WHEREAS, Jesus commanded believers to make disciples (Matthew 28: 18-20; Mark 16: 15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21-23; Acts 1:8); and
WHEREAS, The New Testament affirms the gift of the evangelist (Ephesians 4: 11); and
WHEREAS, Philip did the work of an evangelist (Acts 8 :4-40), was identified as an evangelist (Acts 21: 8), and was associated with specific local churches in Jerusalem and Caesarea (Acts 6:5, Acts 21 :8); and
WHEREAS, Paul instructed Timothy to do the work of an evangelist (2 Timothy 4:5); and
WHEREAS, History records many Christians functioning as evangelists of local churches in a variety of capacities including but not limited to missionaries and itinerant preachers; and
WHEREAS, God-called evangelists maintain a close and cooperative relationship with the local church to edify, equip, and build up the fellowship of the saints (Ephesians 4:11-12); and
WHEREAS, Some churches have called biblically qualified men as evangelists to their pastoral staff for the purpose of training in evangelism, evangelistic preaching, and itinerancy; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Kentucky Baptist Convention meeting in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, November 16, 2021, affirm the ministry of the evangelist as a gift to the church; and be it
RESOLVED, That we desire to see churches utilize the gift of the evangelist through revival meetings, evangelism training seminars, focused evangelistic outreaches, and other Great Commission opportunities; and be it
RESOLVED, That we long to see churches recognize and raise up God-called evangelists from within our congregations to serve the local church as a catalyst for evangelistic faithfulness; and be it
RESOLVED, That we affirm the gift of the evangelist as a crucial asset to our Great Commission effects around the world.