Christianity has now had 2,000 years to invent different ways to witness the gospel and to convert souls. Though traditionally there have always been believers specialised and committed to soul-winning to which they devote the better part of their Christian 'time', the call to witness, as we know, devolves upon everyone. How do you witness? And what has been most effective for you?

It has truly been said that evangelism is the life blood of the messianic community (church). And our instructions are clear:

"...go and make talmidim (disciples) of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit), and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matt.28:19-20, NIV).

That's a full-time job-description, to my way of thinking, something we'll be doing all our lives. It involves going out to find people, baptising them, and then teaching them the mitzvot (commandments). Yah'shua (Jesus) could have made the job description more detailed but He kept it simple - down to three main elements - so that we would always prioretise them.

Baptism is the easiest part (unless you're living in the Sahara Desert or in a permafrost region of the world) once it has been established that it must be done by full immersion (complete dunking) and not by sprinkling (because of the symbolism involved - we are to completely die to self, nothing half-hearted), and also that we are not to baptise infants but adults. And teaching the mitzvot (commandments) is not so hard either once you have clearly identified what they are in the New Covenant - the hard part is ensuring that people understand that obedience is an action that must begin with, and be driven by, the heart (because the Torah been miraculously written there by the Ruach/Spirit), and is not something to be imposed externally by compulsion, like circumcision on 8 year-old male babies (a characteristic of the Old Covenant). But the understanding of that can only really come from a correct understanding of how we are to make talmidim (disciples) of unbelievers.

A talmid (disciple) is one who responds affirmatively - by emunah (faith) - to the good news of Yah'shua's death, atonement and resurrection which results in a supernatural internal transformation known as the 'new birth'. There's no mistaking when this happens because the one thus impacted becomes a completely different person. Though they are still 'themselves' - they are still uniquely identified as persons distinct from everyone else - they have become changed into the very image of the resurrected Messiah (Christ) they have come to trust and obey. In character, they have become just like Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ). This is not just a label they have chosen to wear ('Christian' or 'Messianic') but is a total regeneration of mind and heart and it takes them as much by surprise as anyone who may witness the change. They now become possessed by an incredible ahavah (love), simcha (joy), tiqveh (hope) and shalom (peace). This incredible change within them is the 'good news', 'besorah' or 'gospel'. And once they have acquired it, by grace (undeserved loving-kindness, unmerited favour) through emunah (faith), they want nothing more than to share it with others - spontaneously, without any goading.

But how are they to do that? Is there a right way? Is there a wrong way? Or are there many 'right' and 'wrong' ways?

A person who proclaims this 'good news' or euangélion) of what Yah'shua (Jesus) has done for us, or preaches this 'gospel', brings 'good news' (euangelízó) to others - such a person is an evangelist. Both these Greek words are derived from ángelos meaning a 'messenger'. It's where we get the word 'angel' from in the English language because a malak ('angel' in Hebrew) is a messenger. The navi (prophet) Malachi prophesied of John the Baptist being such a "messenger" (malak) or 'angel' (Mal.3:1), the forerunner of the Messiah. It is not usually realised by most Christians that there are both human and supernatural or heavenly 'angels' - both bring the good news of salvation but one is natural and the other is supernatural.

The 'angels', described as the "seven stars" of the seven assemblies (churches) of Asia Minor in the Book of Revelation (Rev.1:20) could be either human or supernatural. Opinion is divided. Most tend to favour the latter interpretation though the idea that John would write instructions to a heavenly being does seem a little strange to me. Most messianic translations accordingly refer to them as simply "Messengers" (e.g. AENT) and maybe they were persons in authority (like the pastors) in these congregations.

There are different kinds of 'evangelist' or 'messenger' in the Messianic Scriptures (New Testament). There is an office of Evangelist much as there is the office of a Pastor (Ac.21:8; Eph.4:11) and such an office, along with its activity, is encumbant upon Paul's protegé, Timothy (2 Tim.4:5). A distinction is made between the office of an evangelist (euangelistés) and that of the office of an apostle - the evangelist delivers the same apostolic message, but without the same level of authority as the apostle. Arguably pastors are also 'evangelists', teaching the same apostolic message, but again they have a different function because they also take care of the spiritual needs of a local congregation as shepherds. Evangelists and apostles are both mobile (and often move between nations) but only apostles have the authority to set-apart pastors over these newly planted congregations. Philip was an evangelist (Ac.21:8), being one of the 'seven' chosen in Acts 7, and was prominent in preaching the gospel in unevangelised parts (Ac.8:5,12,35,40).

