The Communication of
the Gospel: Evangelism
AG Seminarians’ Seminar
AGTS
July 21, 2011
DeLonn Rance Ph.D.
Missions is about God
A God of Love
A God who Seeks the Lost
Genesis 3:8-10
 Luke 15, 19
 Revelation 22
 What is the mission of the church?

Need versus Availability



Jesus is the Water
of Life
There is sufficient
water for every
person on the
planet.
But the church is
commissioned to
make it available.
The Assemblies of God World
Missions Manual


In November 1914, our early leaders met at the Stone
Church in Chicago and made an astounding
declaration: “As a Council, . . . we commit
ourselves and the Movement to Him for the
greatest evangelism that the world has ever
seen.”
How could such a small group of Christians even
consider such a daunting task? Because their vision
had been forged in the fires of Pentecostal revival!
They believed Christ truly meant “ . . . go into all the
world and preach the gospel” (Mark 16:15, NKJV) and
that the power of the Holy Spirit would enable them to
do it (Acts 1:8). From the outset, our fellowship has
been marked by a vision to reach all the world and a
dependence on the Holy Spirit to do supernatural works
(1999:11).

“Whenever in any period of the Church’s
history a little company has sprung up so
surrendered to the Spirit and so filled
with His presence as to furnish the pliant
instruments of His will, then a new
Pentecost has dawned in Christendom,
and as a consequence the Great
Commission has been republished; and
following a fresh tarrying in Jerusalem for
the endowment of power has been a
fresh witnessing for Christ from
Jerusalem to the uttermost parts of the
earth” (A.J. Gordon 1893:52-53).

McClung finds an emerging
missiology in the admonition of
William Seymour to his flock of the
Azusa Street Revival. He quotes
Seymour: “Now, do not go from
this meeting and talk about
tongues, but try to get people
saved” (1999:35) and observes:

At the heart of early Pentecostals’
missiology was their personal
experience with the Holy Spirit found
around an altar of prayer with fellow
seekers. This profound experience was
integrated with an eschatological
urgency and a passion for souls
[eschatology/experience/ evangelism].
Apparently, their earliest understanding
of the experience that came to be
known as the “Baptism in the Holy
Spirit” was that it produced a
missiological fervor and ministry, and it
provided the empowerment for the
same (McClung 1999:36).
Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the
Holy Spirit comes on you; and you
will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and Samaria, and to
the ends of the earth.“
 Baptism in the Holy Spirit- power to
give witness to the resurrection of
Christ in holiness and service

The Apostolic People of God
A Spirit-Empowered People

The Holy Spirit as person of God, the
personal presence of God, as the
empowering presence of God is
crucial in all of Christian life and
experience, both individually and
corporately, as an eschatological
community in the world (Fee 1994:5,
876, 896-897).
A Summary of the AG
Missiological Narrative

Based on the conviction that the Holy
Spirit would be poured out on all flesh
as a prelude to the second coming of
Christ in order to empower the church
to give witness to all nations, the
founding members of the Assemblies
of God committed themselves to the
evangelization of the entire world.
They believed they were a part of
God’s cosmic eschatological design.

Though the realization of the plan
seemed improbable by human
standards, these believers were
grounded in the biblical truth that
God’s glory is revealed in weakness.
They were humbled and empowered
by the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Every member of the body of Christ
was responsible for the task, for
every member was a temple of the
Spirit of the living God.

Strategic planning, accountability
and missional structures were to be
submitted to the Spirit’s guidance.
Personal experience and biblical truth
were integrated in the life of the
believer, the life of the church, and
the missionary endeavor. In the
New Testament narrative patterns
were sought and adhered to on the
conviction that biblical patterns were
Spirit empowered patterns,

missiological truth was to be biblical
truth and the New Testament
narrative was to be a contemporary
narrative. The individuals and
peoples of the world, according to
Scripture, were condemned without
Christ. Pentecost was the
empowering agent of the church to
communicate God’s plan of salvation
to all in preparation for the coming of
Christ and the final judgment (Rance
2004:81).
What is Good News?
 How important are words?
 What is the mission of the church?
 Is the church optional in missions?
 What is the difference between
mission, missions, evangelism, and
ministry?
 Is mission the basis of the Bible or is
the Bible the basis of mission?


