Evangelistic Work
Evangelistic Work
Evangelism is a commandment from the Lord Jesus Christ, blessed be His name:
As He said to His holy disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15), and “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them… and teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19, 20).
The holy apostles carried out the Lord’s command. Their primary work was evangelism and teaching, which they called “the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4).
The universal Church began as an evangelistic Church. They traveled throughout the whole earth preaching Christianity and the work of the Lord Jesus in redemption, filling Jerusalem with proclamation. Even when many disciples were expelled, Scripture says that “those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). Thus, “their sound has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the end of the world” (Psalm 19:4).
Evangelism was also the work of Saint Mark the Apostle:
We call him “the Evangelist of the Egyptian lands,” and the regions under the care of his See we call “the Markian Evangelism.” This expression became a title of the Pope of Alexandria. Saint Mark did not preach only in Egypt; his ministry extended to many lands where he served with Saint Paul the Apostle. This great apostle, nearing his departure from the world, asked that Saint Mark be with him for the benefit of the ministry (2 Timothy 4:11).
Saint Athanasius the Apostolic also preached the sound faith, even while in exile…
In his exile he taught people the correct faith. For example, in the region of Trier in Germany, where there stands an old church named after Saint Athanasius in memory of his evangelism there. Through the efforts of His Grace Bishop Damian, the Coptic Church is establishing a monastery there, in the Trier area. Time would fail us to speak of Saint Athanasius’s evangelism in Europe. He used to establish churches and leave them to their people to manage without subjecting them to his authority.
Perhaps some may ask: What is our evangelistic work today?
In the past, the evangelistic work of the Church extended to Nubia, Sudan, Ethiopia, and the Eritrean region. Today we can speak of our evangelistic work in Africa, extending to Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, and also to Zaire (Congo). We are currently working in Tanzania and Uganda.
We now have churches in many of these regions, with priests—either Copts or natives of those countries—serving in the local languages. We have two bishops in Africa, one of whom is called “the Bishop of Evangelism.” Through the ministry of His Grace Bishop Antonios Markos and His Grace Bishop Paul, evangelistic work has expanded in Black Africa.
By God’s grace, many churches have been built there, and we have consecrated numerous churches amid celebrations and joy of their peoples. God willing, we will consecrate new churches in Africa and ordain new priests from among their people.
A major problem we face in evangelistic work in Africa is the multiplicity of local languages. By God’s grace, we were able to translate the Divine Liturgy and some liturgical books into many of Africa’s local languages.
Evangelistic work continues, especially among the independent churches—those that received Christianity from foreign colonizers superficially, mixed with their primitive religions. It became necessary to teach them the sound Christianity, then baptize them, and ordain some of their leaders into priestly ranks. They welcome this, believing that the Church of Alexandria (the Coptic Church) is the mother church in Africa, carrying for them an African theology and having no political aims like the churches of foreign colonizers.
The Coptic Church also carries out social services in those regions—such as medical services or vocational training centers for men and women, along with other social services. These services are also encouraged by the political and national leaders of those countries.
Evangelistic work has its difficulties, but also its crown and reward from God.
Many welcome the easy service and flee from the difficult one..! I once sent a priest to South America. He stayed a short time and then “left and never returned.” In another instance, I sent a priest to serve the Black community in America, but he chose to serve the Copts and abandoned the Black community, never returning to them. Something similar happened in Australia as well.
In Australia, the Aboriginals need service—
We mean the ancient Australians (before the British conquest of Australia). These people suffer from racial discrimination and need a compassionate heart to visit them. On one occasion, I assigned a priest to serve them, but he did not continue…
When the Lord Jesus said to His disciples, “You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8),
It is as if by “the end of the earth” He meant such people as these.
Here we recall with admiration the work of some missionaries who traveled preaching in the name of Christ among peoples known as “cannibals.” They endured hardships and many afflictions in their evangelistic work, choosing to enter the service through “the narrow gate which leads to life” (Matthew 7:13, 14).
By God’s grace we sent one of the priests to Brazil.
He began his ministry—it was a difficult ministry—but he remained steadfast. He had no church, so he would borrow one of our sister Orthodox churches for limited hours. With God’s help, land and two buildings were purchased, and the ministry became easier. We hope that God will help him to serve in other countries in Latin America, extending his evangelistic work to Argentina and beyond…
Many call out, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” (Acts 16:9).
We cannot ignore the cry of all these people, nor can we separate ourselves from the Lord’s command: “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent… for I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:9, 10).
Some, in easy service, prefer working among the Orthodox only!!
They avoid working with non-Orthodox, as though it is not their responsibility! Or as if those people are not children of the Church! Or as if God does not demand them from us! All they do is look for a ready Orthodox person to add some decoration or editing! They forget that many non-Orthodox servants take from our children freely and gather them into their denominations…
Work among the Coptic Orthodox is related to pastoral care and leading to repentance, but it is not evangelistic work.
Evangelistic work is with the non-Orthodox and with those completely distant from the Church, or those who know nothing about Christ and His wondrous salvation. These are the ones meant by the Lord’s command when He said, “Preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
I say the same to our churches in the diaspora.
It is very good that you serve the Copts in your regions—if indeed you are serving all of them. But you must also know that you have an important evangelistic duty to fulfill…
In your societies there are huge numbers of people—youth and teenagers—who have deviated intellectually, morally, and spiritually, becoming completely remote from the salvation Christ intended for the whole world. What have you done for them?!
Perhaps you were sent to the diaspora to be a light to all these…
To present to them spiritual principles, moral values, and the sound faith, becoming for them light and guidance. Thus applies to you what Saint Paul said to his disciple Timothy: “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).
Jehovah’s Witnesses have made major efforts in your society, as have the Mormons, the Adventists, and others. And what have you done?!
Surely you can do much, if you desire and strive.
So what is your fruit in the society in which you live?
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