By Brian R. Kenyon
Several years ago, one of my missions instructors made the statement, “Everyone is either a missionary or a mission area.” By this he meant all people are either Christians or they are not. If they are not, their heart is a mission area in need of being evangelized. Furthermore, all Christians are either missions-minded or they are not. If they are not, their heart is a mission area in need of being “re-evangelized” because they missed a very important part of conversion, a heart for seeking the lost and bringing them to Jesus (cf. Lk. 19:10). Jesus is concerned about seeking the lost, and so should we (Mt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15-16)! We cannot be Christ-like if we are not concerned about bringing lost souls to a knowledge of the truth (Mt. 9:36-38; Jn. 4:19-26).
At the end of this past semester, every full-time student, along with area Christians, participated in an evangelistic campaign. The original plan was for all the students to go to Costa Rica. For some, however, it was not expedient to obtain a passport (or visa for non-US passport holders). Thus, the ones who could not go to Costa Rica led and participated on a local campaign in Lakeland, Florida.
Lakeland Campaign
Right outside the Florida School of Preaching doors are the City of Lakeland and the even greater Polk County area. This population, like all others, desperately needs to hear the gospel (Rom. 1:16-17). Roberson did a great job leading this campaign. He had tremendous help from South Florida Avenue church of Christ members. The campaign began Monday, May 13, and ended Friday, May 17. Students and South Florida Avenue church members met at the building each morning around 9:00. Students knocked doors from 9:30/10:00 am to 12:00/1:00 pm and then from 2:00 to 4:00/4:30 pm. This campaign did not feature a nightly gospel meeting. Instead, we invited people for a “Bible questions/answers and prayer drop-in” at the fellowship room between 6:30-8:00 pm. The idea was for people with Bible questions to come and get them answered from the word of God. Also, we wanted to pray for them, especially if they had special requests. An FSOP instructor and/or board member was present each night to help students who might get “blind-sided” by some of the questions people can ask. This also provided time for fellowship and writing cards and/or packaging door hangers for the next day.
Our appreciation for the South Florida Avenue church of Christ is immense and cannot be fully expressed! What a great, sacrificial example they were in supporting our students and this campaign (Mt. 5:13-16). Many came to door knock, which was very encouraging. Those who were not physically able, enthusiastically participated in other ways. Church members supplied lunch for the participants and snacks for the evening Q/A sessions each day. Church members even did much of the clean-up following these meals and periods of refreshment. Their provisions went far beyond physical bodies. I concur, as Paul wrote to Philemon, when thinking of the Christians at South Florida Avenue, I “have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you” (Phile. 7)! We are truly blessed to be a part of the South Florida Avenue church of Christ!
Although the visible response in the neighborhoods we contacted was not overwhelming, our job is not to “give the increase” but to “plant and water” (1 Cor. 3:6). When we do our part, God does His part. Plenty of planting was done and a little watering. We pray and trust those who were contacted with the gospel will pursue it and allow it to penetrate their hearts (Lk. 8:15). The impact this campaign had on our students and on the South Florida Avenue church members who participated will be long lasting. It is beautiful when Christians work together in such harmony (1 Cor. 12:12-27).
Costa Rica
The mission in Costa Rica also was not the typical door knocking in the day with a gospel meeting at night campaign. Rather, it was a contact follow-up from a door knocking campaign that was held several months before our arrival. James Colwell, former preacher for the Wesconnett church of Christ in Jacksonville, Florida, and FSOP extension class instructor, organized the Costa Rican side of the campaign. James has been living in Costa Rica for several years as a missionary. Brian, Jagie, and Jarred from FSOP met with the Costa Rican team on Saturday, May 11. We worshiped Sunday with the church of Christ in Sarchi. Roldan Chinchilla is the preacher. I worked together with him on a YES II trip in Costa Rica in 2015. We then traveled three hours over the mountain to Perez Zeledon, which is in San Isidro.
The good news about this kind of campaign is that to every house we went were people who wanted to study. The bad news is that some of the people were not very open-minded to the Scriptures but were set in their ways, attempting to prove irrational, non-biblical beliefs. Toward the end of the campaign, we learned a popular phrase among denominationalists that translates, “Much studying brings death.” This expression is a false, twisted adaptation from Second Corinthians 3:6, which states, “the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” Of course, the context of that passage shows Paul’s discussion about the “letter” of the Law of Moses and how it was “the ministry of death … the ministry of condemnation … taken away in Christ” (2 Corinthians 3:7-14). The main reason people appealed to this expression was they believed their “Holy Spirit experiences” were confirmation they were right with God. To them, it did not matter what the Bible taught because the alleged Holy Spirit’s direct involvement in their lives would override anything the Bible could teach. As much as we would appeal to Bible book, chapter, and verse to support the gospel, they would appeal to their “Holy Spirit experiences” to support their beliefs and practices! We must all realize the Holy Spirit would never teach or approve anything that contradicted God’s written revelation in the Bible (Jn. 14:26; 15:26; 16:13; 1 Cor. 2:7-16; 2 Pet. 1:20-21).
Although the challenges were great, we planted and watered the gospel seed in many hearts (1 Cor. 3:6 cf. Lk. 8:11), including wayward members of the church (Gal. 6:1-2). One young man was baptized and brethren who had not attended the Perez Zeledon church services for a long time, attended. Those whom we visited who were outside of Christ were taught what they must do to be saved (Acts 2:37-38, 40-41, 47). We returned to Florida May 18.
Conclusion
We are thankful to our supporters who help make these practical experiences possible. Although the funds used for these campaigns were specially donated by individuals, “over and above” their normal school contributions, your continual support of students and the school’s general operating fund is essential to our training preachers and evangelists, whether in the classroom or in the field! If you would like to know more about the school and/or how you or someone you know can train with us to preach and evangelize, please contact the office.