The preamble to the “Strategic Plan
of the AGWM” synthesizes the
essential content of a Pentecostal
perspective on the church and its
mission, ministry and leadership.
There it states that: “All true
missionary endeavor begins and
ends with God the Creator,
Sustainer, Savior, and Lord.” It is in
God that the church, the earthly
manifestation of the kingdom of God
in the present age, finds its
definition.
What is the “Good News”?
 1 Cor. 15:1-5
 The Bible gives us the message
that it is through Jesus Christ that
humans and all of creation will be
redeemed. We are stewards of this
message, and we are charged to
communicate it faithfully in
meaningful ways to different
peoples and cultures.





According to the Lausanne Covenant:
"to evangelize is to spread the good
news that Jesus Christ died for our sins
and was raised from the dead according
to the Scriptures, and that as the
reigning Lord he now offers the
forgiveness of sins and the liberating
gift of the Spirit to all who repent and
believe.“
Our message comes from Scripture. It
is a message upon which all of the
apostles are in agreement. I Cor.
15:11, Gal. 1:6-8
The Word indicates that we must be
good stewards of this message. I Tim.
6:20, II Tim. 1:12-14, II Cor. 4:1-2.
Cape Town Commitment

‘Evangelism itself is the proclamation
of the historical, biblical Christ as
Saviour and Lord, with a view to
persuading people to come to him
personally and so be reconciled to
God…The results of evangelism
include obedience to Christ,
incorporation into his Church and
responsible service in the world…

We affirm that evangelism and sociopolitical involvement are both part of
our Christian duty. For both are
necessary expressions of our
doctrines of God and humankind, our
love for our neighbour and our
obedience to Jesus Christ…The
salvation we proclaim should be
transforming us in the totality of our
personal and social responsibilities.
Faith without works is dead.’ (Cape
Town Commitment p.21)

‘Integral mission is the proclamation
and demonstration of the gospel. It
is not simply that evangelism and
social involvement are to be done
alongside each other. Rather, in
integral mission our proclamation
has social consequences as we call
people to love and repentance in all
areas of life.

And our social involvement has
evangelistic consequences as we
bear witness to the transforming
grace of Jesus Christ. If we ignore
the world, we betray the Word of
God which sends us out to serve the
world. If we ignore the Word of God,
we have nothing to bring to the
world.’ (Cape Town Commitment p.
21)
The Full Gospel
Jesus Christ is proclaimed as
 Savior

• Spiritual Need

Healer
• Physical Need

Baptizer
• Emotional and Volitional Needs

Soon Coming King
• Our Reason for Being, our Hope
The Three-Fold Ministry of the
Church



1. We are called to serve and worship God.
(John 4:23-25; Acts 13:2). Vertical
relationship, all of life is worship not just
moments at the altar, but those moments are
vital, and often life-changing.
2. The church has a ministry to its own
members. We are to build one another up, to
use the gifts God has given us for the benefit of
his community, we are to love another, forgive
one another, accept one another, that we
might reflect and communicate his love. (1 Cor.
12:12-27; Eph. 4:16)
3. The church has a ministry to the world, to
communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ.
(Matt. 28:18-20, Acts 1:8) Evangelism
The Four-Fold Ministry of the
Church

1) evangelization of the world (Mark
16:15-20), (2) worship of God (John
4:23,24), and (3) building a Body of
saints being perfected in the image
of His Son (Ephesians 4:11,16), and
(4) meeting human need with
ministries of love and compassion
(Psalm 112:9; Galatians 2:10; 6:10;
James 1:27).

