Developing Creative World Evangelism Methods -- By: Gordon Van Rooy

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 128:511 (Jul 1971)
Article: Developing Creative World Evangelism Methods
Author: Gordon Van Rooy


Developing Creative World Evangelism Methods

Gordon Van Rooy

[Gordon Van Rooy, Director, Leadership Instruction and Training, Houston, Texas.]

David fingered a round stone, slipped it into its launching base and let go a missile that toppled a giant, defeated an enemy and put Israel back in a leadership position. David’s method was old, but his idea was creative. It changed the course of a nation, possibly of the world. Today modern Davids hurl stones toward monolithic giants and they still topple. The problem is, however, that there are few Davids and many giants.

Of Giants and Discouragement

I.F.M.A. statistics state that if Christendom turns all its evangelistic forces loose and concentrates only on the population explosion it would reach about three percent of them and would fall progressively behind. Sociologists prophesy that by 1980 the “have” nations must choose which nations among the “have nots” must be assigned to starvation for lack of food. And all know that the voracious appetite of the Communist machine has swallowed one billion people and is now chewing out the foundations of American resistance on many levels.

Christendom, like Israel, is shaking at the taunts of the giant. It is cringing, sweating, wringing its hands. Now David steps forth. From the human view point David’s task is impossible. The very size of the giant is demoralizing. His protecting armor emphasizes his impregnability. The distance which Goliath could throw his massive spear keeps David at a discouraging distance. Before the giant is the shield bearer and behind him are supporting ranks. Numbers are intimidating. Then there is that foreboding threat

if no one can topple the giant the armies of Israel will become slaves to the Philistines.

As though the external forces of discouragement were not enough, David’s eldest brother falsely accuses him of being a naughty boy—neglecting home duties to come and see the show. And King Saul infers that David is a crazy mixed up teenager.

In the midst of these discouragements David, equipped with the tools of creative thinking, moves ahead. At the critical moment his creative mind comes up with a workable idea. And David marches off the battlefield with a grubby head in tow and a positive testimony for the living God.

While David had five smooth stones, he had five other weapons in the armory of creative thinking. One too must have these five elements at work as one thinks creatively in the present task of developing creative world-evangelism methods. One is proceeding on the premise that you cannot have creative world evangelism methods without...

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