Dorothy Atta, 19 years

SAVED London

UK

I have been reading the book ‘Evangelism & Missions’ by Bishop Dag Heward-Mills. This book has changed my life because it talks about the importance of winning the lost at any cost. I have always had the desire to work for God and do more especially when I finish university. The book talks about the need for people to go out to different countries to preach the gospel. This year is the year of church growth and people cannot hear the gospel if they are not preached to. “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15). People all over the world need to hear the gospel and be saved.

The very first chapter talks about the importance of evangelism. This chapter spoke about Christians being soul-winners before anything else, which touched me because it made me remember how I have always wanted to preach. Before being leaders, pastors, shepherds, singers we are called FIRST to be soul-winners. Now I recently have a strong desire to become a missionary but what is the motive? It should be a natural desire and our personal vision to see the lost being saved. “He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to TRAIN Christ's followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ's body, the church, until we're all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13) The reason why we have these desires and gifts is to preach the gospel, that one day everyone will be saved! How amazing is that?

The book then goes on to talk about missions, the history of missions and why it is important to not just preach in your area but to travel to the places where no one wants to go for the sake of the gospel. Matthew 28:9 says “Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” This verse commands us to go so we should go! The book says that this was the last thing Jesus said before He left, and the last things people say before they die or leave are very important. Therefore, as Christians, our desire to see people being saved at any cost must be our personal vision! One of the things Bishop Dag says is that soul-winning must be on our hearts constantly. We should eat, breathe and think about the souls. It should hurt us when we see souls! We should have the burden to see people being saved.

One of the chapters in the book spoke about the different missionaries who travelled from Europe to countries in Africa, some of who died in the process. Yet, even death did not stop people from still trying to spread the gospel. People were sick, and some were mistreated and yet more people were going to these places because of the gospel! Nothing could stop them from preaching and spreading the gospel! This book is amazing and I would encourage all of you who want to do better in evangelism and even become missionaries to read it because people in the world are dying without knowing that Christ died that they may have life and have it more abundantly! It is something that I have been thinking about for a long time and this book is encouraging me to build God’s church! Be blessed.