The Future of the Evangelist

After writing my series on open-air preaching, which I will likely add to at some point, I've become convinced of what I'm going to suggest in this post. I'd like to see an open discussion on it. Feel free to agree, disagree, or push-back in the comments.

Let me say this at the outset. My open-air posts were mostly geared toward local pastors preaching publicly in their local places. This post is looking beyond a pastor preaching locally.

Here's my thesis: The future of the evangelist, specifically the evangelist who moves beyond the barriers of their own community, city, or "parish," will be embraced by a well-known pastor (or a few of them) who will fill auditoriums, university campuses, and public spaces around the country with the preaching of the Gospel. Their reputation as planters, pastors, authors, and conference speakers have rightly given them reputations as powerful speakers who have a certain unction, and on that platform they will be able to gather crowds like few can and benefit the church wherever they preach.

Now, I want to be careful here. I'm not railing against pastors who have used their reputations to write books, speak at conferences, and create large ministries. For example, John Piper has an amazing and wonderful ministry of creating and distributing resources for the glory of God and the good of the church. I recommend Desiring God often and heartily. Such a blessing. So please don't hear me as saying that prominence that leads to these sorts of ministries is wrong. Not at all

My contention is this, and I have to make it concrete by using a real example: What would happen if Mark Driscoll became the staff evangelist of Mars Hill. They pay him well and give him a sufficient ministry budget. Then they commission him to spend X weeks a year preaching evangelistically around the country...indoors, outdoors, at scheduled times, at unscheduled times, in season, out of season, etc. His church reputation as well as a growing public reputation will open many doors for the Gospel.

I think this could be true of a number of people, such as Tim Keller, Mark Dever, Darrin Patrick, Francis Chan, Matt Chandler, and others.

Imagine someone with public prominence, a good reputation among churches, and who is a compelling Gospel preacher set loose upon the world to preach to the many and to the one. These men not only have the reputations that have already laid the groundwork for this sort of evangelism, but they have the connections in major and minor U.S. cities (and beyond!) with good theologically sound, gospel-preaching churches so that their evangelistic work will immediately connect people to local churches rather than leave them hanging as the evangelist leaves town.

I'm not suggesting I know what God is leading any man to do. But I can't help but think that the right response for some preachers, who are seeing remarkable results and explosive church growth from their evangelistic preaching, is to take their preaching of the Gospel far beyond their city. Could this be the future of mass evangelism? Could this lead to the resurgence of good, theologically-sound missional open-air preachers?

I wonder if any of our great preachers are thinking in this direction. I wonder how some of the men I listed above would respond to this idea. I hope they will consider it. I think it would be an amazing development for the good of the church.

Comments

[NickHorton]

The first thought that springs to mind is Greg Laurie. He's essentially doing what you're talking about. He built a reputation and a church, and is now leading "crusades". Is this what you have in mind with the men you listed?

[Matt Jones]

Unfortunately, I don't think any of those guys would attract the unchurched outside of their city. I see none of those guys drawing a crowd of people where I live in Cleveland. They are evangelists not just for the great speaking ability, but their ability to communicate truth within their context of people (New York and Seattle are meant for Driscoll and Tim Keller). I do see those guys holding Crusades within their cities. That would be awesome.

[Steve McCoy]

I'm not really talking about "crusades," though something similar could play a role. I'm talking about being, for the most part, a full-time evangelist who uses all sorts of venues. I'm thinking something that includes speaking multiple times a day at times, not just one HUGE talk. I think big arena events (which takes massive pre-crusade groundwork) are probably not the best way forward. Does that make sense?

[Steve McCoy]

Matt, I think the thing you aren't taking into account (and that I don't think I mentioned, but meant to) is the number of Christians who are in a place like Cleveland who think Driscoll is great and would invite their lost friends to come and hear. Also, once a guy like Driscoll goes public with the gospel, those who have already taken notice of him in regional and national media would wonder about what's happening and that would generate some buzz that would cause the world to take notice.

