Pure Church

About two weeks ago, I shared some reflections on my need to be an evangelist even though I'm a pastor (maybe especially because I'm a pastor, I don't know). A couple weeks have passed and I thought I'd do an update.

This was my initial plan:

• Meet the neighbors and schedule dinner with them in the first 30 days.
• Pray for opportunities and a ready mind.
• Find a new barber (a bro. needs a cut), preferably one with decent skills but not a Christian.
• Phone the brother of a friend who lives on the island and is not a believer. Do lunch.
• Pray that the Lord would send laborers into the harvest and for friends on the field.
• Think through an initial strategy for training and encouraging others in evangelism.
• Adjust my reading plan to focus more intently on the Savior and the gospel (I'd welcome recommendations).
• Pick up those two biographies I've been neglecting (The Life and Diary of David Brainerd and To the Golden Shore).
• Pray, pray, pray for a fervent spirit and abiding love for the lost.

On the whole, I'm thankful to the Lord for the grace He has shown me. I'm not there yet, much ground to cover and much grace needed. But here's the progress so far:

1. In the last week and a half I've had extended conversations about the gospel with three different persons. Two of those persons have agreed to meet with me regularly to continue our discussions and to think about how the gospel applies to some issues they're facing.
2. I've been able to complete about 5 or 6 "reverse membership interviews" since settling into the office. And I've been greatly encouraged to do the work of an evangelist as I've heard the wonderful and diverse ways the Lord has worked to bring people to Himself.
3. Thanks to my most able and gracious helpmeet, we now have a dinner appointment with the neighbor for next weekend. Should be an interesting conversation. She seems to be a kind lady--describes herself as Catholic but "likes to bounce around to different churches" (including FBC). Looking forward to the time together. Thanks Kristie!
4. I've found two very competent barbers. Only one professes to not be a Christian. He's also one of the persons with whom I've had good evangelistic conversation. Praying the Lord gives us a continuing relationship and the fruit of conversion.

And there are those things that I've not done.

1. I'm most saddened that my prayer life seems flat when it comes to evangelism. I trust that the Lord is heeding your prayers and mine, but I still lack fervency, which is part of my original concern.
2. I still need to phone that friend's brother and try to set up lunch.
3. And I've not yet picked up those biographies. In fact, my "reading plan" has met with the stiff opposition of setting up an office and doing all the little necessary things one has to do when moving to a new place, often right smack in the middle of your "perfectly scheduled day." :-)

So, I'm encouraged at the Lord's work of grace and opportunities he has given. But, I'm keenly aware of how much I need to grow and work depending on His gracious and omnipotent aid.