Harriet wrote (with editor's license), "Evangelism? To some, the very mention of the word instills the fear of God. Good! Do not despair! Many of us have a real negative sense about this. We've been taught through bad examples that some forms of evangelism may not be the most effective way of bringing the Good News to our neighbor.
"Still, I say do not despair. Think about what our goal might be in bringing the Good News: is it to help fill up a seat in the nave, perhaps capturing a warm body to serve on the Vestry or best yet another pledger to help with our seemingly insurmountable budget??? I hope not.
"I suggest we look to ourselves and examine why we go to church. Is it a habit? Get to meet old friends? Like the music, the sermon or want to give our kids a good Christian background? All valid reasons. Also, lets look to our testimony. We believe in the Love and Grace and Salvation Gift of Jesus Christ. For this we are grateful. This we want to share. Isn't it true when something good (or bad) happens; to the phone we go to talk to friends or family!
"But, it might not be effective to all of a sudden call up a friend and say, 'I have the most wonderful news and I would like you to share it with you, and you must rejoice with me!' Might have to be a little more creative, subtle or even sly."
Harriet went on to share how, in just the past week, in several small ways, she managed to share the Good News. These were not magical or even very remarkable feats of evangelism. You see, having discovered the "Pearl of Great Price", Harriet lives the life of a Christian, and in the act of living she is salt and light (Matthew 5:12-16) to everyone who is lucky enough to encounter her.
I've never met Harriet. Harriet found me over the internet through the diocese's web page. We struck up a correspondence based on our mutual interest. The connection goes back to our deepest roots in Ohio. You see, Harriet Chase's Anglican heritage goes back to our very beginning in Ohio, being a descendant of the great American evangelist, Philander Chase, the missionary bishop of Ohio. Thanks to Harriet, who has done her genealogical homework, I have a richer appreciation for the life and ministry of our first Ohio bishop. I've greatly enjoyed such personal family stories of how "Little Philander" brought his Puritan family back to it's Anglican roots through his accidental discover of an old Book of Common Prayer that culminated in his building a church! I marvel at the historical accounts of Bishop Chase's winter treks on horseback from town to town planting the seeds that now bloom in all of Ohio.
Our own bishop's vision for the diocese seems less daunting in the face of the accomplishments of Philander Chase. Our own missionary efforts to bring the church to a world starving for what we've got seem rather meager. The possibility of learning how to share the Good News with friends, neighbors, and even strangers in a loving manner seems like a really good idea.
At our deanery meeting on September 13th, I volunteered and was "elected" to be the deanery representative to the newly renamed "Diocesan Evangelism Commission". Having already done some work with the Evangelism Commission, I can assure you that the diocese has plans to nurture and teach us in our calling to spread the Good News (Matthew 28:19-20). You may already be aware that Joanne has plans to bring us some of the best known training in Christian discipleship. Stay tuned in. It's going to be a wonderful journey.
Faithfully yours -