“What’s in it for me?” It’s a question even the most selfless of Christians asks himself from time to time. It’s a self-centered concern, no doubt. But as long as we’re trapped in this corruptible body of flesh, it’s one all of us are bound to ask.
So don’t be shocked if, when it comes to the issue of witnessing, you find yourself wondering, “Why should I expend great effort and time in sharing my faith when I have so many personal needs in my own life?”
The fact is, there is something for you to gain. I can sum it up in one word—power. The power to change your circumstances. Evangelism releases the power of God in your life in a way few other activities can.
Why is that? Because God doesn’t indiscriminately bestow His power upon us. He releases it to those who align themselves with His purposes. And God’s overriding purpose in the earth in this age is to bring people back into fellowship with Himself.
Let’s be honest. If there is anything the body of Christ needs right now, it’s an infusion of Holy Ghost power. Far too many believers are living lives characterized by powerlessness.
We seem helpless to substantially affect our own circumstances, much less those of a hurting, dying world. I believe the reason for this lack of power is that we have failed to align ourselves with God’s purposes.
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Mac and Lynne Hammond are senior pastors of Living Word in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, which they started in 1980. Many outreaches and ministries have launched from Living Word since that time, including Maranatha Christian Academy, a Pre-K through grade 12 school with nearly 900 in attendance, and Living Free Recovery Services, a licensed outpatient treatment program.
Most recently, Mac and Lynne have launched a vision to plant fifty churches across the globe in the next five years. As of August 2024, nine churches have been planted in the Dominican Republic, Ireland, Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, and Guatemala with construction underway for seven more churches in El Salvador, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Prior to becoming a pastor, Mac was a pilot. He served in the Air Force, served two tours of duty in Southeast Asia, and was honorably discharged in 1970 with the rank of Captain. Between 1970 and 1980, Mac was involved in varying capacities in the general aviation industry, including ownership of a successful air cargo business serving the Midwestern United States. A business acquisition brought the Hammonds to Minneapolis, where they ultimately founded Living Word. Currently, Mac is the host of The Winner’s Way and The Winner’s Minute broadcasts and the author of several internationally distributed books. Mac is broadly acclaimed for his ability to apply the principles of the Bible to practical situations and the challenges of daily living.