Editor's note: After the Amsterdam 2023 conference in June 2023, Empowered21, the worldwide relational network to mobilize churches and leaders to fulfill the Great Commission by 2033, will hold a three-day large-scale conference in Indonesia, named EveryOneAsia 2024, on July 3-5. As one of the speakers, Russell Evans, the founder and senior pastor of Planetshakers Church and Ministries, Australia, shares his insights about the incoming conference, Asian churches, and reaching the next generation.
China Christian Daily: Could you introduce yourself and your ministry?
Russell Evans: I am the founder and senior pastor of Planetshakers Church and Ministries. We have churches in Melbourne, Singapore, Cape Town, and Papua New Guinea. We're from the Australian Christian Churches, which are associated with the Assemblies of God. Most people know us for our music because it is sung in a lot of churches, and we do conferences and concerts all over the world.
China Christian Daily: We know you are one of the speakers at EveryOneAsia 2024. What are you going to talk about at this conference?
Russell Evans: There are many speakers from all parts of the earth, and each person will bring a different part of what they feel God is saying for the body of Christ. It'll mostly encourage people to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Out of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, you'd make a difference in your world, bringing spiritual needs, physical needs, or social needs to people and being a part of the answer to society. My speaking will generally revolve around being empowered by the Holy Spirit. What does a spirit-empowered person look like? And how do I use the presence of Jesus to reach people?
China Christian Daily: How do you see this event impacting the church in Asia? What key message do you hope the participant will leave?
Russell Evans: Empowered21 holds conferences on different continents, and the gathering hosted in Indonesia this year is about everyone having a genuine encounter with God. We want to inspire people to bring the love of Jesus to everyone they meet and also to know that they're part of a global church that is powerful and touching the world.
The Bible says that's when you receive the power to be my witnesses. So out of the power of God and the encounter with the Holy Spirit, people can be witnesses of God, give power to people they know, help people, and love people.
China Christian Daily: How do you think the churches in Asia can get support not just from this conference but also beyond this conference?
Russell Evans: I think support comes from relationships, and the kingdom of God is all about relationships. One of the great things about this conference is that it shows that people aren't alone, and they're not isolated in their own country or their own world, but there's a whole heap of people. I heard a statistic that there are about 800 million spirit-empowered believers in the world right now. This conference brings the body of Christ together to say, Hey, we love each other, we're brothers and sisters, and how can we care for and support one another?
China Christian Daily: What are the biggest challenges you see for the churches in Asia over the next few decades? What kind of opportunities do you believe are most promising?
Russell Evans: Asia is a big continent, and each nation has different challenges. Some have resource challenges, some are well equipped with resources, some have many churches, and some have few churches. I think one of the challenges is that if you're in a place that's being blessed in many ways, you've got to make sure that you use that blessing to help others. In other places that feel isolated, you've got to reach out and be part of the community.
South Korea is a Christianity-dominated country, and one of its challenges is reaching the next generation. They've had a move of God in one generation, but how do they reach the next generation? Singapore has so many large churches and large ministries, but how do they work together and become effective together? In a country where there are hardly any Christians, the challenge might be how they reach people with the love of Jesus. So there are different challenges in each country, and all need wisdom from God and dependence on the Holy Spirit.
China Christian Daily: You mentioned raising the next generation. What kind of advice would you give to young Christian leaders in China?
Russell Evans: Jesus did two things when he was reaching whoever was reaching. He spoke their language. In other words, when he was speaking to fishermen, he spoke about fish. When speaking to tax collectors, he spoke about money. We can speak a language that no one understands because it's very Christian in its language, but not everyone understands the culture. So I would say to speak the language of this generation.
When Daniel was in Babylonia, he spoke Babylonian and understood the culture. So one of the key things in reaching the next generation is understanding the culture you're reaching. Speak in the language they do understand. Young people are more of a digital generation, and you need to speak where they're at. That's what Jesus did really well.
Jesus also had power. He brought about change when people were sick. He prayed for the sick, and they recovered. When people need breakthroughs and healing, you have the power to deal with their needs. I think the power of Jesus that's in your life gives you the ability to minister to people's needs, but we've got to make sure we speak where they're out.
