We (MASY Ministries) are continually learning to be thankful and grateful for our home as the foundation of evangelism. We view evangelism in three levels: Home, community, and marketplace. Let’s probe these levels and how we can strive to be solid in all three levels.
Living in Balance
People would always ask me, “How can you lead a ministry, work a full-time job, and have a family life?” When questions like these arise, it prompts me to share the three levels of evangelism that allow me to be thankful and grateful for having a blessed and balanced life.
Level 1: In-Home Evangelism
“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)
This scripture tells me before I can share the gospel in my community and in the marketplace, I should be ministering to my wife and kids. This balance keeps the enemy at bay in our relationship as well as in our household. It allows me to love my wife as Christ loves the Church (Ephesians 5:25). We can strive to lead everyone to Christ and miss the opportunity to love on our family. I have seen ministry pull pastors, evangelists, and other leaders deep into ministry where they begin to neglect their family. It is critical that you live an in-home discipleship lifestyle.
Here are a few examples of in-home evangelism:
• Be intentional in reading the word of God together with your family
• Have a day for your Sabbath during the week
• Set aside a date night with your spouse at least twice a month
• Pray together as a family
• Do ministry together
Level 2: Community Evangelism
“The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:31)
The second commandment after the most important commandment that God issued was to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. The balance that keeps me thankful and grateful is loving and evangelizing in my home and then loving my neighbor as myself. If your home foundation is not grounded in the gospel, your neighbors will not see the love of Jesus Christ within you or your home. At MASY Ministries and in our family, we strive to live out the mission in Acts 1:8 by loving our “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” This once again describes the balance that keeps us thankful and grateful about ministry.
A few examples on community evangelism:
• Share the gospel in your community or on your block
• Feed the homeless
• Clean up for the elderly
• Hold community festivals/outreaches
Level 3: Marketplace Evangelism
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)
I’ve been employed with Southwest airlines for over twenty years, which has become my “tent making ministry.” (Acts 18:3) This marketplace experience has not only allowed me to support my family, but has given me an open field to live as an ambassador for Christ. Sometimes we forget that our workplace is fertile ground. Our coworkers and customers are living broken lives and need a true encounter with the Holy Spirit. We should never miss the opportunity to live out the gospel of Jesus Christ in the midst of the people who need Christ.
A few examples on marketplace evangelism:
• Offer prayer at your Job
• Lead Bible studies
• Invite people out to coffee
• Be intentional about building strong godly relationships
In conclusion
After reading the book Concentric Circles of Concern by W. Oscar Thompson, JR. I have learned not to try to save the world and lose my home. I make it my focus to love and evangelize to my wife, home and family, before I share the gospel outside my inner circle. Jesus Christ teaches us to love our wife as He loves the church. He asks us to love the “least of them” as well. (Matthew 25:40) This is where your balance must be lived out. I’m so thankful and grateful that God has equipped me with the balance of life and ministry.
How is your balance doing?
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