“THE EXPENDABLES”

Thirty five years and countless critics later, Sylvester Stallone is NUMBER ONE (again) at the box office. It will be 25 years to the date on Sept 13, 2010 that my Godmother, Judy Henderson and I (age 13) spent the weekend in Hollywood, CA in 1985 to meet my favorite action hero after winning a RAMBO II contest. What is ironic is that he was iconic then! Sly’s new movie “THE EXPENDABLES” grossed $35 Million on opening weekend and like “ROCKY” he had been on the ropes at times but since the bell didn’t ring he kept swinging and is box office champ once again.

The word “expendable” is defined as not worth using, easily replaced, second rate, discarded after service and/or holds little value today.  Sadly, some Christians and clergy view the evangelist as expendable too. Some churches have no desire for evangelism so they wouldn’t see how utlilizing an evangelist would bless their congregation and community. The evangelists that I have come to admire and grow as friends are all a TREAT not a threat.

Times have changed but the human heart is as wicked as ever. One pastor recently told me after I preached a five day revival at his church said: “Frank, I see the evangelist as a Special Forces type of guy who can get in and get out with the Holy Spirit help clear the debris of sin, set the captives free and help us explode in maturity both spiritually and numerically.”  That brother “gets it.” Another pastor shared that he views the evangelist as a skilled surgeon performing delicate operating procedures with a skilled focus on evangelizing sinners and encouraging the saints while he viewed his role as a pastor more the primary physician or general practioner. He understands too. One pastor told my evangelist friend: “The reason we don’t use YOU evangelists anymore is because you create too much work for me when your gone.”  When inquiring what he meant by “work” he was not referring to scandal or sin but stressed out that he would now have to baptize 13 adults who just trusted Christ as Savior. The pastor seemed upset that over a dozen more souls are Kingdom bound and now Christ-honoring people in the community much less the church he pastors. Plus, they are now tithing to the local church. The stats show that 90% of Southern Baptist churches in America the past few years average baptizing only 10 people or less. If that pastor is now baptizing 13 in one weekend after using a God called evangelist this should give ammunition to shout not scorn.

Ed Stetzer nearly two weeks ago had a great dialogue on his blog about the role of the evangelist. I shared on his blog that I attended a conference three years ago with pastors and when they learned I was an evangelist they treated me like I was a third class citizen in the Christian Army, a minor league preacher and be better off getting a secure salary as a senior pastor “because you will never make it in evangelism.” I was told point-blank by a few pastors “You guys (evangelists) either only have three good sermons” or my personal favorite “Not good enough to have your own church.” Wow!  I couldn’t say that it didn’t sting but perhaps they comprehend their call but not ours. This friendly dialogue is good because we should grow in grace and befriend one another.

I have been blessed to pastor a Baptist Church but knew God called, equipped and empowered me to “do the work of an evangelist.” America’s preacher for 60 years was not a pastor but ironically an evangelist (Dr. Billy Graham). It has been tempting the last couple years to forsake the call of an evangelist and consider church planting because that tends to be the trend. The problem with following trends is that if not true they lead to heartache and heartbreak but no harvest. Together, church planters, pastors, lay leaders and all Christians can and should partner with evangelists to evangelize. It is imperative that I honor the call of Christ on my life (regardless of results). One reason for not pursuing the church or plant route is because Scripture is clear: “Unless the Lord builds the House we labor in vain.” Secondly, we can get ahead of God (even in ministry as ministers), Thirdly, I don’t want to be ouside of God’s Will just to prove a point that evangelists bring much to the table.

Last year, I was told the reason many clergy and churches don’t bring in (implement) evangelists anymore is because most evangelists don’t host stadium events.  HELLO? When did one need a crowd to tell someone about Christ?? Some evangelists do speak in stadiums, television, newspaper, massive mega churches but regardless of the size of a venue – evangelism is not designated for 30,000 seats or more but is a commandment by Christ not a suggestion by man regardless of the arena (or lack of). We win souls one at a time and each one can reach one. Won by One. The two best revivals I was blessed to participate in 2008, were unfortunately (but ironically) in churches that were without a pastor. The danger about writing when not in a room is that with a void of expression can get miscontrued quick. In all love, that verse “you were running well who hindered you” I cannot help but think some of the leadership in churches have hindered the perfect will of God by halting folks such as an evangelist from utilizing their God given gift and calling.