China Christian Daily: Many church leaders who are in charge of churches in China are from the older generation; some of them are trying to speak the language of the younger generation, and some are not aware of that. Do you have any suggestions for them to lead the younger generation?
Russell Evans: I think how generations work together is always to honor what you value. If I want to reach young people while I'm older, I need to honor what they are listening to. For example, let's take praise and worship. About 20 or 30 years ago, praise and worship sounded different than they do now for the next generation. So instead of saying, This is how I've always done it, say, What's the best way to reach the next generation? What are they listening to? What's their need? I need to change my approach to reach them because of what they're listening to. I need to speak to them at that level.
The same is true for young people; they need to honor the previous generation. Don't say we've got all the answers, but learn from the older people. So it's honoring generations.
China Christian Daily: Since you're from Australia, can you share with us the overall picture of the church in Australia?
Russell Evans: Australia is very multicultural. My church alone has people from over 150 nations. I believe that reflects the nations coming together and what heaven will be like. It shows what people from different nations can do together to make a difference in churches.
There's a lot of need in Australia. The cost of living is a big issue in Australia right now, and people are doing it a lot tougher than they have previously. Our feeding program in Australia just provided the equivalent of three million meals over the last three years to people. Also, there's a lot of prosperity in Australia. People are at different levels, so the church can range from large churches to small churches, from house churches to corporate gatherings of churches, all meeting people's different needs at different places.
Australia has become a very secular nation. Even though its roots are Christian, it's become quite secular in how it operates. So there is a lot of work to do in Australia to bring the love of Jesus to people.
China Christian Daily: We know that your church does a very successful job of church planting. Can you introduce to us the strategies of church planting and evangelism from your experience?
Russell Evans: Again, our whole thing is that we want to speak the language of the people we're reaching. Out of that, we want people to encounter the presence of God, whether that's done through worship, prayer, or preaching. We want people to encounter God because when you encounter God, that's when you change and become disciples of Jesus.
What I will always plan a church with is music, preaching, and a kids program to start, then add a youth program and a university program, but those would be the three things that I would start with to reach where we go.
When I was 17 or 18, I ran a small group in our youth ministry, which was built on praise and worship because I'm a musician. I think music is really important for reaching generations because it can cut across generational barriers. I also do discipleship. Planetshaker's church is a bigger version of the small group that I ran as an 18-year-old. In His presence, He designed a blueprint for me and for what I'm supposed to do.
God hasn't called you to be a church that copies; you're called to be original. You're there to get an impartation from other people, but you need to get the keys for your city, your community, and yourself, and you can only get that in God's presence. I would encourage people to get in the presence of God and ask Him for the keys to their local area. Then get around people who have done what you feel God has shown you to do and ask God to let there be an impartation from what they carry so that you can enlarge yourself to do more, and then just be obedient to what God has for you.
China Christian Daily: In your opinion, how can the global church work together to fulfill the Great Commission?
Russell Evans: It’s about each church running for what God's called them to do and honoring what God is calling others to do.
The nation of Israel has 12 tribes; they all had different functions, but it was all to serve the community. It's not saying, Let's drop everything we're doing and do one thing, but let's do all that we're doing and honor each other so that we can be a force together.
There are people who have gifts that I don't have. That's why the Bible says each joint supplies. If I'm connected, the blessing that you carry or the ministry you carry is a blessing to me, and vice versa. God gives you your uniqueness and other ministries' uniqueness to complement one another, not to be isolated from one another.
China Christian Daily: Everyone Asia 2024 is a meeting mainly for churches belonging to the Pentecostal/Charismatic churches, and you are part of that. How do you see your identity and the relationship of this group to the rest of Christianity?
Russel Evans: I think everyone's invited, and there are no requirements for your denomination. I think that the beauty of Dr. Billy Wilson and Empowered21 is that they have a heart for the body of Christ, not just for the Pentecostal/Charismatic Church.
