I received a personal call from Bishop Steve, inviting me to be part of the Bishop’s Gifted Evangelists Group. I felt truly honoured and blessed that someone saw potential in me and believed I am gifted in evangelism. This invitation has been a blessing, and I am grateful for the opportunity to grow in my faith and serve others in fulfilling the Great Commission.
Our group gathers once a month on Thursday evenings. Since we began, the group has grown, and it’s been wonderful to be part of a community of believers united by a shared passion to spread the gospel. Julie-anne, the specialist consultant of evangelism and mission for City to City Australia, has organised our meetings with grace and purpose, helping us stay focused on our calling.
We started by examining what people think an evangelist is – each person had a different image – and through that, we sought to understand what it truly means to be gifted by God in evangelism. Clarifying this helped us align our hearts with God's purpose for us and strengthened our desire to serve him faithfully.
Each month, we have different speakers and themes that challenge and inspire us. One session focused on storytelling – learning how to share our testimonies and the gospel in a way that touches hearts. Another emphasised sharing the message of Christ in under a minute, using simple visual aids. We discussed leading people to Christ but also how to ask the right questions to get to the God question. We even have an upcoming exam, which keeps us accountable and committed to growing in our faith.
Evangelism is not just a duty – it’s a calling from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who commissioned us to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). Knowing this gives me purpose and motivation, and as a disciplined person, I find that a clear purpose helps me stay focused on his mission.
One of the most inspiring moments was in July when we discussed discipleship. A gifted evangelist shared how she took a friend to the Alpha course, and now they are studying the Bible together weekly. Seeing someone move from interest to faith, asking deep questions, and growing in Christ was a powerful reminder of the Holy Spirit’s work. Her humility and obedience to God's call were truly encouraging and exemplified walking in faith and love.
Coming from Romania, I’ve had to learn to be gentle and patient, especially since my cultural background can seem blunt in New Zealand. I’ve learned to plant seeds carefully, trusting God to water them in his time. My role isn’t to be the evangelist in every situation but to encourage others to share the gospel boldly, trusting that the Holy Spirit is working in every heart. Sometimes people are not ready, or they say no – this is part of trusting God's perfect timing.
In our Bible study group, we’ve started the second module of the Ripple Effect course. The first session was about deepening relationships with non-Christians and our homework is praying for two people and asking God to open doors for us to share his love. It’s amazing to see how prayer moves and creates opportunities for evangelism. We are all uniquely gifted by the Holy Spirit, and learning from one another strengthens our faith and effectiveness in sharing Christ’s love.
Being part of the Bishop’s Gifted Evangelists Group has been a blessing that has strengthened my faith, sharpened my skills, and deepened my understanding of God’s call on my life. Most importantly, it has reaffirmed that I am here to serve Christ – sharing his gospel and walking alongside others as they grow in faith. I look forward to continuing this journey, trusting that the Holy Spirit will lead and empower us all to be faithful witnesses for Jesus Christ.
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We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
I received a personal call from Bishop Steve, inviting me to be part of the Bishop’s Gifted Evangelists Group. I felt truly honoured and blessed that someone saw potential in me and believed I am gifted in evangelism. This invitation has been a blessing, and I am grateful for the opportunity to grow in my faith and serve others in fulfilling the Great Commission.
Our group gathers once a month on Thursday evenings. Since we began, the group has grown, and it’s been wonderful to be part of a community of believers united by a shared passion to spread the gospel. Julie-anne, the specialist consultant of evangelism and mission for City to City Australia, has organised our meetings with grace and purpose, helping us stay focused on our calling.
We started by examining what people think an evangelist is – each person had a different image – and through that, we sought to understand what it truly means to be gifted by God in evangelism. Clarifying this helped us align our hearts with God's purpose for us and strengthened our desire to serve him faithfully.
Each month, we have different speakers and themes that challenge and inspire us. One session focused on storytelling – learning how to share our testimonies and the gospel in a way that touches hearts. Another emphasised sharing the message of Christ in under a minute, using simple visual aids. We discussed leading people to Christ but also how to ask the right questions to get to the God question. We even have an upcoming exam, which keeps us accountable and committed to growing in our faith.
Evangelism is not just a duty – it’s a calling from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who commissioned us to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). Knowing this gives me purpose and motivation, and as a disciplined person, I find that a clear purpose helps me stay focused on his mission.
One of the most inspiring moments was in July when we discussed discipleship. A gifted evangelist shared how she took a friend to the Alpha course, and now they are studying the Bible together weekly. Seeing someone move from interest to faith, asking deep questions, and growing in Christ was a powerful reminder of the Holy Spirit’s work. Her humility and obedience to God's call were truly encouraging and exemplified walking in faith and love.
Coming from Romania, I’ve had to learn to be gentle and patient, especially since my cultural background can seem blunt in New Zealand. I’ve learned to plant seeds carefully, trusting God to water them in his time. My role isn’t to be the evangelist in every situation but to encourage others to share the gospel boldly, trusting that the Holy Spirit is working in every heart. Sometimes people are not ready, or they say no – this is part of trusting God's perfect timing.
In our Bible study group, we’ve started the second module of the Ripple Effect course. The first session was about deepening relationships with non-Christians and our homework is praying for two people and asking God to open doors for us to share his love. It’s amazing to see how prayer moves and creates opportunities for evangelism. We are all uniquely gifted by the Holy Spirit, and learning from one another strengthens our faith and effectiveness in sharing Christ’s love.
Being part of the Bishop’s Gifted Evangelists Group has been a blessing that has strengthened my faith, sharpened my skills, and deepened my understanding of God’s call on my life. Most importantly, it has reaffirmed that I am here to serve Christ – sharing his gospel and walking alongside others as they grow in faith. I look forward to continuing this journey, trusting that the Holy Spirit will lead and empower us all to be faithful witnesses for Jesus Christ.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
