We Can All Do It!

We Can All Do It!Do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.2 Timothy 4:5 NKJVThe party scene at Yale University didn’t satisfy this law student. In fact nothing did. His life was so shallow and empty that one night he even considered suicide. But before that night was over, God reached down and saved Reuben Archer Torrey from himself - and for Himself. In 1877, he left law school because he felt God calling him into Christian service. During a visit to New Haven, Connecticut, the town where Yale is located, D. L. Moody confirmed Torrey’s call with these words, “Young man, you better get to work for God.” Shortly thereafter, he began a ministry of pastoring, preaching, teaching and evangelizing from Ohio to Minnesota. Then God brought Moody into his life again - and in 1889 he became Moody Bible Institute’s first superintendent. At MBI, Torrey took a special interest in developing the Practical Christian Work Program, which emphasized evangelism by laymen in the streets, jails, hospitals, and urban slums of America. Between 1902-04, Torrey traveled around the world preaching the gospel in many countries, including Great Britain, Australia, India, China and Japan. He loved evangelism, and loved encouraging others in evangelistic work. During one crusade in Great Britain he challenged his audience of Christian workers with these words: “I would rather win souls than be the greatest king ... I would rather win souls than be the greatest general ... My one ambition in life is to win as many as possible. Saving souls is the only thing worth doing. And, brothers and sisters, we can all do it!” When Torrey died in 1928, 2 Timothy 4:5 was quoted to describe his life’s ambition - to make evangelism a vital part of his service for God. Moody encouraged Torrey, who encouraged many others during his lifetime. Will you let his story also encourage you to do the work of an evangelist? by Larry Ondrejack