How can we bring everyone in together for the things that we can unite over? That's Jesus, what Jesus has done on earth, his resurrection, and his life. The body of Christ generally is orthodox in its beliefs, and other people place an emphasis on different parts of that. We celebrate all of them.
There is the Pentecostal charismatic part of the body, but that's not the only Christian on planet Earth. We celebrate the whole body and what God is doing through them because He gives each person a unique encounter. We're just excited to have a vision to change the world, and we're not the only ones, as the whole church should have that vision, and it does.
China Christian Daily: Do you have any words for Christians and churches in China?
Russell Evans: We are inspired by the church in China. We would just want our brothers and sisters in China to know that they are greatly loved, prayed for a lot, and that there are a lot of tears for them. We're also inspired by their faith. As much as China might look out and see what other people are doing, the world is looking at how the church in China is and is inspired by that.
编者按：继2023年6月的“阿姆斯特丹2023”大会之后，“灵力21”（Empowered21）旨在动员教会和领袖们在2033年前完成大使命的全球关系网络已经于7月3日至5日在印度尼西亚举行为期三天的大型会议，名为“EveryOneAsia 2024”。作为其中的讲员，澳大利亚Planetshakers教会和事工的创始人兼主任牧师罗素·埃文斯（Russell Evans）在会前接受China Christian Daily的专访中谈道了他对即将举行的会议、对亚洲教会的看见以及向年轻人传福音的见解。
China Christian Daily： 您能介绍一下自己和您的事工吗？
罗素·埃文斯：我是Planetshakers教会和事工的创始人和主任牧师。我们在墨尔本、新加坡、开普敦并巴布亚新几内亚都有教会。我们来自澳大利亚基督教会，与神召会有联系。大多数人因着音乐认识我们，我们的音乐在很多教会被传唱，我们会在世界各地举办会议和音乐会。
China Christian Daily： 我们知道您是“EveryOneAsia 2024”的演讲者之一。这次会议上您将会分享什么信息呢？
罗素·埃文斯：有许多来自世界各地的演讲者，每个人都会分享他们认为神要向基督的肢体说的不同的话。主要是鼓励人们得到圣灵的能力。有了圣灵的能力，你就能在你的环境中带来改变，满足人们的属灵需求，物质需求和社交情感需求，成为社会的出路之一。我的演讲一般会围绕从圣灵得到能力展开。得到圣灵能力的人是什么样的？我又该如何使用耶稣的同在向人们传福音？
China Christian Daily：您认为这次活动会对亚洲教会产生怎样的影响？您希望与会者们留下哪些核心信息？
罗素·埃文斯：“Empowered21”特会举办地点遍布各个大洲，今年在印度尼西亚举办的聚会是为了让每个人都能与神真的相遇。我们希望激励人们将耶稣的爱带给他们遇到的每一个人，并让他们知道他们是全球教会的一部分，而全球教会是有力量且能影响世界的。
圣经说，当你们得着能力的时候会成为主的见证。因此，从神的大能和与圣灵的相遇中，人们可以成为神的见证人，去给他们认识的人力量，去帮助，去爱。