At age 10, I had such a yearning for lost souls that I couldn’t sleep. Eventually, I made a point that win or lose, sink or swim, live or die I was going to invite friends to church to VBS in 1982. Well, 22 friends came with me (at age 10) Go GOD!! It is fact most folks don’t come to church because they were never asked or invited by a friend. I am convinced that the God called evangelist is a gift to the Body of Christ. They do have an anointing to “draw the net” and can preach a simple Gospel message and God moves in a most special way.  Evangelists compliment the pastor. Sometimes saying the same thing but in a different voice gives credibility and the “light bulb” goes off to help the congregation grow in their faith.

The evangelist can be both a harvester and revivalist. Yes, souls are won to Christ but it is just as important for the saints asleep or stangnant to be renewed, revived and ready anew for service partnering with the pastor and church to reach the world for Christ. One of the highest honors of my life is being able to minister to ministers in private during the revival meetings. They (evangelists) are a gift to the church but the fact is even as an evangelist myself – I don’t evangelize because I am an evangelist but because I am a commited Christian.  We are all called to share our faith and be ready to give an account (both by our life and lips).

In the most recent RAMBO movie – Stallone the ultimate fighting machine is on a boat, ready for war, armed and dangerous with a desire to rescue the perishing. He is exiting the boat when folks who were also ready to fight suggested that he was just a “boat man” and unfit for battle (perhaps antique) and would not be needing his services. The man who was born for war was told that he is deduced to the sidelines with gun in hand and to sit life out. The other “trained” warriors went in, almost all got killed and RAMBO with a time tested bow and arrow comes out and wins that war.

Its kinda like playing a pick-up basketball game and Michael Jordan in his prime adorning six championship rings wants to play with ball in hand but told by others he can be on the “team” but sit at the end of the bench next to the water boy. The fact is we must all be obedient to sharing our faith. Most of the evangelists I know long and live to compliment the pastor and their staff not compete. Actually, we want to help COMPLETE the work of Christ in our midst.

Over the years, I have learned folks will criticize or question what they have not experienced or do not understand. When Tony Nolan saw 43,000 decisions for Christ at Winter Jam recently some ministers have a hard time digesting that. When Clayton King saw 1,000 and 2,000 souls saved respectfully at one service some can’t grasp that either. Truth be told, it happend and most folks don’t have the privilege to preach to 10,000 nightly.  Those are not exaggeration but confirmation that Jesus is still in the Soul Saving business. God did it then, doing it now and will do it again (with or without the support of the local church). We can hint “Missional” but if we are not on mission than we are just a mess with a message that never reached the masses commanded by our Messiah.

Some have suggested over the years that “results of revival” don’t last long. It was said that a bath doesn’t last forever either but it sure helps to take one periodically. The evangelist can both reach the lost while reviving the saved and/or stagnant. Ministry is a team effort but its not that the evangelists are MIA but unfortunately the doors for opportunity are not quite what they used to be. Some fault economy, theology or plain jealousy but I believe it is a fair statement to suggest that churches today (especially SBC have replaced the role of the evangelist for church planting). In high school, just because a team finally got new jerseys doesnt mean they are winning as a team. Tremendous blessings have resulted in church plants, etc but the facts are that a 1-5 day revival still does enormous good in the life of the church, personal refreshing to clergy and a tremendous amount of souls getting saved.

Without question, God called me to do the work of an evangelist. The evangelist in Ephesians 4:11 is actually mentioned before the pastor and yet too many are still trying to determine the worth and wealth of blessing that they are to the Body. This post was never to suggest who is more skilled but its a sad day when some are not even sure that the evangelist has value today. Yes, some evangelists unfortunately fell by the way side but so have teachers, policemen and bankers but that doesn’t mean that everyone was off base or wrong. Secondly, when one is out front in war you are a bigger target from enemy fire. We need to nurture and minister to these warriors not treat them callously or “expendable.” Dr Johnny Hunt is one of my heroes. His Timothy/Barnabas conferences have helped and brought healing to many men in ministry. He is an encourager, equipper and evangelistic everytime he preaches.

My father retired as Deputy Chief of the United States Capitol Police in Washington, DC. He was number two out of 2,000 officers protecting Congress, the US Capitol, Commander in Chief and citizens from every continent. As a police officer, early in his career he stayed countless hours on his feet “on post.” Most times, it was boring, not glamorous but it was more than a career but his calling. Some may enter ministry for wrong motives but most of those that I know (pastors, evangelists, teachers, etc) are unselfish individuals who love Jesus and are part of a team greater than self. The Lord is coming back sooner rather than later and I walked away by faith to do the work of an evangelist. Obedience is standing on post and I share my faith almost daily not because its my “job” but a JOY to do it. My prayer is that revival will sweep our land and world like never before. But revival must start with us in our hearts, homes and heads first. My prayer is that all Christians will share their faith in love, tact but Biblical boldness. We are in the last days and perhaps this is that era of a falling away of the faith. My hope is that a precious dialogue and fellowship will grace the hearts of the pastor and evangelist to grow as friends. Ministry is at warp speed but we can do more together than apart.

