The dynamism of Evangelism lies in the little word, “EVERY.” It means “total.” It is to a soulwinner what capital is to a businessman. The more you invest the more you reap. The small word causes an oceanwide difference between today’s evangelism and that of the apostles. The greatest multiplication factor of the early church was “every.” It is a climate-proof, health-proof, work-proof, money-proof word! Let’s look at a few examples of this concept of totality.

Every Christian

Unless every born-again Christian throws himself / herself into the task of evangelism, India can never be evangelised. God needs every one of us. Every Christian should reach every non-Christian. It is a total involvement of the Church. Every Christian is a missionary and every non-Christian a mission-field. In the early church the scattered ones preached the gospel (Acts 8:4). Even women were a threat to Saul (8:3). God wants you for a soulwinner! Don’t think it is impossible for you to evangelise India. When did God ask man to do a possible thing? He always demanded the impossible. He expected the stammerer Moses to speak to Pharoah. He sent the young David to kill Goliath. If we have to do what we can do, we don’t need the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is given to us so we can do what we cannot do.

You think you are a muddy stone? That’s what you and others may opine of you. Let me tell you who you are. You are an uncut diamond. If you stop believing you are useless and yield yourselves in the hands of the Master-Craftsman, He will start cutting you and you will come forth as a glittering diamond scintillating the glory of God! Are you foolish, are you weak, are you a poor despised one ? Very good. Then you have a calling. “For you see your calling, brothers, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not” (1 Cor 1:26-28).

Everyday

Next comes the everyday thrust. Time is like a well-greased wire that slides through your taut fingers. You can’t hold it. Christians must be on their toes if they really care for souls. Don’t dream about tomorrow, do it today. Today is ours. Never forget to add a sentence to your morning prayer, “Lord, give me a soul today.” Then act on it. We pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” and then cook our meals. That is faith in action. After praying for a soul a day, be on the look-out for an opportunity or create one.

Souls were added to the early church “daily.” But for us soulwinning has become a sentimental Sunday affair. Jesus was a “daily” man (Lk 19:47); and so were the apostles (Acts 5:42). Their church was a daily ministering church (Acts 6:1). What was the outcome? “Churches increased in number daily” (Acts 16:5). Daily witnessing by individuals leads to the daily growth of the Church. The addition of Acts 2:47 leads to the multiplication of Acts 6:7 ! Note how the daily principle evangelised the whole of Asia in just two years (Acts 19:9,10). No wonder Satan is singing a lullaby in our ears! An one horse-power engine running continuously can do more than a forty horse-power engine standing idle! Start working today—with your one horse-power!

Everywhere

Then the everywhere push! If you claim every promise in the Bible you must claim Acts 1:8 too. You too can go to the uttermost parts of the earth. The doubting Thomas is proof. Your limit is the uttermost parts of the earth. In the New Testament Church every problem was a blessing. Those who were scattered by persecution went “everywhere” preaching the Word. When someone was martyred, the one who kept the clothes was converted. If thrown in prison the prisoners were converted. When dragged before authorities the authorities were converted. The temple and the synagogues were their haunts. Paul in jail was as great a force as Paul at large. Anywhere and everywhere, unrestrained witnessing was the key to their success.

Everywhere means where? Don’t fish in other men’s dish. Go out quickly (not slowly) into the streets, lanes, highways and hedges to the poor, maimed, lame and blind and compel them to come in (Lk 14:21-23). Mark it out in your Bible. This is where we are supposed to go. In our own language—win souls under the tree, in the bus, in the train, your door step, verandah, bus-stand, railway-station, schools, colleges, hospitals, offices—anywhere, everywhere! “And they went out and preached everywhere” (Mk 16:20). If the Church had stayed in the upper room, today we’ll be in the deepest gloom!

Every House

The apostles knew the advantage of leading families to Christ. Lydia was converted with her family and so was the jailor. Barnabas’ sister’s house was used as the prayer house (Acts 12:12). Houses became churches (1 Cor 16:19; Col 4:15). The apostles’ target was “every house” (Acts 5:42).

