Evangelism and discipleship can
get downright messy at times.
Church history is full of examples.
Ministry can be painful, danger-
ous, and even deadly. Just like
that kitten, the people we try to
rescue can harm us. Our very lives
may be at risk.
Is it worth it? Let the Bible answer that question.
“He is not willing that any should perish.”
To God, the risk is worth it. Jesus’ sacrificial, life-giving
example shows that the human soul is valuable to Him.
Do these Scriptures apply only to safe places? “How
shall they hear without a preacher,” “go ye into all the
world,” and “preach the Gospel to every creature.”
In the Apostle Paul’s words, “God forbid.” I need to
be willing to take risks for the Lord. Yet, the risks
must be carefully assessed.
Confirmation of the Lord’s call to
a place is extremely important.
Nonetheless, the risks also come
with great reward. In the vernac-
ular of fitness gurus, “no pain, no
gain.” Let me give you an example
of the reward that comes from
persevering in a God–given call
to take risks for the sake of His
kingdom.
We are seeing fruit even from a very dangerous
apartment complex, Beverly Court. There are often
shootings there. Two of our church ladies shared an
emotional testimony with our church family on a
Sunday after having witnessed the shooting death
of a young man in the courtyard of Beverly Court
the night before. Their hearts were distraught to see
the young people go right back to their gambling
and dancing while they waited for the ambulance
and police to remove their friend’s lifeless body after
gangsters fatally shot him. “There is no value of a
human soul,” said our church ladies.
Yet, our church family held a Live Nativity in that
same courtyard at Christmas time. Now these people
who need Jesus are hearing of Him. They need
risk-taking believers to show them by example “the
value of the human soul.”
How will they ever hear without a
preacher? How will the believers in
Ravensmead ever gain courage and a
desire to reach their neighbors without
someone being a living example to them?
The Gospel is spreading. People are get-
ting saved and experiencing Christ-like
change. Praise Him!
I corrected one zealous young Christian
man I was discipling for his “Jesus” graffiti
on the wall of Beverly Court. Yet, his
misguided zeal to tell people about Jesus stands
as a testimony that the risks must be taken.
“SOME WANT TO LIVE WITHIN THE
SOUND OF CHURCH OR CHAPEL BELL;
I WANT TO RUN A RESCUE SHOP
WITHIN A YARD OF HELL.”
C.T. Studd