Could Jesus be sending you to tell someone what He has done? In Mark 5, a man whom Jesus had rescued asked to follow Him. Jesus answered, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you” (Mark 5:19).

The man had lived among the tombs, isolated and tormented. Jesus confronted the evil that held him and restored him. Then Jesus sent him home. The man went throughout the Decapolis telling what Jesus had done, and the people marveled. His witness did not begin with a title or impressive speaking ability. It began with Jesus and His mercy.

Your story may look nothing like his, but you also know what it means to need and receive Christ’s mercy. An evangelist is not necessarily someone with a stage or microphone. An evangelist is someone who has received Christ’s mercy and is prepared to tell others. Could that be you?

At the 2026 convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, President Matthew Harrison urged Christians to be “Abounding in witness. Abounding in proclaiming the abundant forgiveness of Jesus. … Abounding in your sacred vocations … evangelist!” His words identify Gospel witness as a sacred Christian vocation.

CTCR Report R62.10 in the 2026 LCMS Convention Workbook recalled the “identification and training of laity for the role of evangelist.” It also said that “programs intended to theologically train laity … may be of great benefit for our churches.”

We can see that benefit through Deaconess and evangelist Becky Jungklaus. Becky teaches ASL to Deaf people and their hearing family members and friends. While sharing the gift of language, she also shares Jesus. Many participants are disconnected from a Christian congregation. Her classes build relationships and create opportunities to speak about Christ’s mercy and forgiveness. Like the man in Mark 5, Becky goes to people God has placed around her and tells what the Lord has done. God uses her language teaching and faithful witness to bring His Word to others.

The need is urgent. Many people have little or no connection to a Christian congregation. We need trained witnesses who understand Lutheran teaching, explain the Gospel faithfully, and meet people where they live and work.

Evangelist training helps Christians witness with biblical clarity, Lutheran faithfulness, confidence, and compassion. Participants learn to listen, distinguish Law and Gospel, answer questions, share their testimony, and invite people into congregational life. They are not expected to know everything. Trained lay evangelists serve under pastoral guidance, supporting pastors and congregations by carrying the Gospel into relationships the church might not otherwise reach.

Perhaps Jesus’ words are also an invitation to you: Go home. Go to your people. Tell them what the Lord has done and how He has shown mercy. Come and try evangelist training and become better prepared to share faithfully the abundant forgiveness of Jesus.

Visit txlcms.org/evangelisttrainingseries

By Deaconess Noemí Guerra
Districtwide Evangelist Development Ministry Leader