A clear distinction is made between Timothy and Philip and the apostles (2 Cor.1:1; Col.1:1). Thus while all apostles were evengelists, not all evangelists were apostles (a distinction confirmed in Ephesians 4:11):

"The gifts that He (Yah'shua/Jesus) gave were that some would be apostles, some nevi'im (prophets), some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the qodeshim (saints, set-apart ones) for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Messiah (Christ), until all of us come to the unity of the emunah (faith) and the knowledge of the Son of Elohim (God), to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Messiah (Christ)" (Eph.4:11-13, NRSV).

Similarly, pastors are local evangelists but not traveling evangelists or apostles and are not supposed to travel all over the place. Their sphere of activity is their congregation. I've come across one or two pastors in my time who fancied themselves as traveling evangelists too, combining the two rôles, but failed to do their jobs properly at home. You can't do both jobs at the same time and not be negligent, especially if you have a large congregation. A pastor is a shepherd, looking after one flock - people in a particular area - he isn't just a preacher.

Likewise, though everyone has the prophetic gift to some degree, since you cannot testify of Yah'shua (Jesus) in the Ruach (Spirit) without prophesying (Rev.19:10), not everyone is a navi or prophet in the classical sense; and whilst evangelists, apostles and pastors are all teachers, they do not all hold the office of 'teacher' - only the standing teacher does. The office is the call to specialise and to devote the bulk of your time to that particular calling. And each office, importantly, has a special endowment or anointing of the Ruach (Spirit) to confirm that Yahweh has especially set them apart for the job. All offices require the supernatural to function properly and adequately so without the anointing that goes with an office, no office has been given.

There is also a very specialist term, 'evangelist', which is someone who has written one of the four Gospels which bear the authors' names (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). It's 'specialised' because no one else has ever been called to operate in this calling, nor will anyone else ever be called to write a 'fifth' or a 'sixth' one in the future, even though plenty of pretender 'gospels' have been presented to the world allegedly written by apostles or other eminent members of the Messianic Community (Church), like the so-called Gospels of Peter, Barnabas, Thomas and others, not to mention the recently discovered 'Gospel of Judas' found inm Turkey. These are almost certainly all counterfeits or fakes even if some of the contents may be authentic, having been borrowed from the Four. In my many years as a minister I have been required to expose many of these such as the fraudlent 'Gospel of the Holy Twelve' and the Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ.

Finally, and this is what I most want to talk about today, there is the sense in which everyone is an evangelist, missionary or witness but this is not an office with a specialised calling but is a general calling that devolves upon everyone who has been born again. My interest today is in talking about the witness of all authentic believers because it is very clear from the Master that the most extensive evangelising that must be done is reserved for the very last days:

"And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come" (Mt.24:14, NRSV).

The constant mitzvah (command) given through the apostles to the believers generally is to "preach the davar (word)" (2 Tim.4:2; 1 Cor.9:16; 1 Pet.1:12,25; 4:17). Likewise, the malak, angel or messenger flying in midheaven with the everlasting good news makes the proclamation:

"Fear Elohim (God) and give Him glory, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water" (Rev.14:6-7, NRSV)

This is the good news that the modern-day apostle, evangelist and ordinary witness, wherever he may be, brings by preaching the Besorah (Gospel), with this admonition:

"...if you confess with your lips that Yah'shua (Jesus) is Master (Lord) and believe in your heart that that Elohim (God) raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and is so justified (made jurisdictionally/forensically righteous); and one confesses with the mouth and is so saved" (Rom.10:9-10, NRSV).

Evangelism is not an intellectual exercise even though obviously it must involve the intellect to a certain degree. Conversion is through, and by, the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit). Only the Ruach (Spirit) can transform someone within. Nevertheless the one witnessing does need to use his head if he is asked questions, as he will be. He needs to know some basic scriptures and he needs to know why he is a believer:

"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the tiqveh (hope) that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." (1 Peter 3:15, NIV).

If you are rough, forceful and disrespectful, the chances are that this is someone witnessing out of the fallen, carnal nature and not the Ruach (Spirit). One of the reasons Ravi Zacharias, the Christian philosopher and evangelist, is so beloved and has such a far reaching influence, is because he witnesses in this way. People trust and respect him.

