KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP)–God’s desire to give revival will only be fulfilled as Christians commit themselves to “saturation evangelism,” says Darrell Robinson, special assistant to the vice president for evangelism at the North American Mission Board.
During a Jan. 29 chapel address at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo., Robinson explained how a commitment to win every person and every home to Christ could lead to a new work of God in
our day.
“God is up to something marvelous in these days of ours,” said Robinson. “He’s simply waiting for us to come to him, and yield to him so that he can pour out the revival he wants to give through us across America, and he wants to use us in witness.”
Robinson served as vice president for evangelism at the then Home Mission Board from 1989 to 1997, during which time he instigated the citywide “Crossover” outreach which precedes the Southern Baptist Convention each year. He also authored “Total Church” and “People Sharing Jesus.”
Robinson encouraged those who would be obedient witnesses to implement saturation evangelism, whereby believers systematically seek to reach everyone in their area to Christ. “It’s new because so few churches are doing it,” Robinson explained. “It’s two thousand years old
because Jesus did it, and it’s what he told us to.”
He suggested taking the same approach as Jesus commanded the early church, by starting “with our Jerusalem.”
“In your local church, saturate your area with the gospel,” said Robinson. “Don’t overlook anyone. Every home. Every heart. Don’t overlook anyone.”
Robinson went on to note how Jesus himself modeled such evangelism during his time on earth. “Everywhere Jesus went, what did he do? He encountered people and met them a the point of their need, and revealed to them God’s way for their life, his love and his forgiveness. He called followers, and he said ‘Come follow me, and I’ll make you fishers of men.’ He enlisted them one by one by one, and everyone of them he assigned to be a fisher.”
He called students to resist materialism and pride, and instead follow Christ’s example as a faithful shepherd. Such willingness on the part of ministers, Robinson said, is crucial for revival.
“Professionalism in the ministry has all but decimated the work of God in 21st century America,” declared Robinson. “Don’t be a money-minded preacher. Don’t be a position-seeking preacher. Go where God puts you.”
Robinson decried disobedience in evangelism by individuals who long for the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives, yet fail to witness.
Citing statistics suggesting as many as 95 percent of Southern Baptists never witness, Robinson asked, “How on earth could God ever give revival to us in that state of disobedience to the main mission of Jesus, to the very thing that he said to do in the power that he’s given?”
When we pray for God to give us power, Robinson said, “God must shake his head and say, ‘What for? What would you do with it if I did?'”
Churches likewise have been disobedient to win the lost, Robinson said.
“I think the church growth movement has done irreparable damage to evangelism because the emphasis is simply getting numbers and dollars together and attracting people any way you can, through marketing the church, and entertaining people in.” Robinson said. “But Jesus gave us
the Kingdom mission of getting the gospel to every person, and a healthy church under the headship of Jesus, filled with his light, obedient to him, reaching lost people, will grow.”
