• Home
    • Contact Me
  • Statement of Faith
  • Prayer
  • This Is Me…
  • 30 Random Things About Me…

Gone Fishin'

~ …“Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men!”

Gone Fishin'

Monthly Archives: May 2016

OUTREACH vs. EVANGELISM

17 Tuesday May 2016

Posted by Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen in Faith and Wisdom

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Bible tracts, Bibles, books, brochures, Christian literature, Christian paraphernalia, declaring, EVANGELISM, feeding the hungry, giving thirsty people a drink, healing the sick, OUTREACH, pamphlets, physical needs, preaching, proclaiming, spiritual needs, visiting the sick, welcoming strangers

 Outreach vs. Evangelism

 

 

It is so disconcerting that in 2016 some people still do not know the difference between OUTREACH and EVANGELISM. What’s worse is they don’t care to know, because they THINK they know what they are being called to do–as if the One who truly calls us tells us that standing on the streets while we pass out Bible tracts and Christian pamphlets, books, brochures, as well as other kinds of so-called Christian paraphernalia, is doing OUTREACH.

It is a shame how some of us have blurred the lines between OUTREACH and EVANGELISM. Knowing the difference between OUTREACH and EVANGELISM will help us to see the clear distinctions between the two, once again.

Indubitably, Christ describes what His disciples do when they are doing outreach. The apostle Matthew writes:  

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’  Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ ~ Matthew 25:34-40, ESV 

Let there be no doubt about it.  OUTREACH, for example, is providing a LITERAL cold cup of water for a thirsty individual. Jesus says: “And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42, ESV). To use a more contemporary OUTREACH example, it would be Christian dentists offering citywide FREE dental assistance. Both a cup of cold water for someone who is thirsty and free dental assistance for people who have dental issues are examples of OUTREACH, because they meet the PHYSICAL needs of people (no matter whether the people are lost OR saved souls). Therefore, OUTREACH is providing Christian service and charity, as well as social action or public involvement (praising, acknowledging or celebrating the Gospel YET sharing it with no one).

On the other hand, it is the apostle Paul who writes about how Timothy’s evangelism should be done. He strongly encourages Timothy—one of Christ’s disciples—to:

preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. …As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. ~ 2 Timothy 4:2, 5, ESV

In the case of EVANGELISM, it primarily is sharing verbally, as well as sharing in print, the Word of Life (the Gospel of Christ). Jesus says: “…Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15, ESV). Apostle Paul writes: “For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. …For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:10, 13-15, ESV).

Let there be no doubt about it. EVANGELISM, for example, is meeting the SPIRITUAL needs of the people in communities all over this world (mostly the spiritual needs of lost souls). Spreading the Gospel of Christ FREELY via public preaching is EVANGELISM, because evangelism provides a communicated message—the Gospel of Christ—that includes a warning about sin and the consequences of sin, an explanation of the Gospel of Christ (the ONLY solution God has provided for sin), and a call to true repentance.

Both outreach (healing) and evangelism (proclaiming/preaching) are included in the verses that Luke writes:  

And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. ~ Luke 9:1-6, ESV

There can be no doubt about it. Believers in Christ (disciples of Christ) are called to do BOTH—to do OUTREACH and EVANGELISM. BOTH are NECESSARY. This truth is why the Lord did both. For example, on one occasion, He preached numerous kingdom parables publicly to the great crowds (while outside sitting in a small boat). This is classic evangelism—meeting the SPIRITUAL needs of people. On another occasion, the Lord is moved to heal the sick in the great crowds that followed Him, and He also feeds them with two fish and five loaves of barley bread (cf. Matthew 13 and Matthew 14:13-21). This is classic outreach—meeting the physical needs of people.   

Finally, since so many people today are calling OUTREACH the handing out of Bible tracts and Christian pamphlets, books, brochures, as well as other kinds of so-called Christian paraphernalia, the one point I want to make clear is that just standing on the streets while handing out Christian literature IS NOT OUTREACH. If the truth be told, it also is barely EVANGELISM! Selah (pause and calmly think about that)!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Print & PDF (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Bursting Her Bubble

02 Monday May 2016

Posted by Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen in Poetry

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

ardent love, blinded, bubble, bursting her bubble, caged, crippled, disabled emotions, dreamland fugitive, dreams, eye-opener, halfhearted love, happily ever after, hard-hitting truth, I love you, indifferent, light of day, marital indifference, musings, never-ending story, never-never land, relationship indifference, reveries, rude awakening, to death do we part, trapped

Bursting Her Bubble2

 

So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it…. ~ Ephesians 5:28-29, NASB

 

Trapped in never-never land
Hoping for never-ending story:
Happily ever after—
‘Til memories in bubble
Burst onto the scene.

