Affirmations for Members of NZ Association of Evangelists
Affirmation 1 – Authority
God has spoken. He has spoken finally, authoritatively, and clearly in the totally inspired, fully truthful Bible, the Word of God.
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, alone, are the final foundation and standard for all theology, doctrine and Christian experience. The Bible is the source of our message and the final authority for all Evangelistic ministries, and upon that Word we will evangelize.
Affirmation 2 – Christology
God has fully and finally revealed and incarnated Himself in His sinless Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the second Person in the divine Trinity, sharing all the attributes of the Godhead. He died vicariously for sinners and bodily rose again for their justification. He alone is “the way the truth and the life’ whereby salvation is effected by the grace of God. Thus, we will “preach the Gospel”, “Christ and Him crucified”.
Affirmation 3 – The Holy Spirit
God sent His Holy Spirit, the third Person in of the Divine Trinity, into the world. He brings conviction of sin and draws people to Christ for salvation. He then enters the lives of repentant believers to regenerate, sanctify and empower for service. Evangelism apart from the Spirit’s work is meaningless. Therefore, we will seek His call, guidance, wisdom and power in our ministry of Evangelism.
Affirmation 4 – The Church
The Church is the Body of Jesus Christ here on earth. Its inception, growth, health, and extension are central to world
evangelization. Evangelism must be church-orientated to be lasting and honoured by the Holy Spirit. As evangelists we will work with, through, and help to equip local churches to advance the cause of Christ and the salvation of the lost.
Affirmation 5 – Eschatology
Jesus Christ is coming again. Each person will stand before Him in judgment. Those, whose names are in the Lamb’s Book of Life, shall dwell eternally in God’s presence in heaven as His redeemed, resurrected people. Those who reject Jesus Christ shall spend eternity separated from God in the place the Bible calls hell. Thus, to evangelize is essential for the eternal well-being of all people, and to this we will give ourselves.
Affirmation 6 – The Basic Call of Christ
God has called us to be evangelists and has equipped us with particular gifts of the Holy Spirit, including the gift of the evangelist.
We will, therefore, heed that call and communicate His Word to all peoples as He enables and gives opportunity, calling them in Christ’s name to repentance and faith in Christ alone for salvation.
Affirmation 7 – Prayer and Evangelism
God wills that the work of evangelism be accomplished with His power. God, therefore, expects His evangelists to practice and promote earnest personal and corporate prayer for Spirit-filled living, for a spiritual renewal of the church, and for gathering a spiritual harvest to the lost. To this end we will give ourselves.
Affirmation 8 – Follow-Up and Discipleship: Edification of Converts
The call to Christ is a call to discipleship. Converts are to be nurtured in their spiritual growth into maturity in conjunction with the Local Churches. We will, therefore, arrange as much as we are able for the initial follow-up and the spiritual care of those who come to faith in Christ under our ministry.
Affirmation 9 – Social Concerns and Issues
Our Lord is concerned for the well-being of the whole person. We thus share Christ’s deep concern for the temporal as well as the spiritual needs of humanity. Therefore, we accept our responsibility as Christians and duty as evangelists to alleviate human suffering.
Affirmation 10 – Inner Life Developments: Spiritual Growth and Cultivation The call to Christ is a call to personal, dynamic fellowship with Him and a growing spiritual maturity, thus, we will exercise the Christian disciplines and yield ourselves unreservedly to Christ’s lordship to be filled with, and controlled by, the Holy Spirit.
Affirmation 11 – Family Life
Understanding that our commitment is first to the Lord Jesus Christ, we will see our families as a gracious and sacred gift and responsibility given to us by God. Therefore, we will be faithful to that sacred trust, placing them even before our ministry to others.
Affirmation 12 – Integrity in Finances
God is the creator and owner of all things. Recognizing this truth, we will be faithful stewards of all that God gives us. We will stand accountable to God and others in our personal finances, and in the finances of our ministry.
Affirmation 13 – Integrity in Ministry
The call of Christ is a call to godly living. Therefore, we are committed to lead lives of holiness, purity, and honesty so as to bring honour to Christ both before the church and the world.
Affirmation 14 – Accountability
We recognize the need to live within bounds of genuine accountability to the leadership of a local Church to which we belong.
Affirmation 15 – Use of Association name
Any structure or event using the name of the Association must have prior consent from the committee.