Aged 13, I became anxious to evangelise in my church. Of course I was not allowed. Eventually after much persuasion, it was decided that, as they did not use the church on Fridays, I could have it then. Together with the other young people we advertised, arranged a worship group, and I was the preacher.
It all went according to plan, except for one thing. That night I went home really distressed and asked my father what was wrong? I was in tears as I explained, I had preached from the Bible just like he did, and I expected someone would repent, wasn’t that the purpose of preaching? My father sat patiently with me; after all he wasn’t just a pastor, he was Superintendent in charge of all the pastors. Slowly he calmed me down and that night, aged 13, I learned the biggest lesson of my life which would change everything and show me the secret of evangelism.
In simple terms, my father said that it is not just preaching which brings people to repentance. He said you’ve not yet received the Holy Spirit; he told me, the Bible says Jesus taught His disciples the first lesson in evangelism when He said, “When the Holy Spirit is come, He (not you, David), He, will convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgement.” My father said, you need the Holy Spirit!
The Secret of Evangelism: A Lesson on the Holy Spirit
13 and Eager: The Friday Night Service
At age 13, I felt a burning desire to evangelise. Despite initial resistance from church leadership, I was eventually granted permission to use the building on Friday evenings. Alongside a dedicated youth worship group, he organised, advertised, and led the service.
The Expectation of Repentance
The service was executed perfectly – the music was ready, and the sermon was delivered straight from the Bible. However, I returned home in tears. My distress stemmed from a singular unmet expectation: No one had repented.
I questioned my father, a seasoned Pastor and Superintendent, asking why a Bible-based sermon hadn't yielded the expected results.
The Revelation: The Role of the Holy Spirit
My father’s response became the "biggest lesson" of my life, defining the core of effective evangelism. He highlighted a common misconception: Preaching alone does not bring repentance.
"When the Holy Spirit is come, He will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment." – John 16:8
Key Takeaways for Effective Evangelism
According to the lesson shared that night, successful outreach relies on three pillars:
The Instrument (The Preacher): While the speaker delivers the Word, they are not the source of change.
The Message (The Bible): The Word provides the foundation, but it requires a catalyst.
The Agent (The Holy Spirit): True conviction is a supernatural act. As the father explained, it is the Holy Spirit – not the speaker – who convicts the heart.