…(emphasizing)… the apostolic pattern by
teaching and encouraging believers to be
baptized in the Holy Spirit, which enables
them to evangelize in the power of the
Spirit with accompanying supernatural
signs, adding a necessary dimension to
worshipful relationship with God, and
enabling them to respond to the full
working of the Holy Spirit in expression of
fruits and gifts and ministries as in New
Testament times for the edifying of the
Body of Christ.”
The Assemblies of God exists
expressly to give continuing
emphasis to this reason for being in
the New Testament apostolic pattern
by teaching and encouraging
believers to be baptized in the Holy
Spirit. This experience:
 a. Enables them to evangelize in the
power of the Spirit with
accompanying supernatural signs
(Mark 16:15-20; Acts 4:29-31;
Hebrews 2:3,4).

b. Adds a necessary dimension to a
worshipful relationship with God (1
Corinthians 2:10-16; 1 Corinthians 1214).
 c. Enables them to respond to the full
working of the Holy Spirit in expression
of fruit and gifts and ministries as in New
Testament times for the edifying of the
body of Christ and care for the poor and
needy of the world (Galatians 5:22-26;
Matthew 25:37-40; Galatians 6:10; 1
Corinthians 14:12; Ephesians 4:11,12; 1
Corinthians 12:28; Colossians 1:29).

Our Mission:





Reaching: We are proclaiming the message of
Jesus Christ to the spiritually lost in all the world
through every available means.
Planting: We are establishing churches in more
than 150 nations, following the New Testament
pattern.
Training: We are training leaders throughout the
world to proclaim the message of Jesus Christ to
their own people and to other nations.
Touching: We are touching poor and suffering
people with the compassion of Jesus Christ and
inviting them to become his followers
(Pentecostal Evangel 2001b:2).
Identified as the “Four Pillars” of AGWM
Our Message:



Bible-Based: God’s inspired and infallible Word is
the seed of the world harvest, the bread for the
spiritually hungry, and the light that proclaims
God’s grace and deliverance to a world that is lost
and bound in the darkness of sin.
Spirit-Empowered: The Spirit convinces of sin,
brings assurance of sins forgiven, imparts peace
that passes understanding, and guides into all
truth. We are totally dependent on the Holy Spirit
to empower our message so it can bear the fruit
God has promised.
Christ-Centered: Jesus, . . . God who became
man, . . . is the Savior of the World. He offered up
his life to redeem sinful mankind. Like the
missionary-apostle Paul, our message to a lost
world is “Jesus Christ and him crucified” 1 Cor. 2:2
(Pentecostal Evangel 2001a:32).
Who’s doing
missions/ministry?
Fourfold Aspect of the
Paradigm of Christ in Ministry
Ray. S. Anderson


1. All Ministry is God’s Ministry
God’s ministry must proceed and
determine the ministry of the church
not vice-versa. The revelation of God is
not waiting for us to define it rather it
can be known only by responding to it.
Theology and ministry are not
experience centered but rather
experience-certified. This can be more
clearly illustrated by the following
diagram:
All Ministry is God’s Ministry
GOD
WORD
RESPONSE
(REVELATION)
(RECONCILIATION)
HUMAN
Fourfold Aspect of the
Paradigm of Christ in Ministry
1. All Ministry is God’s Ministry
 2. Jesus’ ministry to the Father
on behalf of the world.
 3. Jesus’ ministry in the Spirit
for the sake of the Church.
 4. The ministry of the church to
the world in behalf of Jesus.

THE MINISTRY OF THE
CHURCH
THE APOSTOLIC MANDATE
Gospel


Church
What is our purpose?
What is God’s agenda?
Mission
THE MINISTRY OF THE
CHURCH
Gospel
Church
Mission
THE THEOLOGICAL MANDATE



Where does the power come from?
Is Christ central? Is this Christ’s
ministry?
Is it the creation of possibility out of
impossibility by the Spirit?

