By Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño

By Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño

You've heard the definitions for evangelism and perhaps even the explanations of its meaning in the ancient biblical languages. It's all important, but most important is for us to figure out what it means now in the middle of the life we live. I think it means authentically living as Christ did and day by day getting better and better at it.

It's as easy as sharing with another person what God has done in our lives. Almost a century ago a man shared with my maternal grandparents that God had reached out to him with great love and given him joy and meaning and purpose in life and God was reaching out to them as well. So here I am, a recipient of that simple sharing, giving God thanks for that man who stopped by and blessed the life of my family, and continues to bless me. When I think of this man, I think of Jesus walking the streets of yesterday in the flesh and walking the streets of today in Spirit stopping for all people and telling us in big and simple ways that God loves us all.

It's not complicated, unless we make it so. True evangelism is not about teaching doctrine or theology, and heaven forbid that it be about explaining institutional church organizational structures, rules and processes! True evangelism is befriending others with the love of Christ, as pure as the child who puts her arm around another and says, "Love you." It's not that doctrine and theology and figuring out ways to be the church aren't important, it's just that they aren't the first thing we should be about loving others is.

Here's a discipline I have long tried to observe: I try to be present in the moment for whoever I am with-friend, colleague, antagonist, or stranger-expressing to them respect, and care and even more, intentionally expressing love to them. Is this not what Jesus did for the Samaritan woman, Bartimeaus the blind man, for lepers on the edge of the city, for Zacheaus the rich tax collector, and even for the thief on the cross? Jesus does it a lot better than me, exponentially better. Jesus will always be the Master and I one of his disciples. But I'm trying daily trying to be more and more like Jesus my Master. My heart strives for this goal because Jesus, and Jesus alone, has extended perfect and unconditional love to me. But of course, it is much bigger than just me.

I believe that sharing the love of God by befriending all those around us heals us of our brokenness and transforms our hurting world. Each day I am convinced more and more that we are wired to love God and love each other and when we refocus our lives and our love outwardly to God and all those whom we encounter in life, a process of healing is engaged and encouraged within us and all around us.

There's just one more thing. It brings us full circle. Jesus is who we thank and seek guidance from as we attempt to share the love that has been wired into the very core of our being. Jesus is both source and supreme example of the love God our Creator has placed within each one of us. So don't forget to name him as you live your life and share your love. Go and be an evangelist in the name of Christ Jesus!