In yesterday’s devotion on evangelism, I shared the following quote from Kirk Cameron: “If you had the cure to cancer wouldn’t you share it? … You have the cure to death … get out there and share it.”1 As Christians Jesus calls us to be part of the greatest rescue mission in world history – rescuing souls from eternal damnation in hell. The Bible is crystal clear that all of humanity, because of sin, has been separated from God, and in desperate need of redemption from sin, if mankind is to avoid eternal separation from God.
But the great news, as Kirk Cameron shared, is that we have the cure to death, and that is salvation through Jesus Christ. Our job as believers in Christ is to share this cure with as many people as possible, through what I like to call: “Operation Rescue.” My prayer for 2026, is that we take this rescue mission seriously and ask God to give us a passion for lost souls. Oh, that we could pray like the great missionary, David Brainerd, who once said: “I care not where I go, or how I live, or what I endure so that I may save souls. When I sleep I dream of them; when I awake they are first in my thoughts.”2
Our hearts, when we realize that the eternal destinies of literally billions of souls, are weighing in the balance, should be breaking, and I pray providing us with the motivation to join this Operation Rescue mission. The great evangelist, Dwight L. Moody, understood how serious the situation is when he said: “I look upon this world as a wrecked vessel. God has given me a lifeboat and said, ‘Moody, save all you can.’”3
But, while Moody also understood that, the battle for lost souls can be heartbreaking, it can also lead to incredible joy when we realize that we are playing a part in rescuing souls from being eternally lost. And, in addition, to bringing joy to our hearts, sharing the gospel, is a privilege we should never take lightly. Again, in the words of Moody: “There is no greater honour than to be the instrument in God’s hands of leading one person out of the kingdom of Satan into the glorious light of Heaven.”4
My friends, Operation Rescue, is a wonderful partnership endeavor between us and God. Our role is to pray for the unsaved and share the gospel through our lifestyle and the salvation message of Scripture. God’s role is to woo the lost sinner, convict him or her of their sinful lifestyle, and welcome them into the family of God when they repent and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. And when a lost soul comes to Jesus the joy that fills both God’s and our hearts is truly awesome for we read in the parable of the lost sheep:
“Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:3-7).
1 155 Quotes About Evangelism | ChristianQuotes.info
2 155 Quotes About Evangelism | ChristianQuotes.info
3 D.L. Moody – ”I look upon this world as a wrecked vessel. God…
4 80 Gorgeous Instruments Of God Quotes (instruments of god bible verse, being god’s instrument, instrument of god meaning)
OPERATION RESCUE: The Gospel Isn’t a Hobby, It’s a Lifeboat…from the Apologist
Curt’s “Operation Rescue” lands firmly on shore because it, and he, refuse to treat evangelism like a church program with a cute logo. He frames it as what it is: a rescue. Not a marketing campaign. Not a personality brand. A rescue mission with eternal stakes.
1) Rescue is not a metaphor, it’s the job description.
Jesus does not preach about “the slightly inconvenienced.” He talks about the lost (Luke 19:10). He paints the picture of a Shepherd who goes after the wanderer (Luke 15:3–7). Then He hands the church solid marching orders, not optional suggestions (Matthew 28:18–20).
If someone says, “I’m not called to evangelism,” Scripture politely clears its throat and asks, “How will they believe without hearing?” (Romans 10:14–15). Rescue requires a voice.
If the kids don’t hear it from us, who they gonna listen to?
Who’s got more street cred then the folks who stand up for the kids when they fall? And if we say we can’t or won’t cuz we shiver when we go public, then we need to check ourselves before we wreck ourselves and the little ones we are burdened and privileged to protect.
2) Operation Rescue is a partnership: our obedience, God’s power. This is where people either get cocky or chicken out. The gospel mission is not just “save people by your charisma,” and it’s not just “do nothing because God is sovereign.”
We plant and water, and God gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6–7). We speak, we pray, we love, we witness, we invite, we explain. God convicts, draws, opens hearts, regenerates (John 6:44; Acts 16:14).
That’s why evangelism stays humble. We’re ambassadors, not saviors (2 Corinthians 5:18–20). If God can use a nervous, stumbling witness, it’s because the power is in the message and the Spirit, not the messenger. We jus the water hose, baby, the Spirit’s got the magnum mushrooming power.
3) The rescue must be clean. Truth with love, not bait-and-switch.
If the gospel is “the cure,” then don’t dilute it into spiritual cough syrup because you’re afraid of someone making a face.
Geez a wheez Ethyl, get a grip – it’s called authenticity. Ya ain’t auditioning for “who’s got talent?”
This is the forever stage, and we work for the Forever Boss, and the stakes are…well…for ever.
The apostolic pattern is straightforward: refuse to distort the word (2 Corinthians 4:2) and refuse “a different gospel” (Galatians 1:6–9).
At the same time, rescue doesn’t mean being a jerk and toss Bible verses like throwing knives.
We speak with gentleness and respect, ready to give a reason for hope (1 Peter 3:15). We walk in wisdom, let the Spirit guide us and make our words gracious (Colossians 4:5–6). We show mercy.
Sometimes we snatch people from fire with trembling hands (Jude 22–23). Sometimes we just snatch people from other kinds of fires –> it is called rescue, yea?
In other words: rescue is urgent, not sloppy. It’s compassionate, but it’s not sentimental. It’s bold, but it’s not theatrical. It can be surgical.
Use chilled, scrupulous attention, to the Spirit’s leading grace.
So, are we in favor of “Operation Rescue” for the lost? Absolutely. With the one non-negotiable condition that it stays a gospel rescue, not a human ego project.
The mission is serious because the stakes are real. The method is patient because people are not widgets. And the motivation is love because Christ didn’t “market” Himself to us, He bled for us.
If the Gospel is a lifeboat, silence isn’t humility. It’s leaving the oars on shore and calling it “discernment.”
Thanks Curt!