State Fair Of Texas Gospel Outreach - Oct. 19, 2013

We had a great time of evangelism at the Texas State fair this past Saturday. The Texas State Fair ran from September 27 to October 20.  This is the largest state fair in the country, attracting 3.5 million people annually. The Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship In America sponsors the State Fair Of Texas Gospel Outreach booth. It is manned every day that the fair is open, with witnessing going on 12 hours a day. Rex Whitton is the manager of this outreach. He trains those who are not familiar with the Gospel presentation portion of the booth. Carl Kalbfleisch of Bezeugen Ministries (the As You Go Blog and the Bezeugen Tract Club) invited me to join him for this day several months ago. He was the day leader. Rosie, Craig, and Arnold were there witnessing and giving out tracts. We also had about 30 students from the Gospel Of Asia School of Discipleship take turns in two hour intervals. It was great meeting all of these who were at the booth. We gave out the "Name 10 Things Fried At The Fair" and "The Ten Commandment" tracts from Bezeugen. We also had the million, the trillion, and the Ten Commandments coin from Living Waters that were supplied at the booth. 

Pictured: Rex Whitton, Carl Kalbfleisch, and Scott Thompson 

The Million Dollar Eye Test

We would invite people to come and take "The Million Dollar Eye Test". Here is an example (taken from the Bezeugen blog) of what would take place once someone would want to take the test: 

"Would you like to take the million dollar eye test?"

them: "Sure, what do I do"

We would keep the conversation really light hearted by saying things like "the use of your eyes is not required" or "it's fun, it's easy, no coupons required!" This was funny because at the fair you trade in your hard earned cash for coupons and then use the coupons to buy food from the vendors, ride rides, etc.

me: "For one million dollars would you give us your right eye? Before you answer let me explain that in this hypothetical example we have a surgical center right behind the booth. We can painlessly remove your eye and replace it with a glass eye. You'll look the same in all your family photo's. You just won't look the same."

them: "No way!"

me: "Oh, ok. Well, let's sweeten the pot just a bit. You see, actually we are looking for a matched pair of eyeballs. And therefore we are able to offer you one trillion dollars for both of your eyes. You could travel the world!"

them: "Yeah, but I'd be blind. so no."

At this point we could quote Jesus' words to them "what does it profit a man to gain the whole world (or a trillion dollars) yet loose his very own soul?" We have established that their eyes are valuable and that their soul is worth even more.

Then, we would ask "If God would require your soul tonight, where would you go? We would proceed to take them through the Ten Commandments to get them to think about their soul. Then, we would tell them what Jesus did so that we wouldn't have to go to hell. We had so many different responses. My highlights were talking with a young man named Richard and another named Arturo. A young woman named Blair said that she had a Jewish heritage. One of the Gospel For Asia students had a man leave when they got to the part about the soul. He said that the soul didn't exist. Jason, who had worked at the booth one year, gave me a test by seeing how knowledgeable I was. Then, he told me who he was. Some said that they were saved.  

It was estimated that about 200,000 people came through the fair that day. We probably gave out about 7,500 tracts. 

This was about 11:00 AM.

This was around 1:00 PM. It was like this most of the day! At one point when we were handing out the tracts, we were pinned against the front of the booth! 

It was a great day! I was glad to be part of what took place on Saturday! I am so thankful to Carl and Rex for letting me be a part of this outreach. Only eternity will tell what was accomplished throughout the State Fair Of Texas Gospel Outreach! 

Soul-Winners' Devotion - Spurgeon's Morning And Evening

I opened up this classic devotion this morning to find today's entry fitting for the Christian who has a desire to win souls. 

"Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught." --Luke 5:4 

We learn from this narrative, the necessity of human agency. The draught of fishes was miraculous, yet neither the fisherman nor his boat, nor his fishing tackle were ignored; but all were used to take the fishes. So in the saving of souls, God worketh by means; and while the present economy of grace shall stand, God will be pleased by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. When God worketh without instruments, doubtless He is glorified; but He hath Himself selected the plan of instrumentality as being that by which He is most magnified in the earth.Means of themselves are utterly unavailing."Master, we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing." What was the reason of this? Were they not fishermen plying their special calling? Verily, they were no raw hands; they understood the work. Had they gone about the toil unskillfully? No. Had they lacked industry? No, they had toiled. Had they lacked perseverance? No, they had toiled all the night. Was there a deficiency of fish in the sea? Certainly not, for as soon as the Master came, they swam to the net in shoals. What, then, is the reason? Is it because there is no power in the means of themselves apart from the presence of Jesus? "Without Him we can do nothing." But with Christ we can do all things. Christ's presence confers success.Jesus sat in Peter's boat, and His will, by a mysterious influence, drew the fish to the net. When Jesus is lifted up in His Church, His presence is the Church's power--the shout of a king is in the midst of her. "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me." Let us go out this morning on our work of soul fishing, looking up in faith, and around us in solemn anxiety. Let us toil till night comes, and we shall not labour in vain, for He who bids us let down the net, will fill it with fish.

Soul-Winners' Devotion - Praying For Labourers

Therefore said he unto them , The harvest truly is great , but the labourers are few : pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest , that he would send forth labourers into his harvest . -, Luke 10:2 

Wherever there is a labour shortage, work can get backed up. It seems Walmart is short of help late at night. When the lines get backed up, people get irritated because of the waiting time. When we were at Burger King last week, our cashier was doing the job of two people. The  work gets backed up when there are fewer employees. God is wanting more labourers for His kingdom. There is so much work to be done in soul-winning. The harvest field is everywhere you go. 

When I first started passing out tracts at bars with a friend, sometimes we thought that we were the only ones doing it. Every once-in-a-while, we would see a stray tract that would encourage us. About two years ago, Bro. J.J. and I prayed that The Lord would send men to us to help in our street ministry. He answered our prayers by sending workers who were already seasoned in soul-winning! Another brother has just joined us for our last two events. We have about 4 - 9 people with is when we street preach or give out tracts at events like the Mardi Gras parade  and the fair. 

Let's pray that our burden for the lost to be contagious. Read about David in the Old Testament to see how his courage was contagious. Pray that The Lord will send forth labourers into His harvest! 

Texas State Fair Outreach 2013

I will be at the Texas State Fair with Carl Kalbfleisch from Bezeugen Ministries in two weeks to help with an evangelism booth on Oct. 19. This is the largest state fair in the country, attracting 3.5 million people! I am excited about going because of the witnessing opportunities that will be there. At the booth, there will be "the million dollar eye test". Please read about last year's booth here:

http://www.bezeugen.org/blog/?p=1143

This will be my first time going there.Please pray for seeds to take root in the hearts of people as we witness of salvation through Jesus Christ! 

He that winneth souls is wise. Proverbs 11:30

Thursday Witnessing

I started the day off before work by stopping at the Greyhound bus station, which is joined with a convenience store in Monroe. There were several people outside who we're waiting on buses. When I walked up to them, one man asked about the tracts that I had in my hand. I asked "You know I got tracts?" He took one from me. He was going to Shreveport. A woman name Cassandra asked me to pray for her brother, who was there also. I actually prayed for three people. Val and Jimmy were going to New Orleans. Val was from Mexico. I gave him 1 English and 1 Spanish tract. Cassandra asked me ton pray for Val, but I had to leave to get to work on time. Altogether, I gave tracts to 6 who were there. 

At lunch time, I went to McDonald's. I gave 4 men the Mancard tracts. They looked like they were together, waiting for their food. One was reading the tract as I was leaving. I had to stop at the Monroe laundry mat on the way home. After I finished my task, I gave out 2 of a new Halloween Bezeugen tracts to women that were waiting on their clothes. As I gave the first one a tract, she gave me a business card. It looked like mine because she used the same design from Vista Print. I asked her where she had got the card. Then, I realized it was hers. They were dancers. I talked to them about three of the Ten Commandments, but 1 said that they were Christians. The other was reading the tract as we talked. I pray that God will open their hearts to a true Christian experience through repentance and faith in Jesus. On the way out, I gave 2 more tracts to a mother and daughter. My last stop before home was Taco Bell. I went inside since the drive-thru line was long. I got to talk with an ULM soccer coach and a ULM  basketball coach. I gave them the Mancard tract, also. I talked to another man named Antron while I was waiting for the order. He took a Mancard, too.

My goal is to hand out 10 tracts a day. It's not that hard when there are people everywhere that aren't saved. They are not thinking about spiritual things. We have to bring if to the forefront of their minds. Gospel tracts are one of the best ways to do this. I am so thankful for the opportunities that I have had to witness. There are many more to come! 

