by Geoff Robson

It’s an opportunity he’s been waiting for his whole life, but Rick Lewers admits to being ‘very nervous’ as he prepares to leave parish ministry and take up a new role with Evangelism Ministries (EM) in Sydney.

The former rector of St Matthew’s, Wanniassa in the Diocese of Canberra-Goulburn will take up his appointment as Senior Evangelist with EM this month. But while he admits to some nerves at the big change ahead, the move is quite a natural one. In fact it seems that he has been an evangelist all his life.

“I can never remember a time when I didn’t love Jesus, and I can never remember a time when I didn’t think it was important for other people to hear about him,” Mr Lewers says.

“As a young person I always brought friends up to church. But I didn’t really understand what it was to have the gift of being an evangelist. As I came to know Christ and understand the Kingdom of God more, I saw the importance of evangelism more fully.”

Not only that, but he began developing his own gifts for evangelism. While studying at Moore College he spent a year with EM, the beginning of what he describes as ‘a 15-year love affair [with EM] from a distance’. “Hopefully now that will continue from up close.”

Mr Lewers has been at Wanniassa for the past 11 years. In 1993 he was appointed rector, when the previous rector, Ray Smith, became Bishop of Sydney’s Georges River region.

Most of his work will focus on platform evangelism and speaking engagements such as church houseparties and missions. “EM sees me as someone who is able to communicate the gospel effectively on my feet,” he says.

Mr Lewers said he is looking forward to seeing the Christian message change people’s lives.
“For me, the highlight is seeing eyes that light up at the sound of the gospel – when you’re talking to someone who hasn’t understood before, and suddenly the lights go on and they see that this is right and they need to respond. There is nothing better.”