HEAT - can you be part of it?

What’s your vision, where is your focus – this must at times be our own personal question as we asses our walk and work for the Lord. This is something that the Council of Home Evangelism has been doing as we, along with the words of a Bob Dylan song say ‘The times they are a changing.’

Amidst all that is changing as quickly as the dunes in a desert, there in one who is unchanging – our God remains the same, our rock and fortress, and one message that never changes and his wonderful life-changing gospel of grace.

 

The work of Home Evangelism has been consistently productive over the last 130 years or so as men and women, called of God have sought avenues to share the gospel message, many being able to do the work on a full-time basis enabled through the support given by generous Christians.

‘The times they are a changing’ means that the work and how it is carried out has been changing, so that the essential work of evangelism, of spreading the gospel can continue.

 

HEAT – Home Evangelism Associate Team is made up of men and women who have a passion for sharing their faith in Christ, but are not able to do it on a full-time basis.

 

Home Evangelist’s are able to train and equip these folk so that they can be effective as they work along-side their local Church. This encourages the local fellowship and increases the spread of the gospel net. It is wonderful to see Christians who have at least 12 hours a month to spare, (a requirement to becoming part of the HEAT team) using this time for the building of God’s kingdom.

Last year the first of the HEAT training weekends was held in Worthing along-side Rugby Road Evangelical Church. Home Evangelists led both theory and practical training sessions. Some of the topics covered included :-

 

Accountability

Developing and maintaining relationship

Working with your local Church

Visitation and follow-up

Planning and literature

Basic listening skills

How to present the gospel

Practical Door to door visitation

 

Evangelists and trainees found this was encouraging and equipping. Each HEAT evangelist is assigned to one of Home Evangelism’s full-time Evangelist for support, training, advice and encouragement. Although this is a growing part of the work of Home Evangelism, not all Full-time evangelists are called upon to oversee HEAT evangelists but others have found this an encouraging new aspect of their ministry.

 

The next training weekend is likely to be in Plymstock around March time and we look forward to new people being led by the Lord to come along and be challenged and equipped to ‘do the work of an evangelist.’

 

‘Use all means to save some’ the Apostle Paul said, and Home Evangelism is continuing to look upward and outward to understand God’s leading, his on-going vision for the future of Home Evangelism. These are exciting times for we know that the gospel still has the same power to change hearts and minds but God has called his people to do the work of sowing – how about you?

 

Trevor Dickerson - Liaison Manager - 01322866484