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What Pastors Should Know When Road Warriors Come to Town

By Jim Rentz

Although we served as pastors for over 17 years, my wife and I are now in our seventh year as evangelists and consider ourselves road warriors in the lifestyle we now share. Our years as pastors were invaluable for learning and understanding what it is to serve the body of Christ. Neither has our perspective dimmed by the last 7 years as evangelists. We well remember what it is like to serve as trench fighters on the home front. And our tenure as evangelists has taught us much about what pastors should expect when they call in reinforcements.

Scripture is clear on this subject. There are several purposes for evangelists: the perfection of the saints, the work of the ministry, the edification (building up) of the body of Christ, to announce the good news—to preach the gospel (see Ephesians 4:12). In practice, Scripture places an objective before the evangelist not only to preach salvation but also to strengthen the believers. Since the pastor and evangelist share these objectives, the two callings might best work together toward these common goals.

Hopefully, the pastor's pulpit rings from service to service with compelling pronouncements of the gospel. As well, the pastor has a vision of where the church should be going and growing. What, then, is the role that the evangelist should be expected to fill in the life of the congregation the pastor is already nurturing?

A visitation by an evangelist is most often referred to as a revival. This term sometimes grates on a pastor because it seems to imply that the congregation lacks vitality. This implication sometimes prevents pastors from calling in an evangelist in the first place. It is not unusual for pastors to take the position that they do not need an evangelist—that they are evangelist enough for their congregations. Some pastors may not appreciate or understand how their congregation can benefit from the work of an evangelist. It is important for both ministries that the pastor and evangelist understand how their separate callings are meant to work together.

Revival can simply mean: a restoration to acceptance, use, activity, or vigor after a time of obscurity. Obscurity means lacking in light. Let's remember that each of us walks in a different light. What one discerns well another may not see. The evangelist can bring to a congregation a change in perspective, a fresh viewpoint, a new light, or perhaps the same light with a different focus.

There is always someone the pastor's message isn't reaching. This doesn't infer the pastor is lacking in pulpit skills. But as individuals, we have differences, even eccentricities, in our interests and comprehension. If an evangelist rekindles a fire for the gospel in even one person, then the visit was worthwhile. It could take the visits of many evangelists together with a pastor's efforts to reach the lost of a community.

An evangelist's ministry should support and emphasize the pastor's work, strengthening and extending it in agreement and harmony. The evangelist is not to bring discord, dissension, or disharmony to the visited congregation. His or her duty is to present an anointed, unadulterated gospel with enthusiasm and wisdom. An evangelist's duty to a congregation and its pastor is to promote and enhance the bond between them by building on the foundation the pastor has laid.

Scripture records in 1 Corinthians 3 a division in the church. Some people identified with Paul, some with Apollos, some with Peter, and some with Christ. Paul, Apollos, and Peter influenced people's lives for the building up of the Body. Paul wrote: "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase" (verse 6). So should it be between the pastor and evangelist. There is no rightful place for the evangelist who comes to put on a show, to promote the latest fad, or to manipulate with sensationalism.

The pastor should expect the evangelist to be a partner in the presentation of the gospel. They are equals in the eyes of the Lord and should respect each other as such. The evangelist has certain advantages, as does the pastor. These advantages should be capitalized by each only to the extent they benefit the congregation.

What is the duty of the pastor and congregation to the evangelist? I can answer this from experience: Remember, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Esther and I can always sense the prayer effort that has preceded our evangelistic outreach. Pastors should encourage their congregations to prayerfully support the evangelistic meetings. When congregation members have prayer equity in a revival, their participation is greater, and the blessings flow (see 1 Chronicles 7:14).

An evangelist and a pastor in tune to the Holy Spirit and sensitive to the cares and needs of church attendees cannot fail to bless them. My desire is that the pastor and the evangelist become closer partners in the end-time harvest.

See also: Trust is a Two-Way Street