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Challenges Abound, Yet God Gives Encouragement

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Sometimes the hardest thing about sharing Christ with others, especially strangers is the challenge of starting the conversation and the judgement or contempt which often follows your attempt to evangelize someone.

Saturday night, I was waiting for a takeout order and had a relatively long conversation with the server at the restaurant. I reached for a tract and told her it was a card about eternal life. She quickly realized what it was and assured me she was a Christian and started describing some outreach her church did. It was really a nice meeting; then she pointed out how some people just stand on a street corner with sign and scream at people, and how that is not an effective witness for Christ.

AWKWARD, since I am an open air preacher. 🙂

I smiled (something I learned is extremely important when contradicting someone or disagreeing), and I told her, “I’m one of those guys, well except for holding the sign.”

She was polite, but it was clear she became uncomfortable. I assured her that there was a [small] group of us who try to do street preaching biblically, but that there is an element of people out there who do seem to get their joy from just yelling at people. The conversation finished, in my estimation, uncomfortably. What had been a friendly casual encounter had turned into awkwardness. Her name was Katie; maybe she will consider that just because the devil has counterfeited one of God’s methods, that doesn’t mean we can’t use that method (street preaching about hell and sin and forgiveness).

I have to admit, I was a bit discouraged. Meeting born again believers is one of my joys in evangelism. Usually, it is very encouraging to me as I often have a chance to challenge others to live out the life bought for them by Christ when they are not, and to provoke them to love and good works, particularly evangelism.

Well, the next evening, I was getting an ice cream for my wife and me (seriously, we don’t eat out that often!), and a lady was in line next to me. Again, feeling awkward about simply speaking to a stranger, I made a joke about sampling ice cream to break the ice then I handed her a tract. I told her it was about Jesus and it was a card my church produced. She was glad to receive it and seemed genuinely touched when I told her we would pray for her if she needed and that she was welcome to visit. Her name was Stacia. Would you pray that God would save her by the Word on the tract?

In conclusion, I need to praise God for allowing me some discomfort Saturday then boosting my spirits with an encouraging meeting Sunday evening. I hope you will allow Him to do wondrous works in your life as well.

Michael Coughlin
Michael’s Blog: michaelcoughlin.net
Also found @ PulpitAndStreets.com

Evangelism On Presidents’ Day

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If you still have some of the Ronald Reagan quote tracts from the January tract club mailing, this Monday would be a good day to give them out. I saw the opportunity to place this one at the bank that I was at today. I plan out handing out a few, saying ” Happy Presidents’ Day!” (Do we say that to anyone on this day?) If people ask what the tract is about, be ready to give a good explanation that will probably lead into a Gospel conversation. Even if you don’t have any of this tract, give out what you got and expect a harvest!

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Share The Love!

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Today is a good day to give out your Valentine’s Day tracts! People are rushing at the stores to get their gifts! Why not give them a tract that talks about the greatest Gift of all? I have been giving these to cashiers and workers at drive-thrus. When I hand one out, I say “Here’s a gospel tract for Valentine’s day!” Everyone has taken them! Let’s share God’s love today!

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Red Box Witnessing

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For some time now we have been sharing Gospel tracts at the Red Box Kiosk by simply placing the tracts on the kiosk for the next person to find.

Tract on Kiosk

Tract on Kiosk

However, recently my wife showed me that we can also put the tracts inside the disc being returned as long as it is positioned behind the disc. First place the tract like this:

Place the tract like this.

Place the tract like this.

Then snap the disc into place:

Then snap the disc into place

Then snap the disc into place

Close up the case and return it to Red Box!

More Valentine’s Day Displays

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Love is in the air; God’s love that is! Do you see those displays in the stores? They are inviting tracts to be placed on them. Even the stuffed bears want to get involved!

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Shopping

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When you go shopping you can share the Gospel with lots of people. I gave tracts to people working in the stores as well as other customers. I put tracts into the packs of bottled water and also in the slot that they call a handle in 12 packs of soda. Finally, I found that I could not only just put a tract in the cart of the next person, but I could also “attach” it to the cart!
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Valentine’s Day Display

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Valentine’s Day is almost here. There are plenty of displays for “Can You Name Ten Of The Most Popular Valentine’s Day Gifts” tract. I left this one at Walmart tonight.

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Tract Strategy

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I placed this tract at Dick’s, a new sporting goods store in the mall. The “World Record Fish” tract from onemilliontracts.com is great for any fishing store or event.

In February’s mailing is the “Can You Name Ten Of The Most Popular Valentines Day Gifts” tract. This can be used as a great ice breaker, especially with those who are shopping for a gift to give their valentine.

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Wally hands out tracts

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Check out these videos of Wally sharing the Gospel at the West End DART. This is “As You Go” at the transit station.


 

Soul-Winning In The New Year

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This year presents more opportunities for soul-winning. Check out Steve Sanchez’ post about the everyday club on his blog, Stone The Preacher
http://stonethepreacher.com/2013/01/01/the-everyday-club-2013.html
I found out about the Bezeugen Tract Club through Steve’s blog.
I have two goals for everyday except Sunday. My goal for tracts per day is 20. I want to try to have at least two conversations a day. I have met these goals for Jan. 1 – 5. On Saturday, I gave out 37 tracts and had 3 conversations. 2 were with employees at Home Depot. I talked with Lawrence at Walmart on Friday night. He said that God must have sent me his way. There are so many open doors in evangelism. Let’s find someone to witness to today!

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