LITTLE-KNOWN EVANGELIST MAY BE WORLD'S MOST FRUITFUL

It is a dusty, crowded marketplace in an African city. A mature American couple and a few friends are setting up loudspeakers on a flat-bed truck. They begin to play their guitars and sing, and a big crowd gathers. One of their previous African converts, now a pastor, warms up the crowd. Soon an American businessman takes the mike. This is obviously new to him and he is nervous, but he tells what Christ did for him. The African pastor translates. Then the other American man begins a simple message about Jesus. When he finishes, he asks for a show of hands for all who are willing to accept Jesus into their hearts as Savior. About 80% of the packed crowd raise their hands, hundreds of them. They hold them up while they are counted. Then they are told how to live for Christ and where to find churches. The next day each of these churches has hundreds of new members. And by then, this is happening all over again in another African city.

“We go to them” is the motto of Shad and Sheila Williams' ministry. Instead of trying to attract a crowd to a stadium or church, they go to where there is already a crowd. They draw them close with music, then preach to them. With scores of new pastors and churches raised up from their converts, the harvest keeps spreading wider and wider.

Back when Shad and Sheila were hippie street musicians in the 1970s, they were suddenly converted to Christ, then called into Christian service. Their “we go to them” ministry developed gradually. It was a total faith ministry. They believed God did not want them to ask for money, and they did not. But the money came, very often at the last minute, once after they actually left for the airport without funds! So it was always a “shoe-string” ministry. Yet, with little money and resources, it has produced new converts at a breath-taking pace

Now, in 25 years of ministry, they have produced over five million converts, in South America, Africa and India. That probably tops the record for any modern evangelist.

Each of their trips produces tens of thousands of converts. And every new year brings more converts than the one before.

But they do more than just lead people to Christ. They have also produced many native pastors and started a seminary. These pastors are trained to evangelize, and are also producing converts at an amazing rate. Many new churches have been founded. So these new converts are not left to wither on the vine.

Yet their ministry is so small that they have only about 100 supporters. They yearn to do more. They are dismayed when trips must be cancelled or limited for lack of funds. And they dream of what they could do with more funds. Their track record gives an idea of what they could do with them.

Many Christians would like to go to Africa or other places where the news about Jesus is badly needed. They know that we are all called to evangelize and disciple. But for various reasons, most of us cannot go ourselves. Fortunately, we can send others in our place.

Shad and Sheila, now grandparents, will gladly go in our place. Or if you want to join them for a trip, they will have you singing to, or testifying to a crowd in places you never dreamed of serving, and seeing hundreds come to Christ as a result. We just need to help them make those trips, and train those new pastors. A quick look at their website, www.wegotothem.com, will open up new vistas of what we can do for Christ, and for those he came to save.