kingdom. Evangelism has the power to change both the
one who preaches and the one who hears.
Through the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, Christians have the
joy of telling the story of God through Christ Jesus and participating as that
story impacts a world that is in desperate need of “good news”.
Christian Community
Prior to our
departure, Dr. de Souza’s class was asked to read, Announcing the Reign of God, by Mortimer Arias. In chapter two of the text Arias writes, “The
announcement of the kingdom in Jesus came not only as a restoration of life and
of relationships with God through forgiveness of sins, but also as a
restoration of community.”[1]
Arias goes on to talk about Jesus’ habit of sharing meals and fellowship with the
community in which He found Himself, and suggests that community is a vital
component of the Kingdom of God. For me,
this has always been a difficult component, as I tend to be very closed off,
particularly concerning matters of faith.
Fortunately in Venezuela I did not have this option.
Prior to our
arrival in Venezuela, the group from the United States had already begun to
grow closer. We were to spend the next
eight days in very case proximity to one another, and our mutual interests in
evangelism had begun to lay the foundation for a communal environment. However, this community would grow
exponentially upon our arrival at Semenario
de Wesleyano. The Venezuelan people
greeted us with great enthusiasm, and eagerly engaged in conversations concerning
theology, evangelism, and a variety of other topics. We worshipped together, both at the seminary
and at various churches across the city of Barquisimeto, and there were late
nights spent playing baseball (or a variation thereof). As conversations were had early into the
morning hours, our community began to feel more and more like family. This family also capitalized on the practice
of Jesus by sharing meals together in the form of the Eucharist, common meals, and
a celebratory final meal.
Of course it
should not be surprising that a group that spent so much time together began to
grow in community, but it is the source of this new community that I find so
special. With language barriers,
cultural differences, and a variety of ages and occupations, the one common
denominator was Jesus Christ. Our
smiles, hugs, farewells and good byes were not significant because of identical
life experiences, but because we were brothers and sisters in Christ. This was reiterated time and time again as
the emphasis of Christian family was acknowledged, at times through scripture
or lectures, and at other times as a sort of organic movement of the Holy
Spirit. Not only did we know that we
were supposed to be family, but through the time we spent together we realized
that we already were.
If Mortimer Arias
is correct, that the Kingdom of God takes place in community, then the
experience shared in Venezuela provides evidence that such community already
exists. Of course this community must
continue to grow, as Christians spread the good news of Jesus Christ to the
ends of the earth, but it is reassuring to know that to some degree the Church
is already practicing such community. My
prayer is that I might retain this sense of community here in the United
States, and that I might see my fellow Christians here as brothers and sisters,
not simply members of a common congregation.
The Power of the Holy Spirit
It
often seems as if the Holy Spirit is the forgotten Person of the Holy
Trinity. I myself tend to prioritize the
Father and Son, unfortunately often at the expense of the Spirit. In Venezuela however, it became quite clear
that the Holy Spirit was had not exited the scene, even if I myself had
forgotten. Eddie Fox and George Morris
are well aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit, and insist upon the
dependence of the faith sharer upon the Spirit in their book, Faith-Sharing. Perhaps I missed this component in my initial
reading, but after our time in Venezuela, the emphasis upon the Holy Spirit is
impossible to miss as I reread the text of Faith-Sharing. Offering sound advice, the authors urge,
“…endeavor to be sensitive and alert to the movement of the Spirit.”[2]
Seeing such movement in Venezuela affirms not only the continued presence of
the Holy Spirit in Christian communities, but also the vital need for such
presence if evangelism is to be accomplished.
Quite
early in the seminar, I was introduced to what I initially considered “strange
things”[3]. A lecture by Dr. Worrell on speaking in
tongues had my skepticism aroused early into our trip. Sunday morning, when I witnessed people being
“slain in the Spirit” for the first time, I started asking a lot of
questions. These questions were asked
internally, employing my own logic and reason, as well as externally as I
enquired with others as to the meaning and theology behind these
practices. Most importantly however, I
began to ask questions to God through prayer.
It was revealed to me that there was nothing that I had experienced to
suggest that any of our colleagues from the seminary were anything but honest
and genuine. Why would they fake such
things? My conclusion through diligent
prayer and consideration is that the Holy Spirit moves in many ways, and I was
privileged to be able to witness such movement in a new way.
At the same time, it does not take charismatic
actions and utterances to detect the Holy Spirit in our midst. As Fox and Morris note, the Holy Spirit is a
foundational component of Christian faith, and the “Advocate”[4]
Jesus mentioned is said to testify concerning Christ. The question then becomes, “What does this
testimony look like?” I think it looks a
lot like what I saw in Venezuela. It
looks like family members coming together for worship and fellowship, where
shouts of joy are coupled with tears of lament and cultural and national
divisions are completely incorporated into one family unit. What we experienced in Venezuela would have
been impossibly without the power of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, I don’t think it unlikely that
the trip itself would never have occurred without the power of the Holy Spirit
through our planning, preparation, and even travel. As I return to my own congregation, I will be
returning with a new awareness of the Holy Spirit. Not only have my eyes been opened to the
presence of the Spirit, but also to the power of the Spirit to move in great
ways through those called to be disciples of Jesus Christ.
Preparation
Finally,
it is important to recognize the vitality of preparation for endeavors of
evangelism. Commenting on charismatic
worship, Dr. James Abbington is fond of saying, “The Holy Spirit never denies
good planning”[5],
and his insight affirms the importance of proper planning and preparation. In Venezuela, this preparation was not only
witnessed, but it was also encouraged.
