By John Lathrop

In the New Testament the normal pattern for evangelism is for believers to go to unbelievers and engage them with the gospel. We see Philip do this in Samaria (Acts 8:5). In the same chapter we find that the apostles, Peter and John, engaged unbelievers in a number of villages in Samaria (Acts 8:25). The apostle Paul ministered to people both in the synagogue and in the marketplace (Acts 17:17). Even Christians with no leadership position in the church reached out to unbelievers (Acts 8:4; 11:19-20). This is the Christian norm. Believers today are also to reach out to unbelievers (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15). However, there are times when the mission field comes to us. I will share one example from my own experience.

When I was pastoring I once received a phone call from a woman who was involved in the Sunday school of a Unitarian or Unitarian Universalist church. If you google the beliefs of those classified as Unitarians, you will find that they deviate from generally accepted Christian teachings. The woman told me that they were teaching their young people about other faiths. One of the things they were doing was taking their students to other houses of worship so that they could see first-hand what other faiths were like. She asked me if they could visit our church, which was Pentecostal. Of course I said yes. One of the other leaders in the church I served expressed concern because he thought I was going to allow the Unitarians to teach us. I explained that that was not the case, we were going to teach them. I told the woman that not only could they come to the service but if they came during our Sunday School time we could have a special time for them. During this time we could tell them what Pentecostals believe and answer any questions that they had.

So on a mutually convenient date they came. This was a unique opportunity. They joined us during Sunday School and stayed for the service as well. I don’t remember exactly how many came. There were two adults and about eight or 10 young people who were probably somewhere between ten to fourteen years of age. I don’t recall much of what I said during that session. I think I touched on topics such as speaking in tongues and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. However, in view of the fact that these people were not Christians I am almost certain that part of my presentation emphasized that we believe the Bible is the Word of God and that a person must place their faith in Jesus Christ if they wish to go to Heaven.

What I do remember about the meeting during the Sunday School time was something that one of the adults from the Unitarian Church said. She made a statement to the effect that it was great that one of them could talk about what was truth to them and we could talk about what was truth to us. I told her that I disagreed with her. There is not one truth for them and one truth for us. In other words I do not subscribe to the idea that truth is subjective. I don’t remember there being any strong objections to my statement and they did stay for the service after Sunday School was over.

This was a unique opportunity, the mission field came to us. I was happy to have them attend, they wanted to learn about Pentecostals. Hopefully they learned how important it is for them to have personal faith in Jesus Christ, because He alone provides salvation (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). I am glad I suggested having a special meeting with them during the Sunday School time. I think the Lord probably gave me that idea. We had a great evangelistic opportunity that day. I don’t know what kind of soil was represented in the hearts of our guests that day (Mark 4:1-20), but the Word of God was presented. Who knows what may result from it? Perhaps seeds were sown or watered that day but God is the one who can bring results (1 Cor. 3:6). How often are believers given the opportunity to share their faith with unbelievers in a non-threatening situation? May God help us to recognize the unique opportunities that He places in our path.

About the Author

John P. Lathrop is a graduate of Zion Bible Institute and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and is an ordained minister with the International Fellowship of Christian Assemblies. He has written articles and book reviews for a number of publications including the Pneuma Review, the Africanus Journal of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Christian Trends Magazine, in India, and Berita Mujizat and Jurnal Jaffray, both in Indonesia. He is also the author of four books.