Gospel witness persists through storms

Even for the most experienced evangelist, any given evangelism effort is unique and can present its own challenges. Doors may go unanswered, people may be unreceptive, and even the weather can become a hurdle between the evangelist and his goal to reach the lost.

But rain or shine, students from The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary are ready and willing to evangelize in any context or circumstance. Because rain or shine, people need to hear the Gospel.

This was proved true when a group of 20 seminary students partnered with Inglewood Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, Texas, for a door-to-door evangelism effort in the church’s neighborhood this spring. The weather forecast predicted heavy rain, but the Southwestern Seminary students and Inglewood church members saw the task before them and did not back down. Despite the weather delays, the day was not a loss, and God provided them numerous opportunities to talk and pray with many families and individuals.

In total, the evangelism teams knocked on 166 doors, helped Inglewood Baptist Church connect with 50 individuals, and led one person to profess faith in Jesus Christ.

Southwestern Seminary students have a long history of partnering with churches in their evangelism efforts. Carl Bradford, assistant professor of evangelism, and Joey Smith, minister of students at Inglewood, agree that doing so is mutually beneficial.

Such partnerships prepare future pastors, ministry leaders, and laymen in many ways, Bradford says. “The students participate in the spiritual discipline of evangelism and experience the reality of lost souls in close proximity of our local churches and neighborhoods. They see firsthand theology put into practice.”

Additionally, Bradford says, both the students and church members have the opportunity to witness how the Great Commission is not just the responsibility of their professors, pastors, or the “professionals,” but rather the responsibility of all Christians.

Smith, who is also a Master of Divinity student at Southwestern Seminary, adds that this fourth year of his church partnering with Southwestern Seminary has provided mutual encouragement for all involved. When Christians can learn from each other and observe how churches engage in evangelism, Smith says, they grow in their confidence and methods of reaching others with the Gospel.

“Students were encouraged by our church’s efforts to tell our neighbors about Jesus, and our church was encouraged to have so many Southwestern Seminary students come out and help,” Smith says. “As a student at Southwestern Seminary, I know it is also really good for Southwestern students to get experience in door-to-door evangelism and learn how to reach out to the community around the church.”

Bradford says he is proud of his students, who persevered through the day’s challenges and overcame personal fears to pursue a greater goal.

In a message to his students, Bradford reflected on their purpose in evangelism: “Despite the rain, if I were to tell you today that you would knock on a couple hundred doors, which the majority will shut in your face, and others will be cordial but deny the Gospel, but very possibly one will receive Christ, would you be eager to go? I suspect the answer would be ‘yes’—and this is why we go even in the rain!”