THE EVANGELIST
By Dr. Ken Blue “And he gave some… evangelists…” Ephesians 4:11 Although all believers are to do the work of evangelism, the Evangelist was not called to do the work of the Apostle, Prophet or the Pastor. His was a specific ministry of taking the gospel message to the lost. The missionary who goes to the lost and preaches the gospel is doing what was intended for the evangelist. In fact, since there is no designated ministry of a missionary, they, the missionaries, are in reality the evangelist. James M. Gray says, “literally, God Himself is an evangelist, for He preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham” (Gal 3:8); Jesus Christ was an evangelist, for He also “preached the gospel” (Luke 20:1); Paul was an evangelist as well as an apostle (Rom 1:15); Philip the deacon was an evangelist (Act 21:8); and Timothy, the pastor (2 Tim 4:5); and indeed all the early disciples who, on being driven out of Jerusalem, “went everywhere preaching the word” (Act 8:4). But Eph 4:11 teaches that one particular order of the ministry, distinguished from every other, is singled out by the Head of the church for this work in a distinctive sense. All may possess the gift of an evangelist in a measure, and be obligated to exercise its privilege and duty, but some are specially endued with it. “He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. [perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The Evangelist has a specific ministry of taking the gospel message to the lost.[/perfectpullquote] It will be seen that as an order in the ministry, the evangelist precedes that of the pastor and teacher, a fact which harmonizes with the character of the work each is still recognized as doing. He has no fixed place of residence, but moves about in different localities, preaching the gospel to those ignorant of it before. As these are converted and united to Jesus Christ by faith, the work of the pastor and teacher begins, to instruct them further in the things of Christ and build them up in the faith.” (Italic, mine). Albert Barns says, “What was the precise office of the evangelist in the primitive church it is now impossible to determine. The evangelist may have been one whose main business was preaching, and who was not particularly engaged in the government of the church. The word properly means, ‘a messenger of good tidings;’ and Robinson (Lex.) supposes that it denotes a minister of the gospel who was not located in any place, but who travelled as a missionary to preach the gospel, and to found churches. The word is so used now by many Christians, but it cannot be proved that it is so used in the New Testament. The office was distinct from that of the pastor, the teacher, and the prophet; and was manifestly an office in which preaching was the main thing.” (Italic, mine). R. A. Torry says, “The work of the evangelist is the proclamation of the glad tidings to those who have not known them, rather than the instruction and pastoral care of those who have believed and been baptized. It follows also that the name denotes a work rather than an order. Its use is nearly like our word missionary.” (Italic, mine).
Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.