China Christian Daily：您认为亚洲的教会如何才能不仅从这次会议中，而且在会议之外获得支持？
罗素·埃文斯：我认为支持来自关系，而神的国度都是与“关系”相关的。这次会议的一大亮点是，它会让人看到他们并不孤单，他们在自己的国家或世界中并不孤立，而是有一大群人与他们同行。我听过一个统计，现在世界上大约有8亿圣灵充满的基督徒。这次会议将基督的身体聚集在一起说，嘿，我们要彼此相爱，我们是兄弟姐妹，我们如何互相关心和支持呢？
China Christian Daily：您认为未来几十年亚洲教会面临的最大挑战是什么？您认为最有可能的机会是什么？
罗素·埃文斯：亚洲是一个很大的洲，每个国家都面临着不同的挑战。有些国家面临资源方面的挑战，有些国家资源充足，有些国家教会众多，有些国家教会很少。我认为其中一个挑战是，如果你所在的地方在很多方面都受到祝福，你就必须确保使用已得到的祝福来帮助别人。在其它感到孤立的地方，你必须伸出援手，去到他们中间。
韩国是一个以基督教为主流的国家，它面临的一大挑战是给下一代传福音的问题。他们这代人经历过神的感动，但下一代如何传承呢？新加坡有这么多大型教会和大型事工，他们如何合作并有效的事奉？在一个几乎没有基督徒的国家，他们面临的挑战可能是如何将耶稣的爱传给人们。因此，每个国家都有不同的挑战，都需要神给的智慧和依靠圣灵。
China Christian Daily：您提到了培养下一代。您对中国年轻的基督教领袖有什么建议？
罗素·埃文斯：耶稣在接触人时，做过两件事。他说他们的语言。换句话说，当他对渔夫说话时，他谈的是“鱼”。当他对税吏说话时，他谈到了“钱”。我们可以说一种很基督教化但别人理解不了的语言，不是每个人都能理解这种文化。所以我想说的是，（给下一代传福音就）要讲这个世代的语言。
但以理在巴比伦的时候，他说巴比伦语并了解巴比伦的文化。因此，影响下一代的关键之一是了解你所接触的文化。用他们能理解的语言说话。年轻人更像是数字化的一代，你需要在他们的处境中说话。耶稣就是这样做的。
耶稣是有能力的。他在病人身上行神迹。他为病人祷告，病人就康复了。当人们需要突破和医治时，你要有能力满足他们的需求。我相信，耶稣在你生命中的力量足以使你有能力满足人们的需求，但我们必须确保我们在做处境化的交流。
China Christian Daily：许多负责中国教会的领袖都是老一辈的人，他们中的一些人正在努力使用年轻一代的语言，而另一些人并没有意识到这一点。您对他们带领年轻一代有什么建议吗？
罗素·埃文斯：我认为几代人如何合作的大前提始终是尊荣大家所珍视的东西。如果我处在年长的时期，想影响年轻人，那么我需要尊荣他们能“听”到的内容。例如，让我们以赞美和敬拜为例。大约二三十年前，赞美和敬拜的声音与现在的下一代人接触的已经完全不同。因此，与其坚持不改变说“我们一直都这样”，不如想一下“影响下一代的最佳方式是什么？”他们在听什么？他们需要什么？根据他们“听”的内容，那么，我要做的是改变我的方式来接触他们。我需要从这个层面与他们对话。
年轻人也是如此，他们需要尊荣上一代人。不要说我们所有的都懂了，而是要向前辈学习。这是不同世代之间的互相尊荣。
China Christian Daily：您来自澳大利亚，能和我们分享一下澳大利亚教会的整体情况吗？
罗素·埃文斯：澳大利亚是一个非常多元文化的国家。仅我所在的教会信徒就来自150多个国家。我认为这反映了万国的聚集以及将来天堂的样子。通过它可以看到不同国家的人在一起可以做些什么来改变教会。
澳大利亚有很多需求。现在，生活成本高是澳大利亚的一个大问题，人们的生活比以前艰难得多。在过去三年里，我们在澳大利亚的供餐计划为人们提供了相当于三百万顿饭的食物。另一面是，澳大利亚也很繁华。人们生活在不同的层次中，教会可以从大教会到小教会，从家庭教会到团体教会聚会，这些都可以在不同地方满足人们的不同需求。
澳大利亚变成了一个非常世俗化的国家。尽管其根源是基督教，但其运作方式已变得相当世俗。因此，为了让人认识耶稣的爱，澳大利亚还有很多工作要做。
China Christian Daily：我们知道贵教会在建立教会方面做得非常成功。您能根据您的经验向我们介绍一下建立教会和传福音的策略吗？
罗素·埃文斯：再强调一下，我们的重点是接触人的时候说他们的语言。由此，我们希望人们能经历神的同在，无论是通过敬拜、祷告还是布道。我们希望人们遇见神，因为遇见神时，人就会改变，成为耶稣的门徒。
我计划建立的教会总是以音乐、讲道和儿童项目为起点，然后再加上青少年项目和大学项目，但这三样东西是我的起点，也是我们的目标。
在我十七、八岁时，我带领了一个青少事工小组，因为我是一个音乐家，这个小组建立在赞美和敬拜的基础上。我认为音乐对于几代人之间的信仰传承非常重要，因为音乐可以打破代沟。我也做门徒训练。Planetshaker教会可以说是我18岁时带领的小组的升级版。在祂的同在中，祂为我设计了一个蓝图，也为我设计了我应该做的事情。