Whether it be the preparation of scheduling and event planning, or the
reparation of the heart through prayer and fasting. Without preparation, Christian ministry is
severely handicapped.
In
Venezuela, the value of preparation was most clearly illustrated through the
efficiency with which the seminar was executed.
Long before the trip began, plans were made, schedules were set, and the
seminar was framed. While a certain
degree of flexibility has to be granted, particularly considering “Venezuelan
time”, the seminar was a great success, in large part because of the planning
and preparation that went in to it. For
the group from the United States, preparation was required for the planning of
our cultural night, our morning prayers, and other activities that was helped
organize. Roles were delegated to
various members, and responsibilities were voluntarily taken upon the
individual members to engage and contribute according to our prospective
strengths.
These
examples of preparation illustrate a commitment to excellence, and the
dedication that Christians joyously offer to the work of Christ Jesus. However, there is another preparation that
deserves mention here. The previous
examples all involve the logistics of the seminar and its various activities
and presentation. These are important,
but what is even more important is the preparation that occurs before this
preparation. By this I am referring to
prayer and fasting. Prayer is a
discipline that I have attempted to exercise for a long time, and each morning
I begin with at least one half hour of prayer.
Fortunately, I was able to continue this discipline in Venezuela, and I
know that I was strengthened because of this exercise in spiritual discipline. At the same time, I was reminded of another
form of preparation that I had either forgotten, or perhaps simply chose to
neglect.
Fasting
in the style of John Wesley was a wonderful experience that I was blessed to
have on our trip. Our fast began with a
communal prayer for the world, and additional prayers were to be offered the
evening our fast began, the following morning, and during the afternoon prior
to breaking our fast. The fast itself
was a great reminder of our humanity, and by drawing attention to physical
desire and need, I was able to consider my own spiritual need as well. When Jesus speaks of being the “bread of
life”[6],
He is acknowledging a hunger that food cannot satisfy. Denying our own physical desires was a
wonderful way to draw more attention and focus to this spiritual need.
In
addition, the exercise of fasting was a wonderful way of bringing the community
together. Our prayers were said in
community, and we all knew that this was an endeavor we were entering into
together. As I return to the United
States and attempt to implement this practice into my walk with Christ, I am
joyfully aware that many of my Methodist brothers and sisters are engaging in
the same practice at the same time, not the least of which are my new family
members in Venezuela.
It
may seem obvious, but preparation is vital to ministry. As Christians, we must go to great lengths to
prepare, while at the same time leaving room for the Holy Spirit to freely
move. God’s plans are not always our
plans, but that doesn’t negate the necessity to prepare. In fact, Christians ought to prepare for any
possible situation, knowing that if we make ourselves available God will use
us. This preparation concerns logistics,
but more importantly concerns the heart.
As we prepare our hearts, we are inviting the Holy Spirit to enter into
our lives and use us for the glory of Christ Jesus and God the Father. Our time in Venezuela was clear evidence of
such preparation, and encouraged me to focus on this foundational component of
Christian life and ministry.
Conclusion
In
a short composition it is difficult to capture the depths of the blessings we
received in Venezuela. Furthermore, I
find it inconceivable that the English language, or Spanish for that matter,
could even begin to do justice to all that we learned and shared with our new
family. Facebook messages, emails, and
fond memories affirm that the people we said good-bye to in Venezuela were
brothers and sisters in the family of Christ.
I return to the United States with a new understanding of the importance
of the Holy Spirit, and the need for preparation, both than and now, was made
evident by our time at the seminar.
Yet
in conclusion I wish not to offer a reflection of the past, but a vision for
the future. All that was gleaned from
our trip to Venezuela will be for naught if it does not alter the way we do
business in our churches here in the United States. Evangelism is a term that is often laughed
at, dismissed, or relegated to the fundamentalist fringes of an antiquated
religion. Unfortunately, Christians do
not chose to be evangelists; Christians are evangelists. By sharing God’s story in our own lives, and
pointing people to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we not
only fulfill Jesus’ command to spread the good news, but validate the
invaluable gifts of the Christian life.
Our community, our connection with God through His Spirit, and our
dedication to prepare to be of service to God, are all fruits of the
transformed life offered by Christ Jesus.
These fruits must not only be celebrated, but also shared. There is nothing about Christian faith that
encourages the hording of God’s gifts to His children. Rather, we must be eager and willing to share
these gifts with others through both word and deed.
As
I return to my own church in Gainesville, Georgia, I am eager to share God’s
story in my life. God has been active in
my life for darn near twenty-six years now, and He was certainly at work
through my experience in Venezuela.
Perhaps now I understand the importance of sharing this experience, of
sharing the struggles that my brothers and sisters and I experience, and of
sharing the hope and assurance that can only be found in Jesus Christ. Christianity cannot be divorced from
evangelism, and our ministries must be focused on sharing the good news of
Jesus Christ with a lost and dying world.
Fortunately, we know that we have brothers and sisters in Venezuela and
elsewhere, willing to go to great lengths and suffer greatly so that the story
of Jesus Christ might be told and that the Kingdom of God might be
proclaimed.
Bibliography
Abbington, James.
Conversation with author. 13
May 2013.
Arias, Mortimer. Announcing the Reign of God. Philadelphia:
Fortress Press, 1984.
Chilcote, W. Paul and Laceye C. Warner. The
Study of Evangelism: Exploring a
Missional
Practice
of the Church. Grand Rapids: Will B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company, 2008.
Fox, Eddie H. and George E. Morris. Faith
Sharing: Dynamic Christian Witnessing by
Invitation. Nashville:
Discipleship Resources Nashville, 1986.
Roberts, Kristofer.
Author’s Journal. Aug. 2013.
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