Soul Winning

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” [Proverbs 11:30  KJV]

One on One, Face to Face:

Several years ago I had an extended personal ministry, part of which included Neighborhood Personal Evangelism and specifically for this ministry I adapted a questionnaire from one that was used by Campus Crusade for Christ.  I lived in North East Phoenix, AZ at the time and although I had led several people to Christ while praying with them at their door after going through the rather short questionnaire; I’ve now come to believe that asking a single, straight-forward question may be much more effective and save a lot of time. To prepare for the question though, I say "Do you mind if I ask you a question? A very serious question -  and at this point, I have their full attention and so far, everyone has said "yes". Then the basic question I now ask people is: “If you were to die today, do you know where you would spend eternity?” I always look at them in their eyes when I ask that question. When they say “no” or “not sure” I simply ask if the person would like to have me show you how you can know for certain that you will go to heaven? When they say (in answer to my question) “I hope I’ll go to heaven”, to that, I ask if the person would like me to show them how to turn that “hope so” to a “know so”? When someone expresses that they aren’t interested, I simply shake the dust off my feet (so-to-speak) ”And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.” [Matthew 10:14 KJV] and I then look forward to talking to the next person. I often hear “I’ve led a good life, I believe God will allow me into heaven” and to them I remind them of what God said in Isaiah 64:6 “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Also “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” [Titus 3:5 KJV]

It’s important to carry some tracts with you at all times as you never know when you might have an opportunity to share your faith. It’s also very important to be familiar with what the tract says, so you don’t fumble when using it. Don't forget to pray, to ask God to help you. God says ”Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;” [Colossians 4:2 KJV] this is not a suggestion. In your prayers, ask God to give you fruit [souls] for your labor. As you go out, prayerfully ask God to prepare the hearts of those you will be talking to and not allow anything to prevent you from sharing the gospel with a willing person.

Indirect Soul Winning:

Although I have never used this method, I know of people who have and the results shared were wonderful. It was several years ago that I was told about this method and the results but I’ll try to pull up some out of my now, senior memory. The time was probably in the 70’s, I was a member of an online Christian support group called “VIVA”, an acronym for Various Individuals Very Alive in Jesus. Although VIVA is now abolished, I continue to communicate with some of it’s past members, as we became good friends even though we have never met face to face. Wayne, who lives in Texas was in the Air Force at the time of VIVA and he was planning on getting out of the service and getting married and as he and his fiancé planned their wedding and went shopping together, they practiced Indirect Soul Winning. One would pretend to be leading the other to Jesus and as they carried on their conversations, they did so within ear-shot of sales personnel and in checkout lines. Wayne told me that sometimes those listening to their conversations would jump into the conversation and say things like “yes, you ought to go to church with him” as well as other parts of their conversations. Wayne said that they could see the expressions of people’s faces and he knew some were becoming convicted.

This type of soul winning could easily be accomplished with two women (one witnessing to the other). Even teens and younger children can use this method of soul winning. Even people who are confined to wheelchairs or have other difficulties can effectively use this method of witnessing. It doesn’t need to be done in a store but could be at work (like during a lunch break) in a park or at school. In fact there are many places where Indirect Soul Winning may take place. Since our church has a web site, the web site could be mentioned in conversations as a place to easily gain salvation as it is clearly spelled out and they can download and listen to sermons too.

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