“Why is your head bandaged?” I asked.

“Yesterday a gangster cold-cocked my head with his gun right where you’re standing.”

These were the first words I heard from my first evangelistic efforts in Ravensmead, South Africa. Earlier that day I had convinced the two young men who had committed to start a church plant with me to go on door-to-door evangelism. They lived in the area but were too afraid to evangelize because of the dangers. I told them that for safety they could stick together, and I would evangelize on the opposite side of the road. But when I met that gang of young men and heard the one tell me about this injury, I changed my mind about walking by myself.

Fast forward eight years, and Grace Baptist Church stands as a lighthouse with around 40 people in attendance.

It was so tempting to make that first encounter in Ravensmead a reason to avoid the area altogether in hopes that someone more courageous and streetwise than I would be called there. I soon learned that my first encounter was not unusual. Since then I have witnessed many violent crimes, been caught in crossfire, had threats on my life, and had my van pounced on and shaken by an angry mob while I was trying to minister. The list of known “close calls” continues.

So, why stay in the midst of such dangers? Am I being foolish? Am I being a foolish husband and father? Are the risks worth it? Let me answer with an illustration.

A kitten maneuvered its way through the foundation into the wall of a home we were visiting. It had been crying for days and was about to starve to death. In a last-ditch effort to save its life, we pulled back the trim by the ceiling, and my wife reached for it. Every time my wife tried to rescue it, the kitten would scratch and bite her hand. With a bit of pain and injury, she persevered and saved the little kitten’s life. If she had not, the kitten would have died.

Evangelism and discipleship can get downright messy at times. Church history is full of examples. Ministry can be painful, dangerous, and even deadly. Just like that kitten, the people we try to rescue can harm us. Our very lives may be at risk.

Is it worth it? Let the Bible answer that question. “He is not willing that any should perish.”

To God, the risk is worth it. Jesus’ sacrificial, life-giving example shows that the human soul is valuable to Him.

Do these Scriptures apply only to safe places? “How shall they hear without a preacher,” “go ye into all the world,” and “preach the Gospel to every creature.” In the Apostle Paul’s words, “God forbid.” I need to be willing to take risks for the Lord. Yet, the risks must be carefully assessed.

Confirmation of the Lord’s call to a place is extremely important. Nonetheless, the risks also come with great reward. In the vernacular of fitness gurus, “no pain, no gain.” Let me give you an example of the reward that comes from persevering in a God–given call to take risks for the sake of His kingdom.

We are seeing fruit even from a very dangerous apartment complex, Beverly Court. There are often shootings there. Two of our church ladies shared an emotional testimony with our church family on a Sunday after having witnessed the shooting death of a young man in the courtyard of Beverly Court the night before. Their hearts were distraught to see the young people go right back to their gambling and dancing while they waited for the ambulance and police to remove their friend’s lifeless body after gangsters fatally shot him. “There is no value of a human soul,” said our church ladies.  

Yet, our church family held a Live Nativity in that same courtyard at Christmas time. Now these people who need Jesus are hearing of Him. They need risk-taking believers to show them by example “the value of the human soul.”

How will they ever hear without a preacher? How will the believers in Ravensmead ever gain courage and a desire to reach their neighbors without someone being a living example to them? The Gospel is spreading. People are getting saved and experiencing Christ-like change. Praise Him!

I corrected one zealous young Christian man I was discipling for his “Jesus” graffiti on the wall of Beverly Court. Yet, his misguided zeal to tell people about Jesus stands as a testimony that the risks must be taken.

“Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.”

― C.T. Studd