Mar. 30, 2025

Ordaining Evangelists (30 MAR 2025) — Pastor John Custer

Introduction - This message describes the reasons for ordaining leaders in the Body  of Christ.  In particular, it explores the characteristics and ministry of the evangelist, one of the “5-fold” ministries of Ephesians 4:11-12.  Our church has been the recipient of the God-given gift of three women, all evangelists, in the last two years.  We will be ordaining them today and explaining the potential blessing they are not just to our church, but to the church of Monessen.  I’d like to answer some simple questions concerning this blessing:

Why ordain anyone?

Titus 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee… KJV

1 Tim 5:22 Do not lay hands upon anyone too quickly and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.

Ordination is the act of laying hands on someone to agree with God’s selection of that person for specialized work in His church.  This was usually done publicly, and it has the effect of setting things in order in the church.  Without ordination, workers in the Body of Christ lack the recognition by people and the empowerment of God to get any of His Kingdom work done.  It is not enough for each of us to just be a good guy and do good things our entire Christian lives.  At some point, leaders need to be publicly appointed by ordination or there will be disorder.  A military force without recognized leaders cannot fight.  

Leaders are essentially all “elders.” Some are localized (resident) ministries: pastor, elder, shepherd, bishop, and overseer, which are all the same person.  Some ministries are mobile, moving about from a local congregation which effectively is their family, to other congregations and into the cities between congregations: apostle, prophet, evangelist, and teacher.  God today is forming apostolic teams of mobile ministers moving amongst small groups and congregations.  It is happening right here in Monessen.  When mobile ministers return to the congregation which is their home, they just function along with the resident elders, shepherding the flock.  

1 Peter 5:1-2 Therefore, I urge elders among you, as your fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and one who is also a fellow partaker of the glory that is to be revealed: 2shepherd the flock of God among you,

Why ordain women?

Galatians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. NASB

Acts 21:8-9 On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses. NASB

1 Tim 3:1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. NIV

Although there is no picture in the New Testament of a woman having sole responsibility for a congregation of believers, or apostolic responsibility for the planting of churches, the Scriptures above undoubtedly show that they had 5-fold gifts (prophetesses) and could desire and be placed into many leadership positions.  Women comprise 1/2 of the Body of Christ (probably more).  God certainly will release all of them to the full expression of the gifts He has placed within them.  We love our women, and will ordain them!

What does an evangelist do?

There is a relatively scant description of the job description of an evangelist in the  New Testament.  In a nutshell, the evangelist is a “proclaimer of good news.” In the following verse, Jesus described what an evangelist does as He talked about His own ministry, which included all that an evangelist does:

Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, 19 and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.  NASB

The word translated as “bring good news” is the single Greek word euaggelizo.  It means to evangelize.  The basic message in this verse is that because of Jesus, God’s favor has come, and all the rest of the two verses refer to the results of that good news.  The evangelist moves about, always seeking to acquaint sinners with the savior.  He may do a variety of things which all elders do because he is one.  Acts 8 is the most complete picture we have of an evangelist in action:

Acts 8:5-8 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming the Christ to them. 6The crowds were paying attention with one mind to what was being said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. 7For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed or limped on crutches were healed. 8So there was much rejoicing in that city. NASB

Acts 8:26-35 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Get ready and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.) 27So he got ready and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship,… 

35-40 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. 36As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch *said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 38And he ordered that the chariot stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing. 40But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.

The verses above show that Philip was a deacon at one point.  He served food to Grecian Jewish widows because they were being overlooked in the daily distribution meals in the church of Jerusalem.  We then see him moving out from the church in Jerusalem to parts of Samaria (35 miles away) preaching and doing miracles in his gift of evangelist.  God then moved him on to a desert road to meet a eunuch from Ethiopia, whom he taught and eventually baptized. This was a distance of close to 50 miles.  He then was translated (moved instantly) from the Gaza road to Azotus (Ashdod), a distance of about 20 miles.  What an exciting trip!  It’s exciting to be an evangelist!

The effects of evangelism

Satan knows that every Sunday the pastor and elders will be at a given church a given time.  He can focus his energies there and try to distract and discourage weak Christian individuals before a predictable church service begins.  By contrast, God is wise in planting mobile ministers in the world.  Satan can’t predict where the evangelists will pop up, casting out demons and healing, bringing spiritual artillery in surprise patterns orchestrated by God, intercepting and rescuing backslidden saints, bringing His church together.

Conclusion -  In today’s service, God added more building blocks to His church in the form of evangelists to gather His church together “so that with one purpose and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. “ (Romans 15:6). This unity has such great promise attached to it, being the key to great outpourings of healings and miracles we all hope for. Let’s praise God for giving us these three great women!