神并没有呼召你成为一个“复制”的教会，而是呼召你成为一个“原创”的教会。你们在那里是为了向其他人传授，你们要为自己的城市、社区和自己找到钥匙，而这只有在神的同在中才能做到。我鼓励大家到上帝面前，向祂祷告去找这把钥匙。然后靠近那些已经做了你觉得神让你做的事的人，并请求神帮助从他们身上学习，这样你就可以扩张自己，做更多的事情，并且顺服神为你所预备的。
China Christian Daily：在您看来，全球教会怎样才能同心协力完成大使命？
罗素·埃文斯：这关系到每个教会都要用行动回应神的呼召，并尊重神呼召其他人去做的事。
以色列有十二个支派，他们都有不同的职能，但都是为了服务整个民族。这并不是说，让我们放下手头的一切，都只做一件事，而是让我们各自做自己该做的事情的同时，彼此尊重，这样我们就能成为一股力量。
有些人有我所没有的恩赐。这就是为什么圣经说“百节各按其职”。如果我与你相连，你所带来的祝福或你所做的事工就是对我的祝福，反之亦然。神赐给你的独特性和其他事工的独特性是为了彼此互补，而不是彼此孤立。
China Christian Daily：EveryoneAsia 2024 是一个主要为属于五旬宗/灵恩派教会的教会举办的聚会，而您是其中的一员。您如何看待自己的身份以及这个团体与基督教其他团体的关系？
罗素·埃文斯：我想，每个人都受到邀请了，而且这种邀请对出于什么教派没有要求。我认为比利·威尔逊（Billy Wilson）博士和 “Empowered 21”的魅力在于他们有一颗关心基督肢体的心，而不仅仅是五旬宗/灵恩派教会。
我们怎样才能让每个人都参与到我们可以团结起来的事情中来呢？这就是耶稣，是耶稣在世上所做的一切、他的复活和他的生命。基督的身体在其信仰上通常是正统的，而其他人则强调其中的不同部分。我们都对其表示庆贺。
基督身体中有五旬宗、灵恩派，但那不是地上唯一的基督徒的样式。我们庆祝整个身体以及上帝通过他们所做的事，因为祂给了每个人独特的际遇。我们很高兴拥有改变世界的愿景，而且我们不是得到该愿景的唯一群体，因为整个教会都应该有这样的异象。
China Christian Daily：你有什么话要对中国的基督徒和教会说吗？
罗素·埃文斯：我们被中国教会所激励。我们想让中国的弟兄姐妹知道，他们深受爱戴，得到了很多代祷，有很多人为他们流泪。他们的信心也激励着我们。虽然中国可能会向外看，看看其他人在做什么，但全世界都在看中国教会是如何做的，并从中受到激励。
专访｜澳洲巨型教会牧师罗素·埃文斯：用年轻人能接受的语言与之对话
Editor's note: After the Amsterdam 2023 conference in June 2023, Empowered21, the worldwide relational network to mobilize churches and leaders to fulfill the Great Commission by 2033, will hold a three-day large-scale conference in Indonesia, named EveryOneAsia 2024, on July 3-5. As one of the speakers, Russell Evans, the founder and senior pastor of Planetshakers Church and Ministries, Australia, shares his insights about the incoming conference, Asian churches, and reaching the next generation.
China Christian Daily: Could you introduce yourself and your ministry?
Russell Evans: I am the founder and senior pastor of Planetshakers Church and Ministries. We have churches in Melbourne, Singapore, Cape Town, and Papua New Guinea. We're from the Australian Christian Churches, which are associated with the Assemblies of God. Most people know us for our music because it is sung in a lot of churches, and we do conferences and concerts all over the world.
