CHARISMA MAGAZINE ARTICLE BY: Chris Mikkelson
Eight years ago, I remember looking through a Billy Graham picture book. I stood in awe of how God used him to reach his generation for Christ.
As I looked at the pictures of packed stadiums and fields full of people as far as the eye could see, I remember thinking to myself, “Where are the people who are doing this today? Where are the people preaching the gospel in crusades like this today?”
My heart was heavy because, even then, I knew that America and our world was in desperate need of salvation. The gospel message was the tool for the job, but where were the people preaching it?
Years have gone by and sin has invaded our world, with the gospel barely being preached. I believe this is the moment for the church to rise up. This is the hour for the church to preach the truth like never before. This is our opportunity as the body of Christ to truly show the love of Jesus and preach the pure gospel of salvation by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. Our time has come and we must not miss this hour of opportunity.
As I’ve traveled around the world preaching in large-scale evangelistic gospel crusades, I’ve seen the harvest in other countries firsthand. People are hungry for the Word of God and for the truth. Often people tell me how the rest of the world is hungry for God, but not in America. People say that revival is happening in other parts of the world because they are more desperate for God than they are here. But I beg to differ.
Since I started doing evangelism seven years ago on the streets of America, I’ve seen hundreds of people come to Christ. I’ve seen young people come to Christ with the most simple gospel presentation. I’ve seen older people who seem put off by the gospel come to Jesus standing on the street corner or at their own doorstep. I’ve seen people from all different types of backgrounds respond to the gospel message.
Atheists, drug addicts, homosexuals, the homeless, the rich and even church goers come to Christ through the preaching of the gospel. The apostle Paul said the gospel is the power of God unto salvation for those who believe (Rom. 1:16). I’ve decided that the only reason people aren’t responding to the gospel anymore is not due to a lack of desperation, but because we’re not preaching it anymore.
For years as a young Christian, I would go to different churches and revival meetings and never hear the gospel preached. This happened until I heard an evangelist by the name of Daniel Kolenda preach the gospel at a conference years ago. There he preached a powerful but simple gospel message, and the results were astonishing! Hundreds of people flooded the altar to receive salvation. Young and old alike came to the altar to receive salvation, and my heart broke.
I knew in that moment that it was possible. It was possible for the gospel to go forward again with power like it did with Billy Graham and many others. It was possible for our country to be saved again. Not because we have beautiful churches, not because we have the perfect church models and not because we have messages that don’t offend, but because of the gospel. It’s the gospel that changes lives, and it’s the gospel that changes the heart of every sinner.
I hear people talk about how America and our world is doomed because of the sins that our generation has committed. I have good news for you! As long as there is one man or woman who is bold enough to preach the gospel, there is still hope for our world. There is hope for your city, hope for your state and hope for America in Jesus’ name! It’s time to start preaching the gospel again.
My friends, there is no better time to start preaching the gospel than right now. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 6:2 that, “Look, now is the accepted time; look, now is the day of salvation.” There is no better time to get saved than right now, and there is no better time to preach the gospel than right now.
Preach it to your neighbor, preach it to your co-worker, tell your friends and your family about how Jesus saves and see what happens! God can’t wait to use you to share this life-changing message with those who are around you. In the words of Jesus in Mark 16:15, I commission you to go therefore and preach the gospel in Jesus’ name!
Chris Mikkelson is an international evangelist who preaches the gospel around the world in some of the most unreached nations on the planet. His mass evangelistic gospel crusades are attended by thousands of people where many in attendance hear the gospel for the very first time and make decisions for Christ. Often, incredible miracles happen at these crusades but Chris believes the greatest miracle of all is the salvation of a sinful soul. As the former USA Crusade Director for the world renowned Evangelists Reinhard Bonnke and Daniel Kolenda, Chris has experience organizing mass crusades in the USA and around the world. It is the same burden for souls that Evangelist Bonnke and Kolenda have that burdens Chris’ heart to see the nations of the earth washed in the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