What about those apostles and evangelists who, in biblical times, stood up in public and preached? Is this the main method of witenssing? For such operating in those particular offices, most certainly. And likewise, for the pastor, preaching before his congregation each sabbath and at other times of assembly. There are also different ways of preaching, some preferring expository preaching (systematically working through each book of the Bible verse-by-verse - it's a great way to really get to know the Bible well) and others who prefer topical preaching. I believe both kinds of preaching are needed and are essential for healthy spiritual growth. I am much more of a topical preacher myself but that's my particular preference as I commonly get inspiration to preach about a certain topic or theme. Occasionally do I get a strong move of the Ruach to teach from a whole Bible book as I did recently when I taught Paul's Epistle to the Romans. I think there is a good case for preachers focussing on topical preaching and teachers focussing on expository teaching but I wouldn't want to make a hard-and-fast rule. Denominations often specialise in one or the other. Baptists are well known for expository preaching and pentecostals for topical preaching.

Then there are those (either preachers or teachers) who like to follow the messianic tradition of combining the two and teaching using Torah Portions. The disadvantage of this system is that while the Pentateuch is systematically taught (as it is in Judaism) the rest of the Bible usually isn't because this kind of ministry is Pentateuch-centred with the Nevi'im (Prophets) and Messianic Scriptures (New Testament) being reduced to Haftorah back-ups or add-ons. I find that messianics who follow this method are experts in the first five books of Moses but often deficient in their knowledge of the rest of the Bible, but it does vary between messianic congregations.

So what is one to do? It's actually a dilemma because you can end up spending years dissecting a small portion of the Bible while neglecting the rest. I know one famous preacher who spent seven years just preaching from the Gospel of Luke! Somewhere a balance has to be found because none of us live long enough to hear the whole Bible preached or taught using so much time on just one book. If we spent 7 years on every book we would need 462 years, though the gospels are admittedly longer than most of the books in the Messianic Scriptures (New Testament). But even if you spent just 6 months on each of the 66 books you would still need 33 years. And, of course, you have to do your own studying at home and be led by the Ruach (Spirit). This is a good argument for topical preaching and and expository teaching, the pastor focussing on the immediate needs and the teacher on the long-term education of the qodeshim (saints, set-apart ones).

But what about the ordinary member - what is the best way of witnessing for him or her? Before I became a pastor and international overseer, I had much more time on my hands and did a lot of personal witnessing. Mind you, I was single too - I highly recommend singles be evangelism-oriented because it is a fantastic way to build character and set a spiritual precedent for a good marriage. Look for a spouse who loves to witness too! A Messianic Evangelical tradition is that those couples who are dedicated to each other (the 'engagement' stage before betrothal and full marriage) spend lots of time witnessing and building the kingdom alongside other believers because this makes for a solid spiritual foundation.

Street preaching was not my gifting, I have to say, as I was never called to be an evangelist like that (though I have oftern wanted to be one) but I did do a lot of door-to-door witnessing, sometimes alone (not recommended today, and certainly never for the sisters) but mostly with a companion (which is a rule in our community). Baptists, Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses are famous for their door-to-door approach.

Yah'shua (Jesus) instructed apostles to go out "two-by-two" (Mk.6:7) and on one occasion sent out 72 (some authorities say 70), who were not of the twelve apostles, to do the same (Lk.10:1). In NCAY we call these people 'missioners' (missionaries). It makes a lot of sense to go in pairs, for backup and safety (to name two good reasons). Others like to go out in public - in streets, malls and to villages in the countryside - and witness to people one-to-one. I do think that the best witnessing by lay members of a congregation is one-to-one with chance acquaintances or to people you are specifically led do by the Ruach (Spierit).

In the early days of this ministry we used to go out into the streets in teams distributing tracts and talking with people who were interested. It really depends where you are and what the restrictions are. (In many countries you need permission to witness on the streets, in some - like Singapore - it is illegal). Our missionaries in India and Africa would tend to set up a podium and microphone in some public space and preach out in the open, drawing interested persons. But what about when you're at work or in other places when you are alone?