The apostolic mandate is the
gospel of the Kingdom
communicated in word and
deed by the Church to the
world. The Church is central
to the plan of God in mission
and to the goal of missional
endeavor. The greatest act of
social compassion (of social
justice) is to plant a local
church.
Christ the Master Missionary
Communicator/Contextualizer

We can talk about the blood of Jesus,
Justification by faith, the kingdom of
God, the gospel as sacrifice (the
blood of the Lamb), as the Messiah
(promise fulfilled), as Judge (he who
justifies), as personal (a father
reconciling his children), as Savior
(liberation of the oppressed) or at a
cosmic level (the universal Lord).
John 3-4
New Testament Words Used
in Connection with the
Apostolic Ministry
Euangelizo
evangelize
used 54 times in NT
 Euangelion
evangel or gospel
used 76 times in NT
 Euangelistes
evangelist
used 3 times in NT

Kerysso
 Kerygma
 Keryx
 Martyreo

proclaim
proclamation
herald
bear witness
Syngcheo
confound
Acts 9:22
 Symbibazo
prove
Acts 9:22
 Diegeomai
declare Acts 9:27
 Syzeteo
dispute Acts 9:29
 Laleo
speak
Acts 9:29
 Dialegomai
reason with Acts 18:4
 Peitho
persuade
Acts 18:4
 Noutheteo admonish, warn
Acts 20:31
 Katecho
inform, instruct Acts
21:21,24

Deomai
beg, beseech 2 Cor. 5:20
 Elengcho
reprove 2 Tim. 4:2
 Epitimao
rebuke 2 Tim. 4:2
 Parakaleo
exhort, urge 1 Peter
2:11
 (Hesselgrave 1978:20-21)

Incarnational Communication
John 13

The Bible gives us his model, Jesus,
God's divine communication, the logos is
communicated through the written word.
He humbled himself, broke into human
history in human form to make known to
us, God himself. He became flesh and
dwelt among us that we could
understand and know him. We too must
flesh out Christ, God's living Word in a
dying world. Phil. 2:




The Word was made flesh. The divine
was communicated through the human.
The Word of God was communicated
through the words of humans.
Christ identified with humanity without
loosing his own identity as deity.
The church is the word made flesh.
Christ is the model. He emptied
himself, he took off the outer
appearance of deity, he humbled
himself and became flesh.



We must identify with the receptor culture,
language, customs, foods. etc. without
loosing our identity as Christians.
Paul's example. I Cor. 9:20-23 "that some
may be saved."
We must find an appropriate cup so that
the gospel is communicated and the church
is established in such a way as to be
indigenous, contextualized, with no offense
but the offense of the cross.
Sadhu Sundar Singh
(1889-1929)

We must follow his example,
communicating the infinite
through the finite.
The water never
changes, the church is
always the body of
Christ, but the glass
through which it
expresses itself does
change from culture to
culture. It is the church’s
responsibility to, by the
Spirit, to find the
appropriate cup to
express itself
appropriately. For the
gospel and the church is
for every culture.
BIBLICAL VERITIES THAT UNDERGIRD
THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH
Melvin Hodges




1. The Scriptures, the final authority for faith
and practice, are final in determining the
nature and scope of the Church's mission.
2. The lostness of man (humankind),
separated from God and without the ability to
save himself, is a tragic fact which finds its
remedy only in the salvation offered through
the gospel of Christ.
3. The uniqueness of Jesus Christ as God's
Son and (humankind's) Savior. "Neither is
there salvation in any other." (Acts 4:12)
4. All men (humans) are candidates for
salvation in Jesus Christ on the condition of
repentance from evil works and faith toward
God through Jesus Christ.



5. The Church, composed of true believers in
Jesus Christ, is God's own possession and His
agent for world evangelism.
6. The Holy Spirit dwells in the Church and
becomes the source of power and equipment for
missions as believers receive of His fullness.
7. The return of Christ to the earth is the hope of
true believers and the final solution to earth's ills.
The kingdoms of this earth shall become the
kingdoms of our God and His Christ, and He shall
reign forever.
The Cycle de Evangelism
5.
Propagation
4.
Participation
1.
Presence
2.
Proclamation
3.
Persuasion
The Cycle of Evangelism:
Five "p"s of Evangelism
1. Presence: Matt. 5:13-16
 2. Proclamation: Luke 24:46-48;
Mark 16:15-16
 3. Persuasion: 2 Cor. 5:11, 14; Acts
26:28-29
 4. Participation: Gal 6:8,9; Matt.
5:16, Eph. 4:16
 5. Propagation

Contextualization



Contextualization: is the search for a
means by which to communicate the
gospel in a way with is understood by
the receptor culture without
accommodating to it.
The church and the gospel is for every
culture.
But many reject the gospel because the
perceive it as something foreign or
strange.


