Table of Contents

Ask the Superintendent

Interview with Thomas E. Trask

By Wayde Goodall

Peter Scholtes, arranger and composer of the popular Christian song, "They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love" rightly understood the nature of Christian love and its importance to the believer's witness. Jesus, in John 13:35, said "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

The church's intolerance toward those who have differing views than those taught by the church has distanced the secular world from the community of faith. The biblical concepts of love and acceptance, however, are terms the unchurched understand. In his regular interview, General Superintendent Thomas E. Trask underscores this truth—love transcends culture, race, and religious barriers.

HOW CAN A CHURCH ATTRACT NON-CHRISTIANS SO THEY CAN HEAR THE GOSPEL?

One of the greatest things a church can do is demonstrate love. Regardless from what strata of society people come, people are seeking love. When I pastored, many who worshiped with us stated, "We sense such love in this place."

Love transcends a person's background, culture, and racial and economic barriers. That's why Jesus stressed the importance of love; that's why Paul wrote so powerfully about love. Love becomes the avenue through which people are drawn to Christ.

People outside the church can sense this love. They know when we have an interest in them. When believers pray with nonbelievers who have a crisis in their marriage, their home, their lives, or their business, these believers are demonstrating God's love. Sometimes God brings people to us whom we do not know so we can minister to them. As we minister to these people, it is a powerful testimony of Christ's power and love.

WHY IS LOVE AN IMPORTANT MOTIVATION FOR MINISTRY?

Paul said, "The love of Christ constraineth us." The love of Christ moves believers to action. Ministry doesn't become mechanical; it isn't duty; it isn't a job; it isn't forced or something that is coerced. And we are not merely busy doing religious activities. The love of Christ is compelling us to love others in practical ways. When a church is motivated by love, its outreach ministries become the expression of that love.

Our ministry needs to be motivated out of a love for people based on our love for Jesus Christ. If we do not have love, we will be like the church in Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-6). They were busy; they were commended for their works. But they lacked the thing that made their works effective: They had lost their first love.

Love has to be in the church today. People want to be loved by someone. And when the church demonstrates God's love, people will be drawn to it.

WHAT ARE SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF A LOVING CHURCH?

The Early Church sold their possessions and gave the money to the church so it could minister to others. What made them do this? You can't mandate these actions; they were motivated by love. That was the testimony about the Early Church—they loved one another. They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine, breaking of bread, in prayer, and in fellowship from house to house.

Fellowship is an important part of a church that has love. People are not in a hurry to go home. I've seen that in many congregations. Members stay around the altar praying with one another. This shows they truly care for one another. They also stay after service and fellowship with one another instead of leaving. They invite one another to each other's homes. That is the koininia that needs to be a part of the body of Christ.

HOW CAN A CHURCH DEVELOP A STRATEGY THAT WILL HELP THEM EFFECTIVELY REACH THEIR COMMUNITY?

The Holy Spirit will help a church develop a strategy to reach its community. We might not know how, but God can give us effective ways to reach people with the gospel. As a church prays, God's plans become birthed in their spirits by the work of the Holy Spirit. Then it's just a matter of carrying out God's plan.

When I pastored, I prayed and asked the Lord to show me how to reach our community. God knows how to do that. This is how He directed us. During the winter we bought cases of mittens and scarves. We then asked our people to bring their portable barbeque grills. We went into the poorer sections of our city, set up the grills on the street corner, fed hot dogs to the people in neighborhood, and gave out mittens and scarves to the homeless and the poor. We then had a service in a nearby building so we could share the gospel with them. God gives you those ideas. It was also interesting to see how our people became involved. The professional person and the common laborer were thrilled to be a part of this ministry. They stood side by side on the street corner ministering to those in need.

If every Assemblies of God church could capture the heart of Christ in this matter of compassion, people will be drawn to their church. People want love—they are yearning for it. The cry today is that nobody cares. But the church is a caring unit. It was put in the world to care for others. The Convoy of Hope is a testimony of God's love in action through believers. This and other outreach ministries are getting outside the walls and going to where people are.