Evangelist: – A Protestant minister or layperson who serves as an itinerant or special preacher, especially a revivalist.- Dictionary.com

God called me many years ago as a child to be an Evangelist. While I’ve never doubted this call, I must confess I’ve tried to run away from it on numerous occasions. But it always comes back, it haunts me – I can’t get away from it.  When I evangelize, I feel God’s pleasure, I am on cloud 9, I am the happiest I can be, especially when someone responds positively to the message of Jesus Christ.  Yet God did not leave me without guidelines to follow, without a manifesto of sorts of how to be successful at Evangelism. He used His servant Paul, one of the most successful Evangelists of all time to set a precedent for all the Evangelists that are to follow. I will here share with you,  3 guidelines of Evangelism which you can use if you have been so called, or share with others you know are called to this.

1). Evangelists ought to, as much as possible, provide for themselves and their families through their own labor. This is important. While there is nothing wrong with getting support from others, Paul showed us that to be truly effective, one ought to provide for his needs through his hands. That way, you do not have a reporting structure but God. Yes, you do have accountability partners, but you answer to no man but God.

Yea, ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me – Acts 20:34

2.) Evangelists ought to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit as to where and when to go. The Holy Spirit controls entirely, the message, the location, and the timing. Listening and working closely with the Holy Spirit to discern where you should be, when you should be there, and what you should say is of utmost importance for success in Evangelism.

Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia … – Acts 16.6

3.) God unilaterally calls, anoints and establishes an Evangelist. The mantle of leadership, the mantle of ministry is from God and not from man. The Evangelist ought not seek the anointing, calling or approval of any gatekeeping man or organization. His anointing comes form the Most High. His anointing comes from God. God creates a platform for an Evangelist and establishes him in due time.

 …So that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received OF THE LORD JESUS … – Acts 20:24

Paul showed us most profoundly that God does not call perfect people, instead, he perfects called people. If you’ve been called of God to be an Evangelist, then what are you waiting for? Lean in, Reach out, take that leap and be all that God has called you to be.