Number #1 Evangelist

The Grand Rapids Times
8-14-2009
Adult's Walk
By Marcel Gamble

Yes, I have been through some life threatening storms.
Yes, I have been dragged through some of the most treacherous lands.
Furthermore, I have learned some of life’s hard lessons.
However, my experiences don’t make me a stronger evan¬gelist than the person who has been sheltered their entire life.
This week after walking, I learned that saving others becomes a competition when people boast about their testi¬monies.
No one can be the number evangelist because we are all on the same mission.
Being a gunshot victim doesn’t make you a stronger evangelist than someone who has never been shot.
Being a victim of divorce doesn’t make you the number one evangelist because there is someone that is married that is just like you.
To put it in better terms that everyone may understand, the only # 1 evangelist is Jesus Christ.
If a person has experienced trials and tribulations that person does not become the number 1 evangelist, they become a strong Christian.
There was a time when I believed just because I grew up in the inner city and was never blinded from life that made me the number one evangelist.
I believed that if people wanted to hear a true testi¬mony they should come to me.
I thought that nobody else’s testimony mattered.
There was a time when I was self centered and believed that I was the number evangelist, but now I know among the hu¬man species such an individual doesn’t exist.
I now know that there is only one person from a higher power that is the number 1 evangelist and this person is Jesus.
I’m not saying that people’s testimonies are unworthy of saving others.
I’m saying testimonies shouldn’t be used in competi¬tion because God’s servants shouldn’t battle.
As real talk God’s servants should join together and create unity to succeed in the mission of serving the Lord. This week’s column was inspired by Rev. Howard C. Earle, Jr.