Written by Ladislav Repic

Read: Acts 8:4-40, 21:8; Ephesians 4:11-12

Almost all of us know people who make sharing the gospel of Christ and His Kingdom look as natural as breathing. For me, that person was Greg. I was captivated by how passionately and accurately he explained to students and war refugees why we need the Savior. While remaining warm and approachable, Greg told them how much God loves us and what it really means to follow Christ and call Him the Lord. I loved serving alongside Greg, but at the time I did not understand that the Holy Spirit was preparing me by giving me an example of someone serving as an Evangelist. Years later, the Holy Spirit ignited that same gift of Evangelism in me, and it became my engine during a fruitful Lifegate mission among Iranian refugees in Serbia.

While every Christian is called to be a witness of Christ, the Holy Spirit gives some believers a special ability to communicate the gospel of Christ and His Kingdom truthfully with exceptional clarity, leading others to follow Christ. (Acts 1:8)

Those with this gift start to present Biblical truths of the gospel boldly while remaining authentic and approachable. They don’t push people away by being burdensome; they initiate and draw them into compelling conversations. (1 Peter 3:15-16) They share the gospel compelled by love rather than mere duty. They are relational listeners who listen to the person and feel where the connection is between the person and the gospel of Christ. (1 Corinthians 9:16-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:8)

Serving as an Evangelist is rooted in a solid Biblical grasp of Christ’s crucifixion, resurrection, salvation by grace through faith, and Lordship. They can explain these profound truths vividly and clearly, using Scripture, without getting tangled in complex theology, jargon, monologues, and learned copy-paste patterns. (Acts 18:24-28)

They feel responsible for sharing the gospel and living according to it. However, they know that salvation belongs to Christ, that the Father draws people to the Son, and that fruitful evangelism ultimately depends on the Holy Spirit. They increasingly cooperate with the Holy Spirit, becoming keenly aware of His timing and opportunities, and actively seeking moments when people are ready to respond. (Philippians 1:27; John 6:44; Acts 4:31; 1 Corinthians 2:4-5)

Believers equipped with this gift develop the awareness that evangelism is not an independent endeavor. They serve together with other members of the local body of Christ which sends and supports them.