In the New Testament, Paul tells his mentee, Timothy, to “do the work of the evangelist” and in Ephesians, Paul lists the evangelist as one of five offices God gave the Church for the equipping of the saints.

Early Gospel accounts even listed the authors as “evangelists” simply because they were heralds of the Good News. Jesus walked out his calling as an evangelist every time he met with, cared for, and shared hope with those who were far from God.

Not that long ago, there were many who carried the title “evangelist.” Today the term has largely gone missing in action.

Without the evangelist, those far from God are easily seen as enemies or opponents, rather than image bearers of God who have yet to experience the life changing message of Jesus. The evangelist sees every corner of humanity as an opportunity to turn modern-day Saul’s to Paul’s.

Throughout Scripture and history, we see the evangelist having two unique roles in the body of Christ: First, the evangelist exists to tell people the Good News of Jesus. Second, the evangelist exists to encourage and equip every believer to do the same, living on mission to seek and save those who currently do not know Jesus.

When you think about evangelism, what do you think about? For many the term has become associated with a pressure-filled sales pitch, or even some scandal of a public minister.

Evangelism is actually about the greatest message the world has ever known, the Good News of Jesus. And while the truth of the Gospel never changes, I believe that evangelism is more about listening than speaking. It’s a God-given, lifelong adventure of seeing and listening to those around us. It’s listening with care to those around us, while listening to what God wants to say to each individual.

We are living in a famine of people being seen and heard. Everyone is shouting, no one is listening. The greatest gift we can give those around us is simply being someone who cares enough to slow down and listen.

People are desperate to be seen. The evangelist stops to meet people where they are and hear their story. Our commitment to listening is the conduit for sharing the grace of God that saved us and can save them.

That’s the work of the evangelist.