Soul-Winning In North Louisiana: June 2013

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Gospel Tract Spotlight - The Texting Tract

If you are a member of the Bezeugen Tract Club, you received the texting tract in the July mailing. This is a great tract to witness with because just about everyone sends text messages on a daily basis. I have gave some out to people as they were on their phone or text messaging. As I gave a few out tonight, I would say "Here's the world's smallest iPhone!" Then I would explain about it being a tract. Several people had their iPhones in their hands. Here is the story behind the texting tract from the Bezeugen Tract Club Site:

The story of the Texting Tract

When handing out Gospel tracts, one of the simplest ways to get people to take them is to ask "did you get one of these" and hand them the tract. Most people will take the tract and say Thanks! At many large events like ball games or concerts, we will often stand someplace where there is a line of people streaming buy and hand out the tracts asking over and over again "did you get one of these?"

As people walk past taking the tracts, sometimes you'll hear someone who has already passed by ask "what is it?" as they have walked past. If they are still within ear shot we might reply "it's a Gospel tract!"

That gave me an idea. Why not just print on the card on one side "It's a Gospel tract" and then hand them out. People would be asking them self "what is it" and then look down and read it on the card and realize that it is a Gospel tract.

As I continued to pray about this idea the Lord gave me the idea to make the tract look like a smart phone with a text message dialog on it. This lead to the card that we have released.

Our experience handing out this card has been overwhelmingly positive. Yes, we can use the line "did you get one of these?" and I have had people ask that, look at the card and answer it for them self. So, it has accomplished its intended purpose.

However, the card can also be handed out in a manner of asking someone "do you have the world's thinnest iPhone?" Or, you can ask, "with your phone can you call God?" We have used that to say with this one you can because "anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!"

We pray that the texting tract will open the door to many one on one conversations to share the Gospel. You can read about other witnessing encounters with this tract in the As You Go BLOG.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Ministry Spotlight - Strong Point Ministries

Bro. J.T. Strong left for Kenya today. He will return in November. God has opened up so many doors for ministry in this part of the world. Here is an exert from the site that will inform you of the work that is taking place:

Strong Point Ministries is currently working in the Western Province of Kenya, leading personal evangelistic efforts, equipping the church to do evangelism, and caring for fatherless and needy children. We have a burden to go into very remote villages where the gospel has not reached and lead those precious souls to the Lord Jesus Christ. We also desire to help the local pastors and leaders become equipped to do the work of the Lord and preach the gospel. We are so thankful for the mighty ways God is moving in the hearts of people in the tropical, green hills of Western Kenya. Many are coming to Christ through the power of the gospel, and countless lives have been and are being changed. We have passed out tens of thousands of gospel tracts in this area and brought thousands of Bibles into this area where many cannot afford to buy a Bible due to the endemic poverty in Africa. Many have been saved through these efforts, and we expect to see many more brought to the Saviour. Pastors have also been taught many things about evangelism through conferences and personal discipleship that have increased their knowledge and zeal for sharing the gospel. We believe that personal discipleship to pastors is one of the most powerful ways to see a lasting change in Western Kenya. The Holy Spirit has put a burning desire in our hearts for the native people become equipped to do personal evangelism. Jesus said "GO YE into all the world and preach the gospel" so we desire to equip our brothers and sisters to carry out the great commission. There is a strong spirit of dependency in Africa, and this is a powerful stronghold of the devil to keep the church in Africa from being what God has called it to be. However, we believe through teaching these people and showing them the love and humility of Christ this nation can be changed, one person at a time.

africa map flags trans The Bible teaches us that pure religion before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction, that God is a father to the fatherless, and we are to defend the poor and needy (James 1:27, Psa. 68:5, Psa. 82:3-4). Therefore Strong Point Ministries has a true burden to care for the fatherless children of Africa. We have a children's home called Hand of Mercy Children's home in Mungatsi, Kenya where we house children who come from various backgrounds of poverty, suffering, and hopelessness. However, now they have been given hope physically, mentally, and spiritually. Our faithful and godly brother Pastor Morgan Otundo lives at Hand of Mercy Children's home, and is the spiritual father to our children. The children love him so much that they refer to him as "daddy." Hand of Mercy Children's home is not an "orphanage" but a loving family. We have taken children off the streets where they were daily surrounded with harsh conditions along with the terrible realities of drugs, alcohol, prostitution, which lead certain death. We have taken others who have been neglected or mistreated by their families. We have also taken children whose parents have died, and were left lonely, heartbroken, and confused. However, through Hand of Mercy Children's home our children now have a loving family, a safe place to sleep, and plenty of wholesome food. Children we have taken in who had no opportunity to receive an education are now some of the brightest students in their classes. Children who knew nothing about the love of Jesus Christ have now experienced His saving grace and are even leading others to Jesus. Our Hand of Mercy children are very fine preachers who go through the local villages sharing the love of Christ with many people, and many have received Christ through seeing the witness and testimony of these wonderful children along with the mighty miracles that God has done through Hand of Mercy Children's home. Our children attend church services each Sunday where they often lead worship, and every morning before school and every night before bed they have a Bible study, praise and worship songs, and prayer. These children are truly being raised up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Hand of Mercy Children's home is a very special place that God has His hand of mercy upon!