We must communicate the gospel and
found the church in such a way as to be
indigenous or contextualized. A church
which is founded on the foundation of
biblical revelation while being expressed
in the local culture.
To plant the church does not
necessarily mean build churches or sing
certain types of hymns or choruses, or
have a certain style of dress. The
church is his body and it can express
itself in a diversity of manners.
Doing Theology:
Elements of Contextualization
Word/Gospel
Church
World
The Missionary Task
The Apostolic Function
Where is Jesus not known?
Evangelicals in 1780
OC International-Brazil (SEPAL)
Tel: +55-11-523-2544
Source: WEC International, 1984
MU-101
Evangelicals in 1980
OC International-Brazil (SEPAL)
Tel: +55-11-523-2544
Source: WEC International, 1984
MU-102
The Unfinished Task
Population: 6.2 billion
World A
1.6 b
26%
World B
2.6 b
41%
World C
2.0 b
33%
World A: the unevangelized
World B: the evangelized non-Christians
World C: the Christian world (including nominals)
OC International-Brazil (SEPAL)
Tel: +55-11-5523-2544
Source: David B. Barrett: Our Globe and How To Reach It (GEM)
MU-512
Chitral Kashmiri
i
Shina
Pushtun
Pakistan
Balti
Punjabi
Brahui
(One Country,
Many Peoples)
Baluchi
OC International-Brazil (SEPAL)
Tel: +55-11-523-2544
Source: WEC International, 1984
Sindhi
Bhi
l
PN-001
Indigenous Tribes of Brazil: Map
Ingarikó
Patamona
Taurepang
Galibi do Oiapoque
Karipuna do Amapá
Mayongong
Makuxi
Kuripako
Desana
Kobewa
Tukano
Tuyuka
Barasano do Norte
Yuhup
Siriano
Galibi do Uaça
Palikuri
Yanomami
Sikiana
Tiriyó
Wapixana
Baníwa Makuna
Warekena
Akuriô
Mandawaka
Apalaí
Isolados do
Mapuera
Wanano
Yabaana
Tariano
Arapaso
Juriti
Dâw
Baré
Miriti
Pira-Tapuia
Karapanã
Waiãpi
Wayana
Karafawyana
Hixkariana
Zo’e
Kaxuyana
Isolados do Cuminá
Wai-Wai
Xereu
Waimiri-Atroari Mawayana
Katuena
Nadëb
Hupda
Kaixana
Arara do Pará
Tremembé
Tapeba
Guajá
Asurini do Xingu
Isolados do Quixito
Korubo
Isolados do São José
Urubu-Kaapor
Asurini do Tocantins
Sataré-Mawaé
Tikuna
Isolados do Curuçá
Tembé
Anambé
Kambeba
Miranha
Kokama
Mura
Pitaguari
Parakanã
Xipaia
Araweté
Gavião do Pará
Guajajara
Paiaku
Krejê
Kulina
Tsohom-Djapá
Isolados do Rio Tapirapé
Kuruaya
Suruí do Pará
Gavião do Maranhão
Isolados do Parauari
Maitapú
Himarimã
Matis
Isolados do Jandiatuba
Aipim
Jarawara
Torá
Krikati
Canela
Kanamari
Suruwahá
Apinajé
Banawá
Deni
Poyanawa Amawaka
Jamamadi
Mura-Pirahã
Isolados do Alto Jutaí
Nukuini
Juma
Munduruku
Xambioá
Katukina-Juruá
Isolados do
Parintintin
Mamoriazinho
Kayapó
Kamanawa
Paumari
Tenharim
Jaminawa
Apurinã
Krahô
Shanenawa
Katukina-Jutaí
Isolados do Teles Pires
Isolados do Bararati
Isolados do Jacareúba
Arara do Acre
Diahoi
Itogapuk
Naua
Isolados do Arama e Inauini
Yakarawakta
Kaxinawá
Isolados do Madeirinha
Karitiana
Yawanawa
Kaxarari
Isolados do Igarapé Xinane
Isolados do
Isolados do Rio Liberdade
Xerente
Papavô
Rio Candeias
Arara do Mato Grosso
Isolados do Igarapé Tabocal
Tapayuna
Arara de Rondônia
Uru-Pa-In
Karipuna
Ashéninca-Kampa
Karajá
Zoró
de Rondônia
Rikbaktsa
Miqueleno
Kreen-Akarore
Manchineri
Gavião de Rondônia
Tapirapé
Kayabi
Juruna
Suruí de
Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau
Suyá
Rondônia
Pakaás-Novos (Oro-Mawin)
Txikão
Apiaká
Amundava Guazá
Mekém
Javaé
Matipu
Cinta-Larga
Pakaás-Novos (Orowari)
Makurap
Trumai
Tuxá
Enawenê-Nawê
Kalapalo
Sakiriabar
Aikanã