China Christian Daily: We know you are one of the speakers at EveryOneAsia 2024. What are you going to talk about at this conference?
Russell Evans: There are many speakers from all parts of the earth, and each person will bring a different part of what they feel God is saying for the body of Christ. It'll mostly encourage people to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Out of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, you'd make a difference in your world, bringing spiritual needs, physical needs, or social needs to people and being a part of the answer to society. My speaking will generally revolve around being empowered by the Holy Spirit. What does a spirit-empowered person look like? And how do I use the presence of Jesus to reach people?
China Christian Daily: How do you see this event impacting the church in Asia? What key message do you hope the participant will leave?
Russell Evans: Empowered21 holds conferences on different continents, and the gathering hosted in Indonesia this year is about everyone having a genuine encounter with God. We want to inspire people to bring the love of Jesus to everyone they meet and also to know that they're part of a global church that is powerful and touching the world.
The Bible says that's when you receive the power to be my witnesses. So out of the power of God and the encounter with the Holy Spirit, people can be witnesses of God, give power to people they know, help people, and love people.
China Christian Daily: How do you think the churches in Asia can get support not just from this conference but also beyond this conference?
Russell Evans: I think support comes from relationships, and the kingdom of God is all about relationships. One of the great things about this conference is that it shows that people aren't alone, and they're not isolated in their own country or their own world, but there's a whole heap of people. I heard a statistic that there are about 800 million spirit-empowered believers in the world right now. This conference brings the body of Christ together to say, Hey, we love each other, we're brothers and sisters, and how can we care for and support one another?
China Christian Daily: What are the biggest challenges you see for the churches in Asia over the next few decades? What kind of opportunities do you believe are most promising?
Russell Evans: Asia is a big continent, and each nation has different challenges. Some have resource challenges, some are well equipped with resources, some have many churches, and some have few churches. I think one of the challenges is that if you're in a place that's being blessed in many ways, you've got to make sure that you use that blessing to help others. In other places that feel isolated, you've got to reach out and be part of the community.
South Korea is a Christianity-dominated country, and one of its challenges is reaching the next generation. They've had a move of God in one generation, but how do they reach the next generation? Singapore has so many large churches and large ministries, but how do they work together and become effective together? In a country where there are hardly any Christians, the challenge might be how they reach people with the love of Jesus. So there are different challenges in each country, and all need wisdom from God and dependence on the Holy Spirit.
China Christian Daily: You mentioned raising the next generation. What kind of advice would you give to young Christian leaders in China?
Russell Evans: Jesus did two things when he was reaching whoever was reaching. He spoke their language. In other words, when he was speaking to fishermen, he spoke about fish. When speaking to tax collectors, he spoke about money. We can speak a language that no one understands because it's very Christian in its language, but not everyone understands the culture. So I would say to speak the language of this generation.
When Daniel was in Babylonia, he spoke Babylonian and understood the culture. So one of the key things in reaching the next generation is understanding the culture you're reaching. Speak in the language they do understand. Young people are more of a digital generation, and you need to speak where they're at. That's what Jesus did really well.
Jesus also had power. He brought about change when people were sick. He prayed for the sick, and they recovered. When people need breakthroughs and healing, you have the power to deal with their needs. I think the power of Jesus that's in your life gives you the ability to minister to people's needs, but we've got to make sure we speak where they're out.
China Christian Daily: Many church leaders who are in charge of churches in China are from the older generation; some of them are trying to speak the language of the younger generation, and some are not aware of that. Do you have any suggestions for them to lead the younger generation?
Russell Evans: I think how generations work together is always to honor what you value. If I want to reach young people while I'm older, I need to honor what they are listening to. For example, let's take praise and worship. About 20 or 30 years ago, praise and worship sounded different than they do now for the next generation. So instead of saying, This is how I've always done it, say, What's the best way to reach the next generation? What are they listening to? What's their need? I need to change my approach to reach them because of what they're listening to. I need to speak to them at that level.
The same is true for young people; they need to honor the previous generation. Don't say we've got all the answers, but learn from the older people. So it's honoring generations.
