Preparation for the Sacrament of Evangelist’s
Blessing
by former Presiding Evangelist Danny Belrose
Ideally, preparation for the
Sacrament of Evangelist’s Blessing will involve a number of meetings with the
candidate prior to the ordinance. Should circumstance prohibit face-to-face
meetings, the following questionnaire may prove helpful:
GETTING READY FOR
YOUR BLESSING
What Should I Expect From an
Evangelist’s Blessing?
The sacrament of
evangelist’s blessing combines the ministry of human touch (the laying on of
hands) coupled with spoken words that affirm God’s link with the current events
in one’s life journey and a conscious decision to strengthen one’s covenant
relationship with God. The sacrament brings encouragement for the enhancement of
gifts and talents, the assurance of one’s value, the sense of security and trust
in God’s continuing presence, and the nurturing confidence to respond to the
Spirit in new opportunities of service. The blessing is a prophetic experience
but not in the sense that it forecasts a predetermined future. “Healthy
religion does not take choice-making from the members. The evangelist’s
blessing is no escape from decision-making. It is no fortune-telling device to
unveil the future.”
Prophecy or divine utterance is not measured by its ability to foretell but
by its capacity to forth tell, that is, to reveal insight and truth.
Designation of one’s tribal lineage or heritage is not of primary importance.
God’s grace is unconditional and does not favor one heritage or lineage over
another.
Preparation:
Preparation for
the blessing usually calls for the evangelist and the candidate to meet several
times prior to the ordinance. When circumstance prohibit this process, the
candidate’s response to the following concerns is helpful:
-
Describe (briefly) your family background.
-
What is your age—education—occupation?
-
What is your present involvement with the
church?
-
Why are you seeking a blessing at this time?
-
What talents has God given you?
-
What are your greatest hopes and expectations?
-
How do you think you can best serve God?
-
What makes you frustrated? Angry? Sad? Happy?
-
What would you change about yourself?
-
What excites you most about the church?
-
What do you want to achieve in the future?
-
What are your greatest needs at this point in
your life?
-
What are your hopes for this blessing?
| 