Nahukwá
Ajuru
Mynky
Kamayurá
Uraparaquara
Mehinaku
Kanoé Aruá
Irantxe
Sabanê
Aweti
Kuikuro
Jabuti
Arikapu
Tupari
Nambikwara
Waurá
Kampé
Pankaru
Yawalapiti
Isolados da Serra do Taquaral
Mamaindé
Avá-Canoeiro
Akunsu
Parecis
Latundê Negarotê
Bakairi
Tapuia
Xavante
Xakriabá
Umutina
Mayoruna
Marubo
Bororo
Potiguara
Kariri
Pipipã
Atikum Kambiwá
Truká
Kalankó
Kantaruré
Pankararé
Tumbalalá Pankararu
Kaimbé
Kiriri
Tupinambá
Pataxó-Hãhãhãe
Maxakali
Aranã
Pataxó
Guató
Kamba
Kaxixó
Krenak
Tupinikim
Terena
Kadiwéu
Kinikinao
Ofayé
Chamacoco
Kaiwá
Xetá
Status of Gospel (colors)
Evangelical Missionary Work
Guarani
No Evangelical Missionary Work
Xokleng
No Data
Scripture Translation
( symbols )
Kaingang
Bible Completed
New Testament Completed
Without New Testament Completed
Observation: Each tribe is represented by only one point,
although the tribe may have several villages, even in more than one state.
Source: AMTB, Department of Indigenous Affairs (Paulo Bottrel, JMN - CBB)
Production: Ted Limpic, SEPAL (www.sepal.org.br)
Update: Marcelo Sales, AMEM, Mar-2003
Xukuru
Kapinawá
Fulniô
Xocó
Karuazu
Wassu
Tingui-Botó
Xukuru-Kariri
Karapotó
Kariri-Xocó
Jiripankó
The Bible Translated
(6,858 Languages in the World)
New Test
13%
Some Scripture
13%
918
928
366
Bible
5%
Need Survey
36%
> 2500
SEPAL (+55-11-523-2544)
Source: SIL (Ethnologue-1998)
> 2000
SEPAL - 2000
Need
Translation
29%
MU-506
Three
& The
The10/40
10/40Window
Window
ThreeReligious
Religious Blocks
Blocks &
Countries with majority Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist
Over 50 %
Hindu
Muslim
Buddhist
Data from Johnstone, Operation World CD-ROM 2001.
Map by Global Mapping International - www.gmi.org
48 Muslim Countries - Pop. at AD2000 = 1.1 Billion
2 Hindu Countries - Pop. at AD2000 = 1.0 Billion
8 Buddhist Countries - Pop. at AD2000 = 351 Million
Total - 58 Countries
Pop. at AD2000 = 2.5 Billion
OC International-Brazil
(SEPAL)
LB/ph
3REL3 - Rev 4: 9/2001
Today’s Challenge
(World population: 6.2 billion)
2.0 billion
“Christians”
33% of world
Authentic ?
2.6 billion
Nominal
1.6 billion
Can Hear
“Non-Christians”
67% of world
Will Never Hear
Data: GEM (www.gem-werc.com)
Chart: Ted Limpic, SEPAL (2002)
MU-514
The World’s Evangelicals
1960-2000
100%
Europe and
N. America
80%
60%
40%
Asia, Africa and
Latin America
20%
0%
1960
OC International-Brazil (SEPAL)
Tel: +55-11-523-2544
65
70
75
80
85
Source: Patrick Johnstone, Operation
90
95
2000
MU-515
Definitions and
Concepts
• Defining frontier missions
Many Different Peoples, Tribes and
Tongues-Many Different Churches to Reach Them
The Extent of Normal Outreach
Normal Near Neighbor
Evangelism...
The Gospel travels fastest when
shared with people who are
culturally near to the evangelist.
The Need for Frontier Missions-Unreached People
Groups
“If every congregation in the
world were to undergo a great
revival and reach out to every
person within their own peoplethat is, to everyone in the
cultural spheres represented by
each congregation-over half of
all remaining non-Christians
would still not be reached.”
Art Glasser
Conclusion:
Becoming
Apostolic/Missionary
People of God
Who is responsible for
reaching the
unreached?
The entire
Apostolic/Missionary
People of God
LaDawn Rance
The Homeless
Church of
San Francisco
Who is responsible for
missions?
Do the homeless have a
responsibility in
Missions?

