Resolution on Evangelism

Whereas the primary purpose of Christ's incarnation, earthly ministry, suffering and death, resurrection, and ascension was to glorify God by saving, redeeming, cleansing, justifying and reconciling sinners to God (1 Tim. 1:15; Rom. 5:10; Rom. 3:23-26); and,

Whereas in His public and private teaching ministries Christ taught the blessing and responsibility of His followers to concern themselves with the universal need for mankind to be saved (Matt. 9:36-38; John 4:34-38); and,

Whereas after Christ's resurrection every one of the four Gospel Records and the book of Acts record His final command to His disciples, known as the "great commission", to make disciples unto Him of people from all nations, placing priority and emphasis upon this particular Christian activity (John 20:21-23; Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8); and,

Whereas making disciples among all nations consists of proclaiming the gospel, baptizing those who believe, and teaching those believers to obey the Word of God (Matt. 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16); and,

Whereas it is observed in the ministries of our Lord and of the apostles that they approached evangelizing the lost both spontaneously and systematically in their method (Luke 8:43-48, John 4:4-26; Acts 3; Acts 20:20,21); and,

Whereas the daily affairs of life and even other activities of ministry of lower priority than the proclamation of the gospel often distract us from faithfully obeying this command of our Lord;

Therefore, be it resolved that we the members of the Ohio Bible Fellowship, meeting at the Spring Conference on April 12,13, 2002 at Bible Community Church in Mentor, Ohio, commit to making, or maintaining, evangelism a priority in our church ministries and individual service for the Lord; and,

Be it further resolved that we will dedicate our time and efforts in ministry toward the primary task of making disciples for Christ by proclaiming the gospel, urging believers to obey the Lord in baptism, and patiently teaching believers to obey God's Word; and,

Be it further resolved that we strive to use the methods of our Lord and of the apostles of spontaneously, as well as systematically, evangelizing those yet lost in sin; and,

Be it further resolved that while we "contend for the faith" (Jude 3) and "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Tim. 6:12), that we observe that the faith in Jesus Christ for which we contend must be heard before it can be believed (Rom. 10:14), and that a faith worth fighting for is so because it is worth proclaiming.