ANGLICAN
DIOCESE OF
Diocesan
16th
November, 2007
By
Venerable Dr. Ifechukwu U. Ibeme
GOSPEL
PROPAGATION
·
Gospel
propagation involves Gospel preaching (Evangelism), Healing, and Church
planting. The aim is that ALL nations shall be BLESSED (Gen 22:18); that ALL
people shall be SAVED (Acts 2:21) by believing the Good News (Gospel) about the
Salvation that is in Christ:
that THERE IS NOW THE BLESSING OF REMISSION OF SINS (OR
SALVATION FROM SIN) AND THE ASSURANCE OF GLORY, FOR ANYONE WHO
REPENTS AND BELIEVES IN JESUS CHRIST AS THE SAVIOUR AND LORD, WHO
DIED FOR OUR SINS AND ROSE FROM THE DEAD TO BE THE JUDGE OF ALL
AND KING OF GLORY.
·
Jesus
summarized this Gospel invitation in Luke 24: 47; so also Peter in Acts 2:38-39
and Paul in Acts 17:30-31.
·
Church
Planting involves going, preaching, discipleship, growth, and ordering (Acts
14:21ff), with CONTEXTUALIZATION (1 Cor 9:19-23). This needs the authority and
power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; Lk 9:1)
·
Believers
should not rest till they see Churches planted:
#
In all the world, for every soul Mk 16:15;
#
In the uttermost ends of the earth Act 1:8;
#
Everywhere, every place, every city Luke 9:6; 10:1;
#
For everyone Col 1:26-28, in every nation Mat 28:19;
#
Where Christ is not named Rom 15:20;
#
In the regions beyond 2Cor 10:16.
ENDOWMENT
FOR EVANGELISM
·
Evangelism
requires the balanced collaboration of a team or teams of preachers not one
preacher and team(s) of sponsors not one sponsor Mark 6:7; Lk 10:1. A
plentiful harvest needs many labourers. Lk. 10:2; Matt 9:37f.
Team effort works synergistically. Lev 26:8.
·
Evangelism is not only a
HARVESTING of ripe produce, but also a planting or SOWING of seed that will
later yield produce of many folds.
·
He who
goes forth bearing the Gospel has the responsibility to fund or to MOBILIZE for
the funding. The going precedes and supersedes the funding. Lk. 10:1-9; Mk.
6:7-13.
·
Funds
for evangelism should be raised by both PLANNED-REGULAR-RATIONAL means (e.g.
Faith promise/Covenant/Tithe/Subscription/Levy), to ensure COMMITMENT (1Cor 16:1f); and
SPONTANEOUS-OCCASIONAL-EMOTIONAL means (e.g. Launching Appeals/Special
Collections/Faith Seeds), to ensure AWARENESS. (2Cor 8 and
9)
·
Evangelism
must be timely. And the time is always now. The Kingdom has NOT signed a peace
treaty with satanic forces; the march of the Church is still on.
·
All who
are saved share the responsibility to evangelize. Every believer and every
church should contribute resources and manpower according to their ABILITY or
the AVAILABILITY.
·
He/She
who cannot go ought to sponsor another in his/her stead because all believers
ought to go. Those who accept the
Salvation of Christ must accept the Commission of Christ
too.
·
To
maintain MOTIVATION for giving, pooled resources should be managed by personnel
that is ACCOUNTABLE and TRANSPARENT (not DICTATORIAL or SECRETIVE) to the
contributors.
·
God, Who
sends will always provide for His saving mission (Lk 22:35).The Gospel is not about religion but Salvation.
Ven Dr
I. U. Ibeme
Anglican
Church of the Resurrection (ACR),
PriscAquila Christian Resource
Centre www.geocities.com/ifeogo