As I start my 38^th year of doing a ministry of evangelism in the prophetic spirit, it is time again for a ‘gut check.’ Have I resisted the world’s call to be popular instead of prophetic, a fundraiser instead of a faith raiser, a singer instead of a servant?  ~ I have gone back through my sermons and newsletter articles to check my thinking and see if I have kept moving in the direction of God’s Call.  Of course, it is your response to my ministry that makes it happen in your local church.  So, let’s look together and remember God’s Call.

“I am convinced there is a place for the evangelist today, but the TV model must be replaced with the biblical model.” (1980)

“Maybe it’s good that people aren’t rushing to our churches today.  Could it be this is God’s wake-up call to us saying, “It’s time to start doing evangelism instead of just talking about it.” (1986)

“I challenge all evangelists, pastors, music ministers and musically gifted lay people to create music that will inspire and move the Church into the future.” (1990)

“1950s, goodbye!  I loved my old church.  I thank her for being there for me at that impressionable age.  But I want a church that realizes it’s a new day that calls for a new way!” (1995)

“Being a city boy, I’ve never expressed myself with the words, ‘It pleasures me greatly.’ However, they are the perfect words to express how I feel about being a servant evangelist.  Although I graduated from seminary as a Doctor and was ordained a Reverend, nothing is more awe-inspiring to me than being a Servant.” (1996)

“Encouragement for Young Ministers:  You can be humble and at the same time, assert your leadership.  You can respect the elderly and at the same time, energize the youth. You can be pastoral and at the same time, preach prophetically. You can honor the traditions and at the same time, introduce new ways of worship.  You can be a daily servant and at the same time, see visions.” (2000)

“I love the church because she is not self-serving. She exists in humility and meekness to serve the world.  She exists to do evangelism, taking the Good News to the lost, confused and hopeless. I love the church because of her constant striving to change the world.  I love her prophetic spirit and belief in peacemaking.  I love her courage to confront and challenge injustice wherever it resides.” (2005)

“People today are much like those to whom Isaiah was prophesying who said, “speak to us smooth things.” The Church cannot be a ‘garden’ of smooth things. It cannot become an ‘ether environment’ that puts people to sleep to the hurts and pains around them.” (2007)

“Jesus was angry with his disciples when they fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane.  I am angry with my church because we are sleeping while God is Calling.” (2008)

“METHODISM is known for being pioneering, spiritually fervent, socially concerned, theologically progressive and musically alive. Now put this with COMPASSION to the power of two, and the true meaning of EVANGELISM will be understood ~ E=mc2 (2009)

“When I see the church gaining the crowd but losing her life, it is time to give up popularity for the prophetic spirit.” (2010)

“You cannot be with poor children and not feel the great contradiction ~ the contradiction between God’s Will for the world and our actions in the world.” (2009)

“Challenge to Ministers: Most of us ministers have got what it takes, but we are not giving what we’ve got. It comes off like we don’t have the gifts and graces for ministry.  We do have the gifts and graces. The challenge is to have the guts — the guts to stand tall and give our all.” (2011)

“Restlessness can be a good thing, a creative thing, and a positive change. Ambitious restlessness and Holy Spirit restlessness are completely different. One drives you inward to self, while the other drives you outward to others.” (2015)

Agape, Kimball