There were one or two of our people who were firm believers in friendshipping people before witnessing. Not only did we find this very inefficient and rarely fruitful (and very time-consuming), but I could never find any scripture backing such an approach. I think part of the reason it failed was because it was motivated by fear - not wanting to potentially upset someone who might say 'no', something less likely if you're friends with them though this is certainly not guaranteed either. And these days people can sometimes get violent when you try to evangelise. We have ourselves, on occasion, have been physically thrown out of buildings and chased by angry people on the street! You don't in any case convert people by 'being nice'. That's not witnessing, that's baiting. One group I was a part of for a while used to go around to peoples homes asking if they wanted any jobs doing (for free, of course, like cleaning, painting, etc.) and used that as a 'door' to witnessing. Personally, I found that dishonest - a 'backhanded' way of getting into other peoples' homes. That's not biblical at all. That's witnessing with a hidden agenda, an ulterior motive, and it reflects badly on the Saviour, in my view.

So much of what passes off as 'evangelism' has, alas, the opposite effect of drawing souls to Messiah. And it can often leave those witnessing feeling guilty and condemned. I can think of plenty of awful attempts at evangelism with one man from another church going around on the street in Newcastle-upon-Tyne shouting out that everyone was going to hell if they didn't repent. It takes a genuine navi (prophet) with a special anointing like Jonah to do that sort of thing, and that so-called 'evangelist' had no anointing. He was disgraceful and I was ashamed, disgusted and furious that he was giving Yah'shua (Jesus) such a bad name. No one ever listened to him except atheists who loved picking a fight with him. I'm pretty sure he was a radical Calvinist. On that particular occasion I learned a valuable lesson because in the same market square in the north-east of England there was a tramp who was full of the Ruach (Spirit), who had been miraculously saved and healed while he was in a mental institution, and he was quietly talking one-to-one with all kinds of people who were drawn to him. He wasn't standing up wildly gesticulating and shouting, or waving a Bible. He was real. He shone with light and love. He was the genuine article. People left him ministered to and wanting to come back. He was there every day and always had people around him. The 'crazy evangelist', on the other hand, never managed to engage anyone in a serious conversation.

Successfully leading souls to Messiah does not depend on you 'doing your best'. It depends on your loving them - genuinely - and you can only do that if Yah'shua (Jesus) lives in your heart. I have known a lot of people who have gone out to witness with the mindset of 'making converts' or 'saving people from hell' who ended up feeling condemned because they failed to convert anyone. (Those few who did convert were converted by fear and did not know genuine love. As Andy Stanley has observed, most of the Calvinistic hell fire-and-damnation folks rarely convert but have to breed new members!)

Why do such folks they fail? Because they weren't out to help people in their immediate need but to simply 'win souls' like a commercial salesman selling eternal life insurance. They didn't talk to people to find out how they could bless them. They didn't pray for the sick or discouraged. They didn't simply sit, listen and empathise with them like that Newcastle tramp I mentioned. They were too concerned about ramming Scripture or doctrine down their throats, faulting them for being immoral or were like the zealous 'do-gooder' trying to metaphorically help the old lady across the street who didn't want to cross over in the first place! They were so busy trying to 'steer' conversations 'around' so they could talk about Yah'shua (Jesus) or some spiritual topic that they forgot they were dealing with people and not future members of their church, mere objects for conversion. People are not fooled by such an approach - most people can tell whether you're genuine or not, whether you genuinely care about them or whether you're just out to win converts on a church safari.

Approaching evangelism wrong can result in your testimony taking a hammering. You may feel bad about yourself, thinking that you're not that great of an advertisement for Christianity. You might even conclude that Yahweh isn't happy with you and isn't proud of your performance since you're falling short of His mitzvah (command) to preach Him to all creatures and nations. But the truth, however, is that it's not up to you - yourself - to supernaturally reveal Yah'shua (Jesus) and His ahavah (love) for people! It isn't even about you. You're supposed to be 'dead' ('crucified') and Messiah is supposed to be alive in you and in charge. You are supposed to be an instrument, and success or failure to convert then does not become your responsibility. All you have to do is let Him live through you. 'All?' you may ask. Well, let me explain what I mean.

The way to evangelise one-to-one should be a wonderful experience and not a heavy, unhealthy religious burden. The key to successful one-to-one evangelism is to be had from a proper understanding of your true nature, who you really are, and learning to just be 'yourself' in Yah'shua (Jesus) without any agenda. So the two questions, then, that have to be asked are:

• 1. Who is Messiah? and
• 2. Who are you?

