After delineating the evangelist’s ministry in Chapter 3 Part 1, we need to notice the differences and similarities between the evangelist’s and pastor’s ministries. This distinction will help us further understand the gift of the evangelist. By the way, many of these differences and similarities can be easily found in one place, Ephesians 4:11-16, which, despite containing seven verses, is actually one sentence dealing with the leadership gifts listed in verse 11.

Purpose

Ephesians 4:11 lists the leadership gifts Christ gave to His church. Verse 12 reveals their purpose.

• “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” – Ephesians 4:12
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As seen from God’s Word, Christ’s leadership gifts have the same purpose. Now, it may be thought that evangelists are nonessential or should even be done away with since they have the same purpose as the pastor. However, if Christ is the One Who gave the gifts and if He is the One Who gave these gifts the same purpose, then Christ is the only One Who says when any of His gifts are to be done away. Also, God’s Word should be the only authority for keeping or doing away with gifts and for determining which gifts are essential or nonessential. Since Christ the Word never undermines, eliminates, nor calls evangelists “nonessential,” His gift of the evangelist must be utilized by pastors and churches as Christ always intended. In fact verse 13 states the pastor’s and the evangelist’s ministries continue “till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Believers will not become perfect like Christ and obtain perfect unity and the complete knowledge of Jesus until we all get to heaven. In other words, pastors and evangelists are needed for every generation.

Let us briefly notice the three parts to the pastor’s and the evangelist’s purpose in ministry as stated in Ephesians 4:12.

• – First of all, these two gifts are needed “for the perfecting of the saints.” In order to perfect the saints, pastors and evangelists must use “the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” as seen in verse 13. Jesus is the church’s standard and measurement. Christ is “the Author and Finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2) Pastors and evangelists are to preach so that Christ’s church “may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” (Ephesians 4:15) Only Christ and His truth will produce a perfect church.
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• – Pastors and evangelists are also “for the work of the ministry.” There are lost souls who need reached and believers in Christ who need helped, encouraged, and taught. Contrary to what some casual observers think, this “work of the ministry” is a full-time job. Here is a humorous, true story of how some view “the work of the ministry.” An older gentleman from the state of North Carolina in the United States was getting ready to retire from his job as a mechanic. His pastor asked the older man what he was planning to do after he retired. The mechanic stated that he was ready to slow down, go on vacation, and see the sights. Said this old man, “I am going into full-time ministry. I’m going to be an evangelist, since evangelists never work. They just get to preach at people all the time.” After a couple of years, the pastor asked the older “evangelist” how the ministry was going. The older man replied that his previous job as a mechanic had been easier and more relaxing than his present pursuit as an evangelist. “The work of the ministry” is a full-time job, and Christ has given His church two full-time gifts for this purpose.
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• – Thirdly, pastors and evangelists are “for the edifying of the body of Christ.” Ephesians 4:16 goes into more detail about this purpose.
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• “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” – Ephesians 4:16
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• Every believer in Christ is a specific part of the body of Christ.
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• “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” – I Corinthians 12:27
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• Pastors and evangelists edify or build up the bodily members of Christ so that the “whole body” is “fitly joined together”; that “every joint supplieth”; that “every part” is effectually working for Christ’s glory. The Holy Spirit empowers Christ’s two leadership gifts “that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” (I Corinthians 12:25) The edifying of Christ’s body is accomplished “in love.” The entire body of Christ, including the pastor and the evangelist, is exhorted to be “speaking the truth in love.” (Ephesians 4:15) At the same time, if pastors and evangelists are fervently reaching the lost (“the work of the ministry”), they will be making “increase of the body.” Christ’s body would then be both maturing and increasing.
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So, evangelists and pastors have the same purpose (perfecting the saints, etc…), although it should be pointed out that they will differ somewhat in how they fulfill that purpose. Chapter 3 part 3 will delineate more differences and similarities between the two gifts.