Dear friends of COSBE

 

One of the greatest honors ever given me is to be the president of the most unique and effective group of Christian servants on the planet. The men and women who make up this organization share several common characteristics . . .

1.       A heart hot for souls

2.       A special and unique calling and Biblical gift

3.       A unique personality that sets them apart from others

4.       A gift to give the invitation that reaps the harvest

5.       A deep love for the church and a devotion to helping local churches reach the harvest

6.       A courageous faith that depends entirely on God’s daily provision for their needs

7.       A desire to be missionaries wherever they are with a willingness to serve humbly

8.       An understanding that their role is to help local pastors with their task

9.       A willingness to go anywhere they are invited as God provides the way

10.   A commitment to a lifestyle that brings glory to God

11. Every member of COSBE believes in the inerrancy of the original mss of Scripture

12. We hold to the authority of the local pastor and desire to be his servant in order to reach souls in his church.

 

In these days of a confused culture, perverted morals, dishonest politicians, and a compromising church, we need each other more than ever before. If we are to increase our baptisms, grow our churches and change our culture, every spiritual gift among us must be activated by the Holy Spirit. All the gifts of shepherding, teaching, prophecy, evangelism and all the others must be shared together.

 

I am exhorting local pastors to use those with the gift of evangelism. As a pastor for 36 years, I did just that, and was enabled to baptize many and preside over a growing church. Without a doubt, the called and gifted evangelist is God’s gift to the church. It was difficult for me to leave a lucrative position as a senior pastor to step out by faith into this ministry. From the beginning God made it clear that it was the right thing to do and He has provided every need. It was also amazing to see how that with the call, God gave the anointing for the invitation and the harvest.

 

I am also exhorting our evangelists to realize we are the servant of the pastors where we serve.  We are always guests in the church and are to behave as such. We are following months and years of planting and watering and are just showing up for the harvest. Remember, it must not matter who gets the credit as long as God gets the Glory! There are no great men of God, only men and women of a great God. One of our jobs is to encourage the pastor we are serving with.

 

The biggest harvest is now coming on the foreign field. We must give at least some of our attention and ministry where the harvest is greatest. The Great Commission takes us beyond Jerusalem and Judea to the uttermost parts. We must capitalize on this response by using our gift where we can see the greatest harvest. Henry Blackaby told us “to find out what God was up to and get in on it”. Of all people, evangelists must respond to that admonition.

 

Every believer is called to be a part of reaching lost people for Jesus. Let us all be faithful to that call. Many of us remember a time of great revival and ingathering. Let us petition our Lord to do it again. May it be our heart’s cry to God to “Bring back the Glory”.

Focused on the Harvest,  Ron Herrod