FIELD EVANGELIST AND FREEWILL OFFERING

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

NCE(Eng.) ND/HD (Journalism); BA (Hons) MA, PhD.

Call: +2348037346939  E-mail: professorbenonyeukwu@yahoo.com

FIELD EVANGELIST AND FREEWILL OFFERING

Main Text:

… “as you go, preach, saying, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Heal the sick …. Freely you have received, freely give”, (Matthew 10:7-8)

Writer’s Quote:

The pulpit that wishes to successfully wage war against corrupt practices in church and society must be willing to purse itself of pastoral fraud.

Introduction:

The Evangelist is one of the gifted personnel of the Christian church, in the category of the apostle, prophet, pastor and teacher, “for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ, (Ephesian 4:11-12). The Evangelist is also a frontline soul-winning instrument of the church, and in an ideal situation carries the practical proofs of the word of God, by reason of the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

However, this divinely endowed and active church builder is often marginalized by the pastor and other church administrators, in terms of tithe and offering. And so, the present day evangelist, in swift objection is seen everywhere appealing for money in the events of gospel preaching. But, is it biblically correct to do so, many are asking? Therefore, this piece is an attempt to say that;

THE EVANGELIST IS IN POSITION TO TAKE FREEWILL OFFERING IN THE FIELD OF THE GOSPEL

The text of this discourse portrays the fact that the first disciples of Jesus were first commissioned as evangelists, with the charge to preach the gospel of the kingdom, as well as demonstrate the gifts of healing, casting out of demons, among others. They were equally told not to commercialize their gifts or the gospel, for freely they received, and freely they should give, (Matthew 10:7-8).

By extension, they were as well told do take no bag for their journey or extra tunic or sandals or staff, for a worker deserves something for his up-keep (verse 9), which, therefore, implies that as the evangelist preaches and demonstrates freely the gifts of God in the field of the gospel, the people he ministers to should be asked or allowed to freely give him the necessary things of this life, and so, the only thing the Bible is against in the exercise is the tagging of price for the services of the kingdom, which most big evangelists of our time are guilty of.

But, to ask for freewill offerings in the events of preaching the gospel in buses, market places, motor parks crusades or during radio-television programmes, as well as in any other form of mass-media or open-air preaching is not forbidden in the scripture, provided there is a genuine reason for doing so. Therefore, if the pastor is in position to take freewill offerings during church services, the evangelist is equally in position to do the same during his gospel campaigns, and those condemning the evangelist for asking for freewill offerings during gospel expeditions in buses, trains, aero-planes, market places, and more are merely condemning the guiltless, (Matthew 12:1-7).

THE PASTOR HAS NO RIGHT TO DETERMINE WHAT THE EVANGELIST GETS WHEN HE PREACHES IN THE CHURCH.  

The monopoly of the pastor in terms of church revenue is increasingly becoming worrisome at present, and calls for questions, as to whether the pastor really understands he is in the same line of authority with the evangelist. For, a keen observer would readily find out the domineering attitude of the present day pastor who relentlessly tries to scheme off the evangelist, as to what he gets out of preaching. But, the said evangelist is seen always on the streets of the major cities and villages of the world, in buses and trains, in schools and colleges with gospel appeals, urging people to repent and join the church, an effort that results in many deciding for Christ, as well as becoming members of the church.

Yet, the pastor is often fingered in the habit of taking the lion share, or denying the evangelist what rightfully becomes to him whenever God blesses the church with money an materials, especially when the evangelist carries out in-door preachings in the church. In fact, investigation reveals that in most cases, when funds are raised for the evangelist during religious programmes in the church, the pastor unilaterally decides what gets to the evangelist, instead of allowing him get the whole of what people freely give to him, a behaviour which many say informs the reason why the evangelist now engages in appealing for money during open-air meetings.

On this note, the greedy pastor should be informed that it is biblical that, when the evangelist freely blesses the people with spiritual things in the exercise of preaching, the people should in turn be urged to freely bless him with their material things, and nothing should be taken out of it, in whatever guise, and the same principle should be applied whenever the evangelist invites the pastor to minister in his out-door campaigns, (Matthew 10:7-8).

THE EVANGELIST SHOULD ENSURE THAT HE POSSESSES THE RIGHT MOTIVE IN FUND RAISING

The primary and legitimate motive in the preaching of the gospel is to see that people are saved from sin and its consequences, as well as put their trust in Christ. This means that when money and materials become the basic reason for one’s preaching, something is biblically wrong. By now, the reader may have noticed that this work, from a biblical standpoint has already justified the evangelist in his effort to make ends meet as he preaches the gospel, and now stands out to advise that he guards against all forms of greed and avarice in his bid to raise money for his work during his gospel outings.

In this connection, therefore, the evangelist should bear in mind that wrong motive or lying in order to get money from the people during preaching attracts the wrath of God, and could affect one’s life and ministry negatively, and so, he should always toe the path of sincerity of purpose in his effort do build-up funds for himself and ministry in order not to plunge the aforementioned into eternal damnation, for all lairs will have their part in the fiery lake which burns with fire and brimstone, (Revelation 21:8)

In conclusion, this religious piece seeks to solicit financial support for the evangelist who relentlessly preaches in motor parks, market places, crusades, town halls, buses, places of work and more, and wishes him well in his effort to expand the kingdom of God, as well as draws attention to the fact that those who bless such a gospel minister financially and materially will in no wise lose their reward, (Matthew 10:42). SUPPORT THE FIELD EVANGELIST TODAY.