Many are writing about the rapidly growing leadership crisis in America’s churches. In part one of this series, I suggested that there are two glaring omissions in many of our lives and churches that contribute significantly to this vacuum of leadership. These two omissions may even create or encourage some of the causes others have pointed out.
The First Omission: Prayer
Prayer is one of two major sins of omission resulting in few young men and women being called out to serve the Lord today.
When he (Jesus) saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Mt. 9:36-38 ESV).
If you have not read part one, I encourage you to read it first.
The Second Omission: Evangelism/Making Disciples
This omission I believe stems from the first omission. If God’s people are not praying for the lost, if they are not praying for God to send out laborers into His harvest fields, they will not have a heart of compassion like Jesus Christ. They will not be moved to action by a sense of urgency about the harvest because they are not praying for it. God uses the prayers of God’s people for the harvest as an instrument to move them to action. Some of those praying this way will be called to give themselves completely for the ministry of the Gospel, “thrust out” by the Lord.
Those who rightly aspire to become spiritual leaders and Gospel servants should so aspire because they have begun to see that God is eternally glorified through sinful rebels becoming His sons and daughters by the sacrifice of His Son. They see the need to step up and step out for Christ. They want to do something to meet the need, to bring God glory. God then separates out some of these to commit to Gospel ministry, the ministry of reconciling men to God, in a special way.[1]
Prayer and Evangelism are Connected
Proclaiming the Gospel has a purpose–to make disciples. Most people reading this are well acquainted with the term, “The Great Commission”.[2] Those who obey this command of Christ do so because Christ’s heartbeat is within them. They yearn to see the nations repent and turn to Him for salvation. Those earnestly praying for the harvest cannot but obey the Great Commission. This means evangelism, making disciples.
Obedience Fuels Motivation
Have you ever noticed that those who are most passionate about evangelism are those most active in that work? Our obedient attempts to make disciples is used of the Lord to open our eyes to the need in greater measure. As we actively witness, we see more clearly the cloak of darkness over the spiritually blind. As we speak to unbelievers, our compassion swells, making our heart more like that of Jesus.
Because so few of God’s people pray for the harvest or for God to send out laborers, few maintain motivation to witnesses. Too often what outreach they do have is limited to the precious few visitors that come to church services. Hearts might be occasionally stirred, but not enough to compel them to become intentional about witness in daily life outside the walls of a church building.
Disobedience and Disconnectedness
It should break our hearts to realize that most young men and women in our churches have no experience in evangelism. It would probably be safe to say that many young adult members and some older ones who grew up in church have rarely, if ever, witnessed to an unbeliever. Many are so disconnected from the spiritual harvest around them that they have no friends or good acquaintances that are unbelievers.
If we are not actively engaged in speaking for Christ, our compassion for the souls of men and women around us is very limited. By speaking, reasoning, praying, teaching, pleading, counseling, and urging the lost to see their need of salvation, our passion to see them converted is kept aflame. Once we grow silent, we quickly lose our heart for souls, we lose God’s heart for the lost.
A Willing Heart Finds a Way
I am so grateful for youth leaders that urged me as a young teen to be involved in ministry: passing out tracts, door-to-door witness, canvassing, children’s church, bus ministry, evangelistic youth meetings, prison ministry, besides serving through the general upkeep of the church property. Doing evangelistic activities kept my heart pointed in the right direction, constantly thinking about spiritual things and the spiritual needs of those around me. God enabled me to serve Him in these ways while also engaged in school activities, sports, and working in fast food restaurants. The salvation of my co-workers became a daily burden.
In Bible college, God used older students to come alongside me and encourage me to serve God with them. During those years I was again involved in bus ministry, visitation, and teaching children’s Sunday School. But the Lord added other ministry opportunities like holding Sunday services at nursing homes, street and door-to-door evangelism at a public university campus, helping a small rural church, and participating in a traveling ministry team that encouraged small churches. Beyond my academic load, I was further involved in men’s society and dorm ministries. While working in warehouses, the Lord gave opportunities to witness for Him. Ministry stayed a continual part of my life.
Next in God’s providence for my family was cross-cultural missions in Cambodia. God has continued to give guidance and enabling grace to serve Him in various ways. We know many men and women in Gospel ministry who share similar experiences. But something has obviously changed.
Opportunities Change, Circumstances Differ
Not everyone reading this came to Christ young like I did. Some of you did not come to Christ in churches that provided many opportunities to serve. Others may have come to saving faith later in your life. Evangelistic opportunities vary based on your community and timing in your culture. Your experiences in ministry may not read like mine above. But one thing is true: if you are praying for the harvest and for laborers, and if you are praying for opportunities to share the Gospel, you will have them.
Act on Your Commitment in the Present
I often find people with committed hearts who want to serve Jesus, but they have little experience in evangelism/making disciples. Many have been sheltered from their communities. It seems most have never held a secular job, never had to live their faith, or have never spoken about Christ in normal life circumstances. When I can, I urge them to get active in evangelistic ministry right now.
The specific ministry opportunities available to us at a given time may change, but a heart determined to obey the Great Commission will find ways to engage the lost in any set of circumstances. We need to accept the fact that failure to obey the Great Commission is a sin of omission, and it has consequences.
Conclusion
If God’s people will obey their Lord about prayer for the harvest and making disciples, one sure result is leaders for this next generation. Sins of omission are just as serious to God as sins of commission.
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap (Gal 6:7 ESV).
No obedience in prayer and evangelism = no spiritual fruit and no spiritual leaders. Let’s take up the challenge!
[1] 2 Corinthians 4-5
[2] Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:45-49; John 17:18; Acts 1:8
