The Gospel and Why We Preach - Part III by Ed Soto

III. Does everyone have the gift of evangelism?
If you look at Romans 12, the Apostle Paul encouraged the church at Rome to present their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God. He continues to teach them about the body of Christ (The Church) and the different gifts and functions that each have in the body. However, he did not mention the gift of evangelism or sharing the Gospel. Romans 12:3-8, Paul mentions we are members in one body and we all have different gifts. He talks about the gift of prophecy, ministering, teaching, mercy and leading. However, he does not mention the gift of evangelism or sharing the Gospel in this passage. In I Cor. 12, Paul talks about God appointing apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. He asked, Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts he says. Again he does not mention the gift of evangelism. In all these passages the silence of evangelism makes one assume that it is our responsibility to share the Gospel. It doesn't need to be mentioned because that's our main purpose in Christ, which is to tell the story. Now, let's look at Ephesians 4 where Paul again talks about gifts of the church. Ephesians 4:11-16, "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;" It is assumed therefore that this gift of an evangelist mentioned here was about someone who was raised up by God to teach the body of Christ about evangelism and to equip the saints in sharing the Gospel. To say that a believer needs to have the gift of evangelism to share the Gospel, is like saying that you need a gift to tell or warn someone of an impending danger or to share good news. Normally it's a natural reflex to do that. In all these passages mentioned, it is assumed, at least from my perspective and what I read in the scriptures, that sharing the Gospel and warning the lost is expected from all of us.
BOTTOM LINE: WE ARE ALL HIS WITNESSES AND WE ARE ALL CALLED TO SHARE THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD AROUND US. Evangelism is not a gift. It is a mandate from God to all believers to go and preach the Gospel. It is a passion to do His will and to please Him. It is the work of loving God and loving people. It is God using us to fulfill His passion in reaching the lost with the Gospel. (The Great Commission)

2 Corinthians 5:18 (New King James Version)
Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation...

Ephesians 2:10 (New King James Version) "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." I can't think of a better work than that.