China Christian Daily: Since you're from Australia, can you share with us the overall picture of the church in Australia?
Russell Evans: Australia is very multicultural. My church alone has people from over 150 nations. I believe that reflects the nations coming together and what heaven will be like. It shows what people from different nations can do together to make a difference in churches.
There's a lot of need in Australia. The cost of living is a big issue in Australia right now, and people are doing it a lot tougher than they have previously. Our feeding program in Australia just provided the equivalent of three million meals over the last three years to people. Also, there's a lot of prosperity in Australia. People are at different levels, so the church can range from large churches to small churches, from house churches to corporate gatherings of churches, all meeting people's different needs at different places.
Australia has become a very secular nation. Even though its roots are Christian, it's become quite secular in how it operates. So there is a lot of work to do in Australia to bring the love of Jesus to people.
China Christian Daily: We know that your church does a very successful job of church planting. Can you introduce to us the strategies of church planting and evangelism from your experience?
Russell Evans: Again, our whole thing is that we want to speak the language of the people we're reaching. Out of that, we want people to encounter the presence of God, whether that's done through worship, prayer, or preaching. We want people to encounter God because when you encounter God, that's when you change and become disciples of Jesus.
What I will always plan a church with is music, preaching, and a kids program to start, then add a youth program and a university program, but those would be the three things that I would start with to reach where we go.
When I was 17 or 18, I ran a small group in our youth ministry, which was built on praise and worship because I'm a musician. I think music is really important for reaching generations because it can cut across generational barriers. I also do discipleship. Planetshaker's church is a bigger version of the small group that I ran as an 18-year-old. In His presence, He designed a blueprint for me and for what I'm supposed to do.
God hasn't called you to be a church that copies; you're called to be original. You're there to get an impartation from other people, but you need to get the keys for your city, your community, and yourself, and you can only get that in God's presence. I would encourage people to get in the presence of God and ask Him for the keys to their local area. Then get around people who have done what you feel God has shown you to do and ask God to let there be an impartation from what they carry so that you can enlarge yourself to do more, and then just be obedient to what God has for you.
China Christian Daily: In your opinion, how can the global church work together to fulfill the Great Commission?
Russell Evans: It’s about each church running for what God's called them to do and honoring what God is calling others to do.
The nation of Israel has 12 tribes; they all had different functions, but it was all to serve the community. It's not saying, Let's drop everything we're doing and do one thing, but let's do all that we're doing and honor each other so that we can be a force together.
There are people who have gifts that I don't have. That's why the Bible says each joint supplies. If I'm connected, the blessing that you carry or the ministry you carry is a blessing to me, and vice versa. God gives you your uniqueness and other ministries' uniqueness to complement one another, not to be isolated from one another.
China Christian Daily: Everyone Asia 2024 is a meeting mainly for churches belonging to the Pentecostal/Charismatic churches, and you are part of that. How do you see your identity and the relationship of this group to the rest of Christianity?
Russel Evans: I think everyone's invited, and there are no requirements for your denomination. I think that the beauty of Dr. Billy Wilson and Empowered21 is that they have a heart for the body of Christ, not just for the Pentecostal/Charismatic Church.
How can we bring everyone in together for the things that we can unite over? That's Jesus, what Jesus has done on earth, his resurrection, and his life. The body of Christ generally is orthodox in its beliefs, and other people place an emphasis on different parts of that. We celebrate all of them.
There is the Pentecostal charismatic part of the body, but that's not the only Christian on planet Earth. We celebrate the whole body and what God is doing through them because He gives each person a unique encounter. We're just excited to have a vision to change the world, and we're not the only ones, as the whole church should have that vision, and it does.
China Christian Daily: Do you have any words for Christians and churches in China?
Russell Evans: We are inspired by the church in China. We would just want our brothers and sisters in China to know that they are greatly loved, prayed for a lot, and that there are a lot of tears for them. We're also inspired by their faith. As much as China might look out and see what other people are doing, the world is looking at how the church in China is and is inspired by that.
Interview With Russell Evans: Speak the Language of Where People Are
