Thanks so much for your prayers. The witnessing went very well last night. It was exciting to see the girls who came with us courageously stepping out and learning to initiate conversations with people.
Afterward, as we were eating ice cream and sharing stories, we discovered we had collectively witnessed to over 50 people. (That’s more unsaved people than many churches have walk through their doors in a whole year!) It definitely seems to me that we are able to reach the most unsaved people when we go out to where they are and talk with them. We know that the Lord is the One who draws people to Himself, and we are just praying that He continues to work in these people’s lives.
Hi Grace!
I am so excited to hear that the witnessing went so well! Our Bright Lights group is going witnessing tonight! I am so excited to see what the Lord will do!
Have an incredible day!
In Christ,
Haley
50 people?! Surely the Holy Spirit was working through you all! 🙂
When you talk to people and are trying to witness to them, how do
you start a conversation? To be honest, I’m not very good at starting
a conversation with strangers. When I go to the store with my family,
I don’t start talking to others about Christ (even though I know it’s very
important), but I do leave tracts in the shopping cart.
May I have your advice? Thanks!:)
That is great!!! I am happy the the Lord was able to use you all!!
Hi Christy,
Great question. I agree, it’s difficult to know how to start conversations with strangers! I find it helps to hand them something (like a tract). Then it’s only natural to explain what it is you just put into their hands. Sometimes I’ll just strike up a conversation with someone about the weather, or very normal circumstances and then look for a way to transition to spiritual things. (It never hurts to practice just being friendly in any way you can!) At parades or parks I usually initiate conversation by taking my own personal “survey”.
Last Thursday my grandparents took us out to eat to Ruby Tuesdays and I noticed that the hostess was just standing by the door with nothing to do while she waited for guests to enter the restaurant. I walked over to her and we just started chatting (about the slow afternoon and the food at the restaurant). Then I handed her a 10 Commandments coin and I told her why I felt the 10 Commandments were important (because they show us our need to ask God for forgiveness). I asked if she had any kind of church background (she was Lutheran) and a good conversation developed.
Hope those ideas are helpful. Don’t forget to ask God to provide opportunities because He’s the One that really orchestrates everything.
God bless!
Grace
Dear Grace,
Thank you very much for answering my questions 🙂
A survey is good conversation-starter. Conducting a survey is like being a
news reporter or a journalist, right? Do you ask questions about Jesus
(who died and rose again) or what they think about Christianity?
Yes, I will pray for more opportunities to witness to others. I will also pray for
courage to do that. Maybe I can make my own tracts so it will be a little easier
to talk about (since I wrote them myself).
Love in Christ,
Christy
Hi Grace! Wow, seeing the picture of y’all sharing stories made me miss you all so much! I miss your fellowship and ideas and love. I can’t wait for August… got my ticket last week but out internet has been down so I’ve not been able to email. I’ll get all the details to you as soon as it’s up. Praying for you, praying for a witnessing partner for me :). Love you all! Alex
Christy: Writing your own tract is an excellent idea. Yes—then you can tell people “this is something I wrote” and they are more open to it. My friend had a good idea and ordered her own business card tracts. You can read about it here if you’d like:
http://theinvisiblereality.blogspot.com/2009/04/business-cards.html
Regarding surveys, yes—when I take a “survey” I just carry a little notepad or small clipboard and tell people I’m doing my own personal survey. (Or sometimes we tell people we’re from a Christian youth group — Bright Lights.) I usually start by asking about what happens when we die or asking if they can name the 10 Commandments. Then I ask if God judged them by the 10 Commandments if they’d be innocent or guilty. When people realize their sin, then they see their need for the cure for sin — God’s plan of salvation through Jesus. If you’d like me to e-mail you a few samples of the surveys I use, just let me know!
God bless!
Grace
Dear Grace,
Business card tracts are a good idea too. I’m sure you won’t have to worry about
them getting wrinkled, right? 😀
I’ve made one tract last week. It’s titled “Was Jesus Insane?” I’ve written it so I can try to
persuade people that Jesus was not a crazy Man. In it is a list of some of the symptoms of
insanity (by Dr. Gary Collins) compared to the actions of Jesus and a message explaining what He did here on earth and how to get saved. I got found the list in a book called
“The Case for Christ for Kids” (by Lee Strobel and Rob Suggs).
Sure, I’d like to see some samples of your surveys 🙂 Should I give you my email address
or do you already see it when I typed it in the box (in order to leave a reply)?
Thanks!
Love in Christ,
Christy
Christy: Yes, I have your e-mail address. I’d be happy to send you the surveys.
-Grace
I found this site searching for a St. Patrick’s Day tract. I have been blessed seeing your love for the lost. Hallelujah for your evangelistic fervor!
A group of believers and I meet once a week in our city to walk the streets and preach the good news. We go out in pairs. I find much more courage with a fellow believer by my side, along with the other benefits. I am also more aggressive in redeeming the time knowing my partner has set aside the afternoon to be doing this