Evangelists carry
good news. The primary focus of their
message is not what could or even will be, but what is both new and
news-worthy. So an evangelist might
spread the word of a new cafe that has opened up in the neighbourhood...
For an evangelist,
waiting is particularly active in nature.
It involves searching out the good news they will then carry to others. In this way, their news remains new, does not
go stale.
In Luke’s nativity
account, the shepherds have to search for the new-born Saviour before they find
him and then spread the news. Contrary
to popular misconception, Jesus was undoubtedly born in a home. As homes were shared with animals, a manger
is commonplace...though that Jesus was placed in a manger was a specific clue
the angel gave the shepherds to help them verify that they had found him. One might wonder how many doors they knocked
on before finding the child they were looking for, just as easily as wondering
how many doors they knocked on after finding him.
I think of a friend
who is an evangelist. Because they love
Jesus, they search out stories of how Jesus is transforming people’s lives in
the neighbourhood where he lives, and shares those stories with others. But he is also an ornithologist; and because
he is an evangelist, he travels in search of rare bird sightings, and then
tells others where to go to see what he has seen. He is created an evangelist: it is not simply
a function, a speaking of Jesus; rather, it shapes what and how he speaks of
Jesus – and any other interesting and good news.
If
you are an evangelist, your waiting will be characterised by searching out the
new thing God is up to where you live, paying particular attention to the
easily-overlooked things others might not notice...
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