What is The Everyday Club?

What is The Everyday Club?

This is an evangelistic Club where you make a goal to share your faith everyday through tracts, personal witnessing or open air preaching. You make your own personal goal and report on it at the monthly Everyday Club post that is written on the first of each month. The minimum goal would be to hand out one tract a day, but you can make whatever goal you want. You can read the rest of the background and details of the Everyday Club atwww.bezeugen.org/everyday/.

Join the Bezeugen Tract Club

 

Do you need tracts to be able to share the Gospel Everyday? The Bezeugen Tract Club offers 30 FREE Gospel tracts per month. You can enroll online.

God Bless,

Carl Kalbfleisch and Scott Thompson

Outreach At the Ark-La-Miss Fair - 2013

It was fair time again in Monroe, La. We do an outreach every year there on the last Friday night of this ten day event. We have open air preached near the front of it several times, but it was great for tracts and one on ones for the last 2 years. We had a total of 9 of us out there. It may have been the most ever to witness with us. Bro. Charles, Bro Gary, Bro. Rob, Bro. Buddy, Bro. Jonathan, Bro. J.J., Bro. Michael, my 13 year old son- Braylyn, and myself came together to pass out around 650-700 Gospel tracts. It seemed like the crowd was larger than last year. We split up to catch people as they were entering and leaving the fair grounds. I also brought the Are You Ready cross, which we held for a whole. I leaned it against a pole for most of the night so that I could help with the tracts. Some people said "I am ready!" as they walked by. It was Bro. Michael's and Braylyn's first time to come out with us. Braylyn was nervous, but got the fire stirred up once he started! He ended up giving out 45 tracts! This was Bro. Rob's 2nd time to be out with us, but the 1st for a large event like this. He was really stirred up when he went to the Trial Bar with us last month Read "The Night Of The Atheists" post about that night. 

Speaking about that night, we saw Tim and Hunt with their friends. They are the two atheist that we met at the Trial Bar. They recognized Bro. Rob and saw the other men standing near the cross. I was talking to a couple that were engaged. When they walked up to the others, they asked "Are you evangelical Christians?". I told Hunt that I listened to the No God Podcast when they interviewed Ray Comfort. They were on their way out. It was good that they saw us again, busy about the Master's business! 

Bro. Gary and Bro. Charles gave out all the tracts they had. Bro. Charles had brought million dollar bills with him. They had several conversations. I think Bro. Gary talked with a Jehovah Witness. I gave out 6 Spanish coins to two Spanish families that were leaving. Bro. J.J had several conversations, also. He had several one on ones. I saw a few customers that have got glasses from where I work. I also saw a few people that I knew. I gave my card to my friend, Danny. Bro. Michael had already given him a Football Trivia tract. We gave out about 180 of those. A lot of people were coming from the area football games. One man that Bro. Michael remembered giving a tract to was arrested at the gate for threatening the police. I talked with a young man named Ramon. He said that he was saved, but he seemed so cold and indifferent. He took 2 tracts, though. 

This was a great night of evangelism. We pray that someone will be saved through these efforts. On October the 19th, I will be going to the Texas state fair in Dallas to help out with the evangelism booth with Carl from Bezeugen ministries. OnDecember the  14th, there be a flotilla on the Ouachita River with the Duck Dynasty cast in Monroe. This ought to draw in a lot of people. Please pray for God to use us mightily for his glory. God bless! 

Soul-Winners' Devotion - Lift Up Your Eyes

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. (John 4:35 KJV)

The fields are white already to harvest. The harvest is before us everywhere. In a message that Keith Daniel preached, he said that "lift up your eyes" means "open your eyes". Jesus was letting the disciples know that the harvest was ripe for the reaping. Souls were needing to be reached as soon as possible, not later. Christians put off witnessing because they believe that they are waiting for the right time or that they must be gifted to evangelize. They leave the task for others to go into the fields while they stay in their comfort zones. We must pray that The Lord would help them to open their eyes to the vast harvest field that is before us. When I give a tract to people who say that they are saved, I do my best to encourage them to witness to the lost. I may give them a few tracts to hand out for themselves. I pray that if they aren't witnessing like they should, that they will catch the fire of the burden for the lost. A lot of people are "hoping" to go to Heaven, but there is a huge difference in hoping and knowing. As witnesses commissioned by God, we can lead them from hoping to knowing that they are saved if they repent of their sins and put their faith & trust in Jesus. Let's lift up our eyes and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest!

