Vocational Witnessing, An Update

Fifteen years ago you, the members of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, helped me work on my Major Applied Project (MAP) for my Doctor of Ministry Degree. The project was titled Developing and Implementing a Lifestyle Evangelism Culture. You may remember that our Sunday morning Bible Class was a part of the course work, and there was a series of bulletin inserts drawing attention to the principles of the thesis.

As is often the case with one’s work and passion, I have continued personal study and thought in this area of Witnessing and Evangelism, which I believe are one in the same, that is that one is a witness of the evangel (Good News). Today I lean more to calling what we do in our lives as vocational evangelism, and I know many of you have heard me use that term especially in Bible Class.

In my personal life I live this concept by serving as the Shepherd of my daughter’s American Heritage Girls Troop and as Chaplin in my sons’ Trail Life USA troop. The principle is that as we live our lives, as we have opportunity, and as we are asked, we are always ready to give an answer for the hope that we have in Jesus. The personal difficulty that I have is that God does not always work according to my plans, but He works when and where He pleases. I have had ample opportunities, not only conducting the Sunday services for these groups but also giving a personal answer to those who have asked about the Lutheran Christian faith.

I know there are some in the congregation who are doing the same, giving an answer, and inviting others to “come and see” Jesus in our Divine Service. This vocational evangelism is how a congregation truly grows, that is in our own personal lives living lives as Christians and always being ready to give an answer for the hope that we have. That is why I believe we need to be thinking more in these terms and why I am bringing this update.

Beginning in the new year I have prepared an new set of bulletin inserts bringing before you these principles of vocational evangelism, and I am working on plans to conduct an area Vocational Witness Workshop for a Saturday in February 2018. I have conducted such workshops of congregations in the past, but I plan on updating my material for this workshop. I plan on inviting any and all members from our circuit or surrounding congregations to attend, as well as any from as far as they might want to travel. The workshop will be on a Saturday and will be from a 9 am (8:30 am registration, coffee and donuts) until either noon or shortly after including a light noon meal (sandwich and chips). Anyone interested in being a part of planning and carrying out this workshop, please talk to me (Pastor Bogs).

Finally, please remember, you are the church. You are the priests in the priesthood of all believers. You are witnesses of your faith through your actions, as well as through your words and thoughts. People look at you and decide what Christians are and what a member of your church is like by you (whether you like it or not). Now more than ever, as we are living in the last days and as there are many souls that are not saved, now more than ever is the time to be ready, to give an answer and to invite your unchurched family and friends to “come and see” Jesus. You may be the only person who they know who will invite them.