“On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.” Acts 21:8

Philip was a deacon and then called an evangelist. It is believed that he spent most of his life in Caesarea Maritima, witnessing to the community and sharing the good news of Jesus. The Texas District is raising up evangelists by equipping and sending them into their own Caesarea’s of the mission field. An evangelist is a trained follower of Jesus Christ who shares the Gospel in everyday places, building relationships and creating spaces where people can encounter Jesus. Maybe you would be interested and feel called to be one too?

For the last few months, members of ACTS Church Lakeway and Leander and members from Redeemer and Hope in Austin were interested and felt called to be equipped and sent as evangelists. They met to participate in the Evangelism Training Program over a few months working on eight specific evangelistic competencies. When they came together as a cohort, each Christ follower shared their experiences of receiving faith in baptism and their hopes on how they will lean into the mission of God to share His Gospel message of good news where they live, work, and play.

On February 16, in Concordia University Texas’ chapel space, we met to send them with a time of hearing God’s Word, singing praise to God, and praying over them as God sent them out to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). In addition to these participants, two current evangelists helped with the teaching to start new cohorts in the spring and summer in their local context. Here is a little insight into what they shared at the sending service about their hopes to see God help them form a new faith community.

Constanze—Her hope is to start “Front Yard Fridays,” inviting her neighbors from her street on the first Friday of the month for a social gathering with food, beverages, and fun. She hopes this will create a faith community around the Word of God.

Jacob—As a pastoral leader at Acts Leander, he is also active as a Christian evangelist in his local community. He helps as an assistant on a bus route each early morning with differently abled children. God is opening doors for him to share leadership and cultural insights from Jesus with that community. Praise God.

Robyn—She is also excited about launching a neighborhood outreach by going door to door to invite her neighbors. With an ice chest, snacks, yard chairs, and prayers, she is ready to launch a new faith community in the coming months.

Jon—He is praying about leading a time in the Word with a colleague at a school in hopes of reaching more of his community.

Deb—She knows many neighbors and has a heart to spread the love of Jesus in her community, including on a mission trip to Kenya this summer.

Marvin—With gifts in linguistics, he is asking the Lord to open doors into the lives of international college students so that he can use ESL to share the good news of Jesus with them, all in God’s timing.

Mark and Debbie—As a powerhouse couple serving with Jesus on His mission, they are looking to entrench their lives in East Austin to serve others. Mark is helping bless a church as a pastoral leader, where he hopes a dog park on the church property can be utilized to build relationships with the community. Debbie is locked into a local ministry to help those walking through homelessness in hopes of sharing the Gospel of mercy with those living on the streets.

Please join in praying over these names and new Evangelists, who are sent in the name of Jesus with the urgency of the Father to see everyone come to the knowledge of the truth; pray for the patience of Christ to go before with; and pray for the zeal from the Holy Spirit to abide with them along the path ahead.

Almighty God, as you have sent them, you are sending me. Come, Holy Spirit, come!
In Jesus name, Amen.

By Rev. Jake Boessling
Evangelist Program, Lead Trainer – AREA C