Have you ever entered a non-Christian home to share the gospel? “Knock and it shall be opened to you.” We talk of closed doors before knocking. Closed doors are not necessarily locked doors. The moment you knock it opens. Mark out an area as your target and knock at every door within a set date. Let each unknocked door be a challenge to you. Do not assume negatively before you knock. Assumption is a quick-sand. Paul’s method was the house-to-house method (Acts 20:20). Get to know the non-Christians in your locality. Befriend them. Visit them. Win them.

Every Creature

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mk 16:15). How did the early disciples accomplish this? They spoke to any one they came across, be it lame, blind, children, prisoners, Jews, Gentiles, beggars, lepers, kings! Historically Christianity is a person-to-person religion. Jehovah Witnesses put us to shame. Jesus said, “You shall be witnesses to Me” (Acts 1:8). We received power but we are anything but witnesses to Him. We must be like live wires conducting the power of Christ to anyone who comes in contact with us. Habitually I ask a question to my copassengers, “Have you heard about Jesus?” If so, I ascertain if they are born again. If so, I talk to them about baptism. If baptised, I tell them about the Holy Spirit. If they are Spirit-filled, I keep feeding them soul-burden and try my best to make them soulwinners. I believe every person we meet is by divine appointment.

“Go for souls, and go for the worst,” said William Booth. It is an awful fact that so many Christians are not born again. Confront the regular church-goers. Ask questions. Risk offending. Don’t let life-time church-goers go to hell just because they were never confronted. Christ is wounded not at the sinner not hearing the gospel but at the saint hearing the gospel repeatedly and not taking it to the sinner.

Everyway

Paul said that he became all things to all men that he might save a few. Adopt as many methods as possible to bring souls to light. Be regular in your family prayer that the members of the family may be converted. Visit unsaved relatives whenever and wherever possible. I know of a godly family which arranges a family dinner annually as a get-together for all the relatives, and invites an evangelist to share the Word of God on that occasion. Start distributing good tracts. Concentrate on gaining many non-Christian friends. Attend their weddings and funerals. Be friendly with all, irrespective of caste and creed. Wear a smile all the time for the rich and poor, young and old, learned and illiterates. Have a friendly word for anyone. Stop condemning and criticising teenagers for their mod hair style and fanciful dresses. Rather extend a broad smile and a warm hand-shake. Gather the neighbourhood children in your house and teach them songs and Bible stories. Invite friends to gospel meetings. Visit the nearby hospitals and console the sick and pray for them. Carry your tape-recorder to the villages that they may listen to some good music and gospel message. Invite people to sit and watch your Bible videos. Write letters to your friends sharing your testimony. Circulate good books. Sell good books and gospels door to door. Preach, sing, teach, write. Do not hesitate to lend a helping hand to the vegetable vendor struggling to lift his basket. Help anyone anywhere. Keep thinking of novel methods and don’t hesitate to practise it when God gives an idea. Be ready to spend some money. Collect old clothes and give to the poor. Somehow win some souls. Be versatile. Don’t be crying and praying for spiritual gifts all the time. Keep doing things for God and the gifts will manifest.

• Don’t weep for the whole world—Do something around you!
• Don’t get your foot into today’s cannibalism, scratching and clawing and mud-slinging. Keep yourself off religious politics. Mind your business—that is soulwinning!
• Do not be indifferent to human affairs. Be as human as possible.
• You are not dressed for the day until you wear a smile!
• Within each of us lies a sleeping giant waiting to be awakened!
• If you win souls you are wise; if not otherwise!
• Undertake something that is difficult, it will do you good. Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow!
• Many brilliant brains are wasted because people believed there was no hope and thus gave up trying. Others have been content to wring their hands of the whole problem. You better act!
• Do not fear persecution or death. We are called to ‘Go!’ We don’t have to come back !
• Failure or opposition should never deflate your confidence. Never give up!
• Clear vision and tenacious faith can take you far into the field of evangelism!