Partners In The Mission: Evangelism Initiative 06/17/2008 a message from Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director It was gratifying for me to hear the introduction of a new national evangelism initiative by the North American Mission Board during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Indianapolis last week. “Every Believer Sharing, Every Person Hearing” summarizes well the focus. God has a plan for every person to hear the Gospel through every believer sharing. In North America, we can reach our neighbors and the nations. In fact, the nations have become our neighbors. We have the opportunity to share Christ through our lifestyle contacts and to encourage them to become a part of an existing church or new church plant. God’s Plan for Sharing includes four biblical initiatives: PRAYING: Every church praying for lost people (I Tim 2:1, 3-4). It would be incredible to see what would happen if church members were continually discovering lost people for whom to pray. ENGAGING: Every believer sharing as a trained witness (II Cor. 5:18, 20). Christ followers must be willing to take personal responsibility for sharing Christ if they are to fulfill the Great Commission. This includes small groups for sharing and living with passion for lost people out of the overflow of an intimate walk with God. SOWING: Every lost person receiving a witness (John 4:37). We must sow among the people groups of North America and identify receptive peoples. In a secular culture, the Gospel must be shared every way possible, including through servant evangelism. HARVESTING: Every church harvesting and celebrating every salvation response (John 4:34-36). As believers become personally involved in praying, engaging in witnessing and sowing, the results will be a harvest. If people are to come to Jesus Christ, believers must increase the opportunities for people to respond to the Gospel. Churches can plan cutting edge harvest events and ministries for those who have heard the Gospel and have been the subjects of prayer by believers. The results could be as follows: Millions of people receiving Christ People changed for eternity; families and communities transformed New small groups started Churches revitalized Churches planting churches The plan calls for implementation from 2010-2020, but I hope and pray that Kentucky Baptists will not wait until 2010. People without Jesus Christ are lost now. Sharing Jesus Christ with urgency should be our plan now. Consider the following steps: Initiate praying for lost people in all church activities Train believers to share their testimony and the Gospel Create intentional opportunities to share the Gospel with lost people in your community, county, state and across North America. Provide additional opportunities for lost people to respond through harvest events and ministries. Like John the Baptist, prepare the way for Jesus to come to the people of your community! Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.