Let me add that both Driscoll and Keller are already developing voices beyond their cities and contexts through their writing and speaking. That's perfect ground to hone the evangelist's voice outside those contexts. Keller, for example, spoke all over about The Reason for God, not just in NYC. Their gifts can translate to other contexts, and would if they chose to go there.

[Paul Wilkinson]

I live in Canada and neither Driscoll or Keller are widely known outside evangelical circles (or even within them, given their Reformed leanings.) But having said that, I think Steve's thesis is arguable. I can see either one coming here, and buzz getting out and people inviting their un-churched friends, relatives and co-workers.

I'm sure there was a time when Billy Graham wasn't exactly a household name, but the word spread and people showed up; many with hearts so ripe to respond that I'd swear Billy could have just read pages out of the local phone book and people would have come forward for the invitation. (But the preaching helped!)

[Steve McCoy]

Paul, thanks for the response. A lot of the argument for me is not that they are already so well known (though that's obviously a piece), but that they are so engaging. And they would have the resources through their churches and networks to create multiple opportunities for preaching the gospel. Appreciate your thoughts.

[Cory lamb]

I think Ed Stetzer is rightly concerned about this http://www.edstetzer.com/2011/09/should-broader-interests-precl.html

[Steve McCoy]

Cory, you are saying that my post is in agreement with Ed, right? Just want to be sure, because it is. :)

[Beat Attitude - Writes Hymns]

Is it worth pursuing celebrity in some other sphere (e.g. music/tv/film) in order to do something similar?

Obviously, the training of a pastor is to preach, but the very fact that the people you mention are pastors would mean that certain circles have never heard of them.

If Bono (for example) were to learn how to articulate the Christian message like Tim Keller could, and do events around the country...or even tour *with* someone like Keller, and lend him celebrity by association, perhaps that is a more savvy approach?

The adage of "what you win them with is what you win them to" has become a little overused to the extent of being restrictive, in my opinion. I think it's OK to capitalise on celebrity (even though it is a complex cultural phenomenon which is connected to idolatry)...if you do it with integrity, and for the right reasons, why not? Jesus capitalised on the thirst of the woman at the well to introduce an important idea that was alien to her. Why not capitalise on people's hunger for celebrity and correct its focus onto Jesus?

[Steve McCoy]

Beat, I don't know. They way you are wording it makes me hesitant. This isn't, for me, so much about celebrity. The Christian culture has done so much junk by trying to capitalize on celebrity that just hasn't been helpful. I'm saying when the natural ministry of a preacher goes big, it could be that (for some) they may serve the Church better in the office of evangelist rather than pastor-teacher. Could it be God is calling some in that direction but because our Christian Culture loves celebrities and almost always sees "evangelists" in a negative way (televangelists and such) that it just doesn't seem like an option? I think so.

[Beat Attitude - Writes Hymns]

Yes, I know what you mean...I appreciate the distinction you're making. Celebrity is just an inevitable result of this kind of approach. And it is not an easy thing to manipulate.

I think it's comparable with music. Bands who try too hard to "sell" themselves (overdoing the merch/like my status/check out our album etc...) often devalue their product in the consumer's eyes. Bands that you "discover" just doing their thing for the sake of the music...you're more likely to regard them as the genuine article.

So Tim Keller is "doing his thing", and the buzz (and congregation) grows. But if he starts going out trying to "sell himself" (that would be the way people perceive it) then he risks undermining his message because of that perception.

Celebrity adds a kind of unreal quality to the way a person is perceived. The easier it is for people to categorise you, the easier it will be to become a celebrity. Therefore success in this field (i.e. being a big enough "draw") will eventually become a trade-off with how misunderstood you become.

But "Christian" is no easy category, because to understand it, you need to understand Christ. People flocked AWAY from Christ when he started revealing exactly who He was.

Nevertheless, I'd still love to see something like this happen. I'd bring my friends to hear Keller if he was speaking at an event in my town (or country!).

[Steve McCoy]

I would to. Thanks Beat.

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