Resources for Congregations Philip Endeavor offers a model of ‘listening evangelism’ By Robert P. Mills The Presbyterian Layman Friday, March 26, 1999 “The Holy Spirit guides God’s chosen servants to be in the right place at God’s right time. This is the essence of the Philip Endeavor.” That is how Brad Long, executive director of Presbyterian and Reformed Renewal Ministries International (PRRMI) summarized the Philip Endeavor, an evangelistic initiative launched Jan. 27-31, 1999 in Montreat, NC. More than 100 participants, representing 20 states and England, came together for four days of dynamic worship, intense prayer and biblical teaching. The vision Long told those gathered how he had spent several years praying that PRRMI would develop an “intentional evangelistic endeavor that would equip laypeople and pastors to see the church become centers of outreach.” Brad Long Executive director of Presbyterian and Reformed Renewal Ministries International (PRRMI) His vision coalesced one Sunday morning at the Montreat Presbyterian Church, where, during the commissioning of Stephen’s ministers, “the word came ‘What I also want in my church are Philip ministers to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in evangelism.’ When that word came, it was like I could see all this happening, I could see individuals sharing their faith at work and school.” Working with PRRMI associate in ministry Alan Leach, Long outlined the Philip Endeavor and presented his plan to PRRMI’s board in the summer of 1998. The board not only approved the concept, but expanded the staff by calling Bill Dean as the project’s director. Subsequent receipt of a $60,000 grant to launch the initiative was seen as confirmation of Long’s vision and the board’s step of faith. Philip the evangelist The Philip Endeavor is named for Philip the evangelist, one of the seven chosen as the first deacons because he was “known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:1-7). After Saul’s persecution of the church in Jerusalem “all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria … Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went” (Acts 8:1-4). Philip went into Samaria to preach, then, famously, followed God’s leading to “the desert road,” where he encountered an Ethiopian eunuch reading Isaiah. Philip shared the gospel with the Ethiopian, who put his faith in Christ. Then “the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away ... [he] appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea” (Acts 8:26-40). Richard White Associate pastor of the Montreat Presbyterian Church Who needs the gospel? Richard White, associate pastor of the Montreat Presbyterian Church, asked those gathered to “Picture two or three people who most need the gospel.” After a suitable pause he asked, “Did you picture yourself?” After a much longer pause, he said, “That may be the reason nonchristians are not eager to receive the gospel, for it doesn’t seem as if we need it ourselves. … If we are going to communicate the gospel to our world we need to embrace it, daily.” “An evangelism culture doesn’t exist in mainline churches,” White said. “We’re better at stewardship, partnership, disaster relief.” Therefore, we need to learn to listen for where the gospel needs to impact us, he continued. Then when we go out to do evangelism we’re on the same plane as those to whom we witness as we ask “Where do I need the gospel today?” After giving a riveting testimony of how his own need led him to faith in Christ, Alan Leach spoke of the Philip Endeavor as “listening evangelism. Listen to the Holy Spirit. He’s the evangelist. He knows where people itch. Listen to the Holy Spirit, listen to people, and let God deal with the results.” Leach also talked about overcoming “internal blocks,” such as fear of sounding hypocritical or fear of being rejected, that often keep Christians from telling others about the transforming power of Jesus Christ in their own lives. Completing the Reformation Peyton Johnson, pastor of Lakeside Presbyterian Church, a new church development in Tarpon Springs, Fla., emphasized the need for Christians to understand the culture in which they proclaim the gospel, reminding his hearers that all missionaries study the culture in which they serve. “We have to understand how our people think, then set up our churches appropriately to connect them to God,” he said. He also emphasized the need to listen to God, “If we stay close to the Shepherd we’ll hear him say, ‘This one needs me. Go get him.’” Johnson said his congregation was striving “to complete the Protestant Reformation, the priesthood of all believers.” For centuries, he noted, the clergy have hung on to the power. “We need to train, empower, and unleash the laity.” A process not a program Unleashing the laity is a key component of the Philip endeavor, which, according to Long, “is not a program [but] a process of engagement with Jesus. The church has run forward with program, and has seen some fruit, but the biblical orientation is to seek first the Spirit’s direction.” Long says the unique focus of the Philip Endeavor is the belief, “that the Holy Spirit is the evangelist, that the Holy Spirit directs the mission enterprise, bringing people to faith in Jesus Christ.” Throughout the weekend he urged those present, only a few of whom were pastors, to take the Philip Endeavor material back to their congregations, to share it with their pastors and sessions, and to begin developing local visions for evangelism and establishing teams of Philip ministers in their own congregations. The Philip ministers are intended primarily to serve as facilitators within their congregations. Long sees their role as including: (1) intercessory prayer, forming a prayer team that will help shape a congregational culture of evangelism and of welcoming new believers; (2) discernment, listening to the Holy Spirit for opportunities to witness in the church, community and world; (3) equipping, using Philip Endeavor teaching materials to train others in the art of listening evangelism; and (4) modeling, which Long describes as “actually cooperating with the Holy Spirit in witnessing to Jesus Christ, demonstrating the approach of the Philip Endeavor so others may catch the vision and also share in this vital work.” Long’s hope is to present the Philip Endeavor to every Presbyterian and Reformed congregation in the United States by 2010, to have half the congregations respond by commissioning Philip ministers, and to see churches grow, numerically and spiritually, as a result. To say the least, that is an ambitious goal for a faith ministry that employs just a handful of staff. Then again, Jesus only trained twelve. And they were all volunteers. For more information about the Philip Endeavor contact PRMI at PO Box 429, Black Mountain, NC 28711, 828-669-7373, e-mail: prmi@prmi.org, website: www.prmi.org.

The Presbyterian Layman March/April 1999

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