"Elohim (God) is ahavah (love)" (1 Jn.4:8,16, NIV), Messiah is Elohim (God) and (if you have been born again), Messiah is in you. You have become an image of Him. Therefore He is now your true nature. Your true nature is to be ahavah (love) - always, because you are ahavah/agapé (love), loving people as Yah'shua (Jesus) loves them comes naturally without effort, premeditation, design or conditions. A person who has died to the flesh and who has Messiah alive in himself possesses the messianic nature which is always to love - to be filled with ahavah (love) and chesed (mercy). Such a person has no ulterior motives.

A lot of people are afraid to witness because they are stressing out over what to do, what to say, and how to do it. You're centred on self when you're thinking that way. And you don't belong to yourself anymore. You publically, before witnesses, forfeited your right to yourself when you were baptised by immersion and washed the old sinful life of the flesh away and arose from the watery grave into new resurrection life which is Messiah's. That was your declaration of an end to your independence so you don't have to worry about the how and when - you just have to be available and connected to your Head. You don't have to worry about how and when to bring Yah'shua (Jesus) into a conversation and so lead souls to pray the sinner's prayer and then come to assemblies for discipleship. It'll come naturally at just the right moment while you are loving. Trust Him. He knows what's best for everyone you're witnessing to.

What reason, then, do you need to find to talk to someone you want to witness to? None whatsoever. Don't make plans. Don't have a 'missionary discussion' prearranged. Just go without conditions. Go to listen and talk. Go to love. The people will know exactly what they want to talk about because everyone has something they want to talk about at all times. You'll be amazed how the Ruach (Spirit) orchestrates everything, helping you navigate conversations, without your having to do plan anything out. You just have to be willing to love and to speak when directed. True relationships are built when there is no hidden agenda and you'll be both witnessing and friendshipping simultaneously.

There will be zero pressure to perform in a certain way in order to reveal Yah'shua (Jesus) and His Ahavah (Love) to people. 'But wait,' you might ask, 'aren't we supposed to preach the Besorah (Gospel), heal the sick, deliver the oppressed, and so on?' Absolutely, but it isn't supposed to be you doing any of these things, but Messiah working through you. Let your prayer and heart be to allow Yah'shua (Jesus), who is ahavah (love), to be expressed through you, to whomever you may meet each and every day, and He will use you. You don't even need to 'target' anyone unless you receive a clear urge from the Ruach (Spirit) to go to someone specifically.

The thing about one-to-one personal evangelism is there is no 'wrong' or 'right' way to witness because everyone is different, everyone is at a different place in their life, and everyone has specific needs. Even if they don't know it yet, they have certain needs that only Yah'shua (Jesus) can identify and address - which you can't possibly know anything about in advabce in the vast majority of cases either - so there really is only the Yah'shua (Jesus) way. And you, mature or immature in the emunah (faith), knowledgable or not, are the man or woman of the moment. You're the one chosen for the rôle. You just have to be Yah'shua's (Jesus') channel, His instrument, open and willing.

I learned this approach from a Dutch evangelist called Bas Rijksen. It is unbelievably simple, fear-free, enjoyable and productive. Now obviously this is not the same as witnessing to a group of people though it will sometimes work in a small group of people too. What a wonderful non-confrontational way of revealing the ahavah (love) and grace of Yah'shua (Jesus) especially in a world which knows practically nothing about Him! Just be 'yourself' and allow the Saviour to express Himself through you. This frees you up to relate to people as you see fit within the context of your unique personality. There is no pressure to perform or to imitate other witnesses and no condemnation if there are no obvious or immediate results.

Now this kind of ministry is not the same as the prophetic one although being sensitive to the Ruach (Spirit) obviously is 'prophetic' in the most general sense of the word. In many ways being 'prophetic' is the 'easy' way, particularly if you have been called to deliver a stern message like the Tanakh (Old Testament) nevi'im (prophets) of old because issuing a divine judgment doesn't usually require personally interacting or relationship-building. Of course, if the prophetic message penetrates your hearers and leads them to make teshuvah (repent), then you have the 'harder' but more blessed work of actually making an intimate, personal investment.

Rijksen says that witnessing basically boils down to two options:

• 1. You can just be who you really are in Messiah, which is unconditional ahavah (love); or
• 2. You can come off as a sleazy salesman or Mormon whose only reason for witnessing is to get converts for their church.

If you choose the first option, then you are acknowledging Paul's sentiments who said:

"There is now no condemnation for those who are in Messiah Yah'shua (Jesus), because through Messiah Yah'shua (Jesus) the Torah (Law) of the Ruach haChayim (Spirit of Life) set me free from the torah of sin and death" (Rom.8:1-2, NIV).