Torch, Spring 1987: Centennial Issue

gelism 0 n June 5, 1985, commitment took on a new dimension in my life . My doctor announced to me that I would have quadruple bypass surgery. From now on I would be committed to a low-fat, salt-free diet plus regular exercise . While I have always had a commitment of sorts in the area of diet and exercise, it now is of highest priority. The quality of my life, in large part, will be contingent on my commitment to following my doctor 's orders . Believe me , I am committed' This commitment is to my physical well-being. Consider, in contrast, the commitment of the Apostle Paul to evangelism. In I Corinthians 9 he stated that he had several rights, but when it came to winning people to Jesus Christ he gladly set these rights aside. He stated that he would willingly be a slave to all and would use all means that he might save some. That's commitment! From verse 24 to the end of the chapter he told what type of discipleship it would take to fulfill his commitment. His desire, deprivation , determination , and dedication were all a part of his commitment to evangelism. Paul has set us an example for evangelism that I believe all Christians should follow. But I find that there are several hindrances that seem to stifle the follow-through of our commitment to evangelis'TI. The chief hindrance is fear of witnessing. I sensed this fear when 30 of our collegians spent spring break in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, endeavoring to reach some of the 50,000 students on the beaches. As they set foot on the sand the fear was real! But fear was not even mentioned when students brought back to the group someone who had just received Christ. It was all excitement and joy, and there was a boldness that had been missing before. I believe the same is true in our churches when we experience the recent conversion of a person - we become more fearless in our witness. A second hindrance to commitment to evangelism is the fear of failure. This may be caused by a lack of knowledge of how to witness, or by a lack of experience in actually doing it. This past summer, our fifteenth tour in the Republic of the Philippines with our basketball team illustrated this graphically. Although all the participants in our Missionary Internship Service program had received soul winning training , some, I am sure , feared failure . But when the team actually became involved in witnessing , this fear dissolved. And 90 individuals received Christ in four days! With hands-on experience , the team gained an overcoming atttude and confidence which came from knowing that the results were in God's hands . They were responsible only to carry out the commission to be witnesses. Last, a great hindrance is failing to recognize opportunities to witness and to take advantage of them. Our Cedarville students are amazed at the openings God provides for them to share Christ in our ministries at jails, detention centers , orphanages , nursing homes , and other places. Because of my heart surgery, I have discovered many occasions to share Christ with others who are undergoing the same operation or with the families of those who have had a bypass. God has given to each of us unique personalities, experiences, and backgrounds that He can use if we ask for discernment and boldness to share our faith . Paul summed it up in Philippians 1:20: "According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed , but that with all boldness, as always , so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death." Oh, that this also might be our commitment to evangelism' Dr. Don Callan Don Callan epitomizes the 2 Timothy 2:2 principle. When he was in college, his basketball coach instilled in him a burden for souls which Don, in turn, has passed on to hundreds of Cedar– ville College students. When he joined the faculty at Cedarville, he found many oppor– tunities to serve the Lord. As basketball coach for over 25 years, he has maintained a dis– cipleship ministry with his players. He has provided a cli– mate that encourages spiritual development and has striven to live in such a manner that he might be a godly role model for the young men. He arranges retreats, team devotions, oppor– tunities to minister in Christian schools and churches, and expo– sure to different people who have effective ministries for God. Dr. Callan envisioned a pro– gram which would introduce Cedarville students to missionary endeavor. When Harold Green became the director of the Chris– tian ministries on the campus, the two men developed the Mis– sionary Internship Service pro– gram through which over 1,000 students have served on mission fields in more than 40 countries over the past 16 years. One of Dr. Callan's important contrib– utions to the MIS program has been leading or arranging for basketball teams to go each sum– mer to the Philippines with an evangelistic message. Many people have come to know the Lord through the com– mitment of Dr. Don Callan to evangelism at Cedarville College and on the mission field. "The fruit of the righteous is a tree oflife; and he that win– neth souls is wise." Prov . 11 :30 17