Evangelist Over Congregation

Some Church of Christ groups think churches without elders were placed under regional evangelists until they were mature enough to have elders. Though evangelists did oversee some elder development and some ordination, there seems to be evidence that not all congregations were placed under evangelists. Those who require congregations to be under a set evangelist are likely wrong. Some even say you won't go to heaven if you don't adopt their system.

Acts 13 and 14 is a good example of Apostles starting and maturing congregations without any involvement of regional evangelists. Paul and Barnabas left congregations for a time without placing them directly under any officer. Perhaps he laid hands on some who received spiritual gifts to edify the local church. They were never identified as evangelists.

Titus was likely a convert of the Acts 13/14 churches because he is mentioned in Gal 2 as one who went up with Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem in Acts 15, as a member of the churches. He was likely not an evangelist at that time.

The organization likely followed the ant colonies of proverbs where they worked together without a structure beyond the gifts and necessary love to edify their congregations. See Proverbs 6

Pro 6:6  GoH1980 toH413 the ant,H5244 thou sluggard;H6102 considerH7200 her ways,H1870 and be wise:H2449 

Pro 6:7  WhichH834 having noH369 guide,H7101 overseer,H7860 or ruler,H4910 

Pro 6:8  ProvidethH3559 her meatH3899 in the summer,H7019 and gatherethH103 her foodH3978 in the harvest.H7105 

There is great wisdom in working together without a set local ruler.

Since there were no evangelists involved in Acts 13 and 14, but Apostles doing the same type of ministry, but with greater gifts than evangelists such as laying hands, it is obvious not all congregations were placed under a lessor officer such as an evangelist. We shouldn't ridicule congregations who aren't under evangelists or elders.

A different approach may have been taken when evangelists were involved first, the evangelists called apostles to lay hands upon local members to give them gifts, so evangelists could go to other congregations. This occurred in Acts 8:1-25 where apostles were called to lay hands on the Samaritans, then Philip moved on to other towns.

There is no evidence he was placed over the congregations he started. Local members who the Apostles Peter and John laid hands seem to have taken over until elders were ordained. So from Acts 2 to Acts 14 there is no evidence of evangelists overseeing churches. Even Corinth didn't seem to have ever been under an evangelist.

I Corinthians 12:28 only mentions prophets and teachers and not evangelists.

Some use Titus as an example but he likely disproves the idea. Paul sent Titus to the Island of Crete after they were ready to ordain elders, so he wasn't over them during their congregational development. He was sent to start the process of ordaining elders after the congregations were developed enough.

Then he was to leave the Island during the winter to meet Paul in Nicopolus. He wasn't working among them a long time.

Tit 3:12  WhenG3752 I shall sendG3992 ArtemasG734 untoG4314 thee,G4571 orG2228 Tychicus,G5190 be diligentG4704 to comeG2064 untoG4314 meG3165 toG1519 Nicopolis:G3533 forG1063 I have determinedG2919 thereG1563 to winter.G3914 

Titus worked on Crete, in Corinth during the collection for the saints, and other places.

2Co 8:22  AndG1161 we have sent withG4842 themG846 ourG2257 brother,G80 whomG3739 we have oftentimesG4178 provedG1381 (G5607) diligentG4705 inG1722 many things,G4183 butG1161 nowG3570 muchG4183 more diligent,G4706 upon the greatG4183 confidenceG4006 whichG3588 I have inG1519 you.G5209 

2Co 8:23  WhetherG1535 any do enquire ofG5228 Titus,G5103 he is myG1699 partnerG2844 andG2532 fellowhelperG4904 concerningG1519 you:G5209 orG1535 ourG2257 brethrenG80 be enquired of, they are the messengersG652 of the churches,G1577 and the gloryG1391 of Christ.G5547 

Titus did many works and wasn't tied to one group of churches. Titus worked with Paul and carried his messages between Paul and various churches..

Some could say the evangelist was an official messenger for the churches, the Apostles, or a messenger for Christ. In this case "messenger of the Churches" and "Helper of Paul" In many cases evangelists communicated between churches and apostles. Official communicators so to speak.