In closing, the last “INDIANA JONES” had a line when Harrison Ford was rolling thru campus on a motorcycle and saw a young man ask him a question about another’s stance on an issue. Ford in his typical style responded: “Kid, you can’t trust him because he has been in the classroom too long.” The folks who have made a profound impact on my life have either started out as evangelists or never lost the burning passion to reach souls while doing the work of an evangelist. We have preachers and teachers but all of us are called to be REACHERS for God’s Glory. Evangelists that I admire and love (Billy Graham, Dr Tim Lee, Ralph Sexton, Jr. Dr Lee Roberson, David Ring, Junior Hill, Josh McDowell, Bailey Smith, Jamey Ragle, Clayton King, Tony Nolan, Rick Scarborough, Keith Cook, Jay Lowder, Meadowlark Lemon, Jonathan Edwards, Clyde Box, Rick Stanley, Clark Bosher, Steve Hale, Jerry Drace, Rick Amato, John Gray, Nikita Koloff, Ergun Caner, Clark Bosher, Marcus Lamb, Ronnie “The Raven” Dean, Randy Hogue, Brian Fossett, Eric Fuller, Matthew Dunaway, Scott Newton Smith, Chris Hill, Shawn McBride, James Robison, Sujo John, Acton Bowen, Dave Edwards, Jay Strack, Robbie Robison, Marvin Harris, Brandon Crouch, Chris Brooks, Dan Meyer, Curt Anderson, Matt Brown, Wayne Matthews, Ken Freeman, Frank Withers, Kelly Croy, Braxton Hunter, Mark Spence, Chris Palmer, Bryan Taunton, Med Skeens, Dean Forrest, Ron Herrod, Jason George, Caleb Gordon, Paul Cobb, Craig Church, Matt Wilkins, Ben Knott and countless others) are not only team players but humble servants who desire daily to love God, bless the local church and see souls saved. To their credit, they have looked for a way in not a way out. Failing is not an option.

It is actually proven to be cost effective in seeing a harvest and a deepening of folks pressing into God with bringing in an evangelist than investing funds in buildings, programs and other ideas. We can call work together. My concern over the years (especially in SBC) that its easy to discuss, debate and disect the playbook but it has hindered too many for too long in ministry from actually getting in the game, executing the plays and scoring for the Kingdom in evangelism. God is great and he is certainly blessing but too many friends (not many of us left) are relegated to not only back of the bus but boat like John J Rambo and told we are not needed or worse – shouldn’t or don’t exist. The Bible is clear “He that winneth souls is wise.” That is true for us all. An evangelist is a gift but unless we un-wrap it and benefit from it we will never be running on all cylinders as a church. Again, my remarks are not so much a rant or rave but a humble review from the other side of the fence. May we be busy building God’s Kingdom and my evangelists friends are on “post” and we humbly pray to God daily and desire to work alongside precious pastors saying: “Here Am I Send Me.”

What is expensive is not the price to utilize an evangelist but electing to extract them out all together. It is one thing when the government elects to scrap a program but its eternally worse when church leaders halt or hamstring the mandate of implementing the giftings of an evangelist. In the past, God has used and continues to use folks like Spurgeon, Moody, Sunday, R.G. Lee, B.R. Lakin, Lee Roberson, Luis Palau, Mordecai Ham, Freddie Gage, David Allbritton, Sam Mings, T.L. Lowery, Randy Hogue, Billy Graham, Johnny Pope and countless others to reach the masses with the matchless message of our Messiah.

Presidents may ponder the “State of the Union” while some in church leadership may question the “state of the evangelist.” Critics will always critique but we will stand before Christ not the naysayers. Without question, these are tough times to live. Ministry is hard work, the economy is rough and at times the future can look bleak but I have GOOD NEWS. Our trust is not in men, money or military but our hope is in Christ and the harvest is ripe and I rejoice that when we work together we will experience REVIVAL like we have never known before.  It has been said: “One man’s trash is another Man’s Treasure.”
If you want to see the Kingdom EXPAND than prayerfully consider using an EXPENDABLE.