Mean reality jolts mind of escapee;
Crippling effect: unhealthy soul:
Disabled emotions—
Blinded by light of day’s
Hard-hitting truth: If
He didn’t fight for her
While he was with her,
He won’t fight for her
After he has left her.

Settled on being dreamland fugitive
Seeking to deter new eye-opener:
Never loved for who she is—
Only loved for what she is
His children’s mother,
His former lover;
His first-ever wife,
His long-ago life.

Caged by halfhearted love
Trying to veil rude awakening:
Tame love is indifferent—
Catastrophic bubble shattering
Fades ardent love musings.

 

~ from Spirit’s Musings manuscript

composed May 2, 2016

Share this:

  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Print & PDF (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen

Sanctified Child

KEEN Blogging Days

May 2016
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  
« Apr   Jun »

KEEN (Weekly) Top Posts

  • It Is Very Meaningful, When God Speaks A Name Twice
  • HARPAZO (Rapture, Take, Snatch, Force, Pull, Pluck, Catch, Catch Up, Catch Away) Scriptures
  • Proverbial Wisdom from Three Wise Monkeys
  • Being Unequally Yoked
  • Christian Snobbery: So, You’re Better Than Other Believers, Because You’re . . .
  • Aliens or FALLEN ANGELS
  • Our Deepest Fear: The New Age Philosophy/Spiritualism in Coach Carter
  • The Battles of Armageddon and Gog Are the Same Final Stage to the Apocalypse War
  • Sea Beast, Earth Beast, and Abyss Beast . . . The End Times’ Unholy Trinity
  • Laodicean Christians Need to Wake Up!

KEEN Topics

Awards Bible Prophecy Bible Study Devotional Faith and Wisdom Heartbreak Heavenly Insights National Tragedy Natural Disasters Poetry Praises and Thanks Published Book Reblogged Review Spiritual Tribute Uncategorized

Published Book Author

Perfect Peace, published 2-19-2015; collection of my Haiku poetry

Published Book Author

Keeping It Real..., published 10-20-2015; collection of my devotions

My Newest Book

My Spirit's Musings, published 1-9-2017; collection of mostly Free Verse poems

My Mini-Memoir

My mini-memoir deals with love, loss, and forgiveness. Published July 26, 2018.

My Third Collection of Poetry

Moody Woman - published January 12, 2020

My Spirit’s Musings Press Release

Captivating New Xulon Verses Remind Believers Why Only a Christlike Life Reflects God’s Image - Reverend Keen of Deeper Walk Ministries Lyrically Addresses Christlikeness

Very Inspiring Blogger Award

Ambassador for Christ Blogger Award

Deeper Walk Ministries Logo

Serving Others Ministry

KEEN Created Graphic

Fruit of the Spirit

KEEN Created Graphic

Lone Voices Suffer

KEEN Created Graphic

AKA Haiku

KEEN Created Graphic

KEEN Social Media

  • View preachingwoman’s profile on Facebook
  • View sanctifiedchild’s profile on Twitter

KEEN Twitter Followers

My Tweets

KEEN Posts Liked

  • Wordless Wednesday on Words Like Honey
  • Sunday Soul Search on Words Like Honey
  • The Fruit of the Ruach (Spirit… on O. W. Prince Ministries
  • Sunday Soul Search on Words Like Honey
  • Sunday Soul Search on Words Like Honey
  • Sunday Soul Search on Words Like Honey
  • Sunday Soul Search on Words Like Honey

KEEN Community of Friends/Visitors

KEEN Blogging History

  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • June 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009

KEEN Visits

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel

 
Loading Comments...
Comment
    ×
    loading Cancel
    Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
    Email check failed, please try again
    Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
    %d bloggers like this: