A cell host in Zurich, Switzerland, invited her neighbor to her cell meeting and two "harvest events" at her church. Soon after, the neighbor discovered she had  cancer. When the cell leader visited that neighbor in her home, the searching woman joyfully gave her life to Jesus.

Emerson de la Cruz, "secretary" of a group in Lima, Peru, excitedly reports three people have become born again through their cell - a fact newly converted Oscar, Ruth and Alan eagerly share with friends and neighbors.

Men in a cell group in Seoul, Korea, invited an agnostic businessman to their meeting. Even though he vowed never to darken the door of a temple or church, their peace and joy drew him to their home meetings. He went faithfully to that cell group for two years before he decided to receive Jesus as his Lord. He now leads a men's cell group in his area.

Several cell hosts invited friends and neighbors to "harvest events" at Family Worship Center, their church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Five of their targeted friends have become born again through prayer and attending the church sponsored activities to attract the lost.

WHICH OLDER BROTHER?

Whether you live in Zurich, Lima, Seoul, Grand Rapids, or any other city, lost people surround you and your cell group. Every day an estimated 94,000 people die without the Lord, bound for a hopeless eternity without Christ. Of that number, 55,000 have never heard the Gospel. The lost fill your city's  apartment buildings, shop in your local grocery store, sit near you in your workplace and frequent your family gatherings.  It's time to move out of passivity! The older brother in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) was dutiful, and obeyed his father's every command. But he was also passive: never once did he search for his rebellious younger brother and persuade him to return home. In Hebrews 2:17, Jesus is called our "brother." He left the glory of heaven to come to earth as a babe in a simple manger, live a sinless life and die on a cross of humiliation for our sins. Jesus is the older brother who understood the heart of His Father, and gave everything to restore us back into relationship with Him. Even now, our older brother Jesus is in heaven at the right hand of our Father, interceding on our behalf.

Which older brother will you and your cell be like? Will you and your group do your "duty" like the older brother in the parable, praising together, discussing the Word together, praying and ministering to one another and remain passive in reaching the lost?

Or will you and your group be like our older brother Jesus, leaving your comfort zone and "member's only" meetings to pray, reach out and embrace the lost? This should be your goal!

THREE STEPS TOWARD THE GOAL

Once you have made the decision to be an active, evangelistic cell, there are three steps you can take to encourage a heart for evangelism:

1. Whenever you want to change the behavior of your cell, begin in the realm of prayer. In each cell meeting, plan at least one occasion of "evangelism prayer."  For a list of options, see the sidebar in this article.

2. Identify and target specific lost people as a cell. Challenge each person in your group to name at least three lost people in the area. Encourage them to pray daily for their salvation, and spend time developing a caring relationship with one of the people each week. As you model this lifestyle for them and hold them accountable for prayer and new relationships, you will see your group discard their passive lifestyle.

3. Hold periodic "visitor friendly" events in which you will invite lost friends.   Lost people are reticent to attend a Bible study, but will gladly come for food, a game night or Superbowl party. Then it will be much easier to invite and include them in upcoming cell meetings.

Some churches, like the ones in Zurich and Grand Rapids, have "harvest events" in the church facilities where several cell groups invite lost friends. If your church offers these kinds of events, use them to expose unbelievers to your cell group, your church and most importantly, the love of Christ.

Developing a heart for evangelism in yourself and in your members is only birthed through prayer. To increase a passion for the lost, petition the Lord to see the lost souls around you. Then, minister to their felt needs and continue to pray for wisdom as they see Christ in you and your cell. As light casts out darkness, a deeper prayer life and strategic relationships with lost people will cast out passive attitudes about your cell's call to evangelism.

FIVE WAYS TO INCORPORATE EVANGELISM-BASED PRAYER IN YOUR NEXT CELL MEETING

The "empty chair" prayer - Leave one chair empty in each meeting to represent one or more lost friends. Ask your cell members to gather around the chair and pray for the salvation of the lost people in their oikos.

Prayer partners - Pair up cell members who will pray daily for each other's lost friends. These partners can hold each other accountable.

Concert prayer for the lost - Introduce a new kind of prayer to your group! At your next meeting, ask them to stand and pray aloud simultaneously for the salvation of specific lost friends. It can be noisy, but it's a powerful "rumble" of prayer that puts Satan on notice!

Prayerwalking - Walk in pairs through a targeted community, praying for salvation to come to each home or apartment you walk past. This is a great way to prepare a new host home for your cell meetings.

Create a "Blessing List" or "Most Wanted" Poster  - Use a pre-printed poster or a piece of butcher paper and write the names of lost people on it. Post it on the wall and pray for these people each week, making plans to connect them to the members between meetings.

CellGroup Journal, Volume 9, #1
1-800-735-5865