Bro. J.T told me that a door has opened for prison ministry, also. Please keep him and other brothers that will be joining him later. Be sure to visit the website @ http://strongpointministries.com/

Monday, June 10, 2013

Gospel Tract Spotlight - Are You A Good American?

The Fourth Of July is just around the corner. The "Are You A Good American?" is a great tract for this time of the year. This one is in the Bezeugen Tract Club for July. I have gave this one to several people, wishing them a Happy Fourth. I'll say "Here's your Fourth of July Gospel tract!". I will ask "Did you get your Fourth of July tract?".

This tract blends in with any display that has the American flag. I gave one to a Vietnamese man the other night at Fred's when I saw him with Fourth of July decorations. Keep a watch on the As You Go blog @ http://www.bezeugen.org/asyougo

as I post about places where I leave this one. Firework stands and displays welcome this one with ease. It can be ordered through onemilliontracts.com Here is the message on the tract:

America is a wonderful country, but what does it mean to be a good American? Is it someone who loves baseball? Football? Beer? How about this question, are you a good person? The Bible says in Proverbs 20:6 "Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness." Let's see if you qualify as being a good person. Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stolen anything, irrespective of its value? Jesus said, "I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28). Have you ever looked at someone with lust? The Bible says that if someone hates another person they are a murderer (I John 3:15). Have you ever hated anyone? If you have answered "Yes" to the previous questions, then you have admitted that you are a liar, a thief, an adulterer and a murderer and we've only looked at 4 of the 10 Commandments. If God were to judge you by this standard would you be innocent or guilty? You know you are guilty and deserving of an eternity in Hell. Do you still think you are a good person or do you now understand that you are a sinner (Romans 3:23, I John 3:4) and deserve the wrath of God? Jesus Christ came to earth and died a criminal's death not because He had broken the Law, but because we had. Romans 5:8 "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." What should you do? Repent, turn from your sins and put your complete faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Friday Night Evangelism - June 7, 2013

Bro. Gary, Bro. J.J., and I met up to go to our hot spot, the Trial Bar, for preaching and witnessing. We usually meet at the Monroe Walmart parking lot at 9:30. From there, we go to the Cracker Barrel convenience store to load up a few beer cases with tracts and get water. Before we go to the bars, we have our prayer walk where we pray while we walk to a set of railroad tracks. On the way to the tracks, i offered a "Get Out Of Hell Free" tract to a man that was walking by us. He didn't take it.
Two bands were playing at the Trial. I brought our cross with "Are you Ready? on it. I've been wanting to do this for a while. I bought a pack of 4" adhesive letters from Office Depot at lunch time Friday. This was inspired by Tony Miano, Paul Latour, and Vernon Costello. They use one that is smaller. I want to get one like theirs soon. Bro Gary held it up for most of the night. I preached first. Our first conversation was with a man named Jack. He was interested in what we were doing. He said that he family was not religious. We talked about the Gospel and how Jesus took our place. I gave him a tract before he left. We pray that Jack gets saved soon! Kenny came out to ask us if we were protesting. He is from Southern California where he said he had never seen what we were doing. Bro. Gary and Bro. J.J. told him that we were talking about the Gospel. He seemed to have his own brand of Christianity. He took a tract from all three of us. Bro. J.J. was able to preach for a little time before the first band played. Jerry came out and talked with Bro. J.J. for a long time. He, too, had his own way with God. A troubled young man came over to tell us that we weren't helping anyone and he was aggravated about what we were doing. He suggested that we pick up trash or wash someone's feet. He picked up some trash around us and some in front of the bar so we could see him helping out. I think he may have been on something. A another young man showed me his Jesus tattoo as he was going toward the bar. He had been drinking a few. After Jerry and Bro. J.J. finished their conversation, we called it a night. Where will you share the Gospel this week?

Gospel Tract Spotlight: A New One From Bezeugen Ministries

This is posted by Carl Kalbfliesh on the Bezeugen Ministries Tract Club website:

The story of the On a Scale of 0 to 100 tract

While some friends and I were out witnessing at the mall during lunch one day, we were talking about different ways to transition a conversation from the natural to the spiritual. We often do this by asking people questions. One friend suggested the question "On a scale of 1 to 100, how sure are you that you would go to Heaven when you die?" The question is right to the point and covers a number of scenarios. Even professing Christians that go to church every Sunday might answer less than 100. And the unbelievers most certainly would answer less than 100. Regardless of the persons answer there is always a follow-up question to consider. Let's look at the possibilities.

If the person answers 100%, then we can follow up with something like "WOW! You really sound confident. What makes you so sure that you will go to Heaven?" Now at this point the person can profess their faith in Jesus. If so, great, we are talking to a brother (or sister) in Christ. I like to ask some follow-up questions like if they are reading their Bible regularly, what church they attend, how they got saved, etc. Most true believers will be encouraged by these types of questions.

If they answered 100%, but then when we ask them why they come up with something about religion, or anything other than repentance and faith in Jesus, then it leads to a Gospel presentation. Similarly, if someone answers anything less than 100%, then you can ask them if they'd like to be sure and you can share the Gospel with them.

We have found that this question is a good conversation starter. We have been using it effectively for some time now, so, we printed the question on the front of a new tract which is in the July 2013 mailing.