As the people of God, members of the
Assemblies of God enjoy the blessings
of God every moment of every day. To
be the apostolic people of God, the
Assemblies of God of all nations must
commit to the communicating the
gospel to all people. This will require
that every member of the Body be
mobilized to become a global Christian,
a person committed to the missionary
disciplines of missionary prayer,
missionary giving, and obedience to the
Spirit’s missional directives. A mobilized
apostolic people of God will give witness
locally and globally by sending and
supporting those called by God to cross
cultural barriers with the gospel.

May the Assemblies of God
worldwide become in reality what
it already is by faith “the Apostolic
People of God” affirming that God
is the author of missions (you will
be my witnesses), recognizing that
the church is the agency of
missions (you will be my
witnesses), and committing to the
action of missions (you will be my
witnesses).







References
Cited
Into All The World: The New Missionary Manual. Springfield, MO:
Assemblies of God Foreign Missions, 1999
Anderson, Ray S., ed. Theological Foundations for Ministry. Grand
Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1979.
Anderson, Ray S. Minding God's Business. Grand Rapids, MI:
William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1986.
Klaus, Byron D. “Class Notes” for the course CLG505 The Church
in Theological Perspective, Vanguard University, 1987.
Klaus, Byron D. “Class Notes” for the course CLG555 Theological
Education in the Third World, Vanguard University, 1987.
Rance, DeLonn L. The Empowered Call: The Activity of the Holy
Spirit in Salvadoran Assemblies of God Missionaries. Ann Arbor,
MI: ProQuest Information and Learning Company, 2004.
Rance, DeLonn L. “A final exam” presented to Dr. Byron Klaus for
the course CLG505 The Church in Theological Perspective,
Vanguard
University, 1987.
References Cited





Cate, Patrick O. Through God’s Eyes: A Bible Study of God’s
Motivations for Missions, Pasadena, CA: William Carey
Library,
2004.
Johnson, Todd M., Peter F. Crossing, and Bobby Jangsun Ryu.
“Looking Forward: An Overview of World Evangelization,
2005-2025” presented to Lausanne 2004, Center for the Study of
Global Christianity, www.globalchristianity.org, 2004.
Gordon, A. J. The Holy Spirit in Missions. London, U.K.: Hodder
and Stoughton, 1893.
Hesselgrave, David J. Communicating Christ Cross-Culturally: An
Introduction to Missionary Communication. Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan Publishing House, 1978.
McClung, L. Grant. "'Try To Get People Saved:' Revisiting the
Paradigm of an Urgent Pentecostal Missiology." In The
Globalization of Pentecostalism: A Religion Made to Travel, ed.
Murray W. Dempster, Byron D. Klaus, and Douglas Petersen, 3051. Irvine, CA: Regnum Books International, 1999.