The Everyday Club

The Everyday Club has moved to the "As You Go" blog due to some changes in the life of Steve Sanchez. His blog is currently called "Stone The Preacher". He is changing the name to "Not By Sight" because of his walk of faith as a Pastor. (See the blog @ stonethepreacher.com)
I found out about the Bezeugen Tract Club through his blog around June of 2011. Through the club, I have been encouraged to witness to more people through tract evangelism. I have had more one on one conversations and left tracts in more places. I would email pictures of places where I left tracts to Carl Kalbfleisch from Bezeugen ministries. One day in January of 2012, Carl invited me to post on the "As You Go" blog. This blog encourages Christians to witness "As You Go". I accepted his invitation and posted for the first time on Feb. 6th, 2012. I post about witnessing experiences with the tracts from the club and pictures of places where I have left a tract. I am grateful to Carl for allowing me to post on the blog. It has encouraged me knowing that others can be encouraged through these posts. Now, as Steve Sanchez makes his transition to Austin, Texas from California, the Everyday Club has come to the "As You Go" blog. I will be doing a post at the first of every month, asking the members to post about their monthly experiences in witnessing. Read about this club that ask those who join to make a commitment to share there faith on a daily basis on the "As You Go" blog. You can find it under "Soul-Winning Friends" on the front of this page or go to www.bezeugen.org/asyougo/

Join the Everyday Club today and be encouraged to witness "as you go" everyday!

How I Witness At Walmart

Here is a list of ways that I witness when I go to Walmart. This may be helpful for someone who is trying to get started in witnessing on a daily basis or a person that needs a boost in giving out tracts.

1. I keep tracts in one hand for easy access to hand out.

2. Even if picking up 1 or 2 items when I'm by myself, I grab a buggy to keep my hands free to give someone a tract.

3. I usually try to witness one on one. I don't approach a man and a woman when they are together unless I see a good opportunity. Groups of people are a little tough, but there are some exceptions. One time in the parking lot, I gave the texting tract to a group of 4 young people.
Three of them were texting! I usually give tracts to Spanish men when they are together. Speaking a little Spanish helps!

4. I try not to hand tracts to security. Fortunately, I know who are in security at one store. I know one that is the other local store.

5. I always ask "Did you get one of these?". Over the last several years I've heard Ray Comfort, Carl Kalbfleisch, Steve Sanchez, and others use this question. It works! If you ask "Would you like one of these?", most likely they will say no. We need to stir up their curiosity. It lets them know that it is important. The Gospel is very important! Their soul is important to God!

6. I am not persistent if the person I try to give a tract to acts like they are offended or don't have the time. I remember one time when a man wouldn't take a tract. I asked his name, shook his hand, and left. They need to see that we have a good spirit. If we are pushy, we may push them away from The Lord. One time, when we were outside of one of our street preaching fishing holes, we were talking with two band members that were playing that night. Another street preacher had showed up that isn't affiliated with us. He was very argumentive with the two men. It did not go the way that we wanted it to. We had to tell the bar manager that he showed up unexpected. The bar manager knew the man from a former bar that he worked at.

7. The checkout area is a good place to give a tract out. I try to give one to the person in front of me and the one behind me. When someone comes up behind me with just a few items, I let them go in front of me. When they are about to leave the checkout area, I will offer the tract. I've got a 100% success with this one! The cashier also gets a tract when I make my purchase. A cashier at the West Monroe
Walmart would always ask if I had any tracts when I went through her line. She knew that I always keep them with me.

8. I look for people to witness to at the check cashing and money exchange area. Most of the time there are Spanish men in line who I will give tracts to. I will usually ask if the man is a Christian. I will say that I have been a Christian for 20 years. Then, I will ask that he would read the tract later.

You can't stop once you get started. It's natural for a Christian to witness everywhere because the lost are everywhere! We have to be diligent in sharing our faith! I pray that you are encouraged after reading this. If you have ways that you like to witness, please leave a comment. I'll be glad to here from you!
Keep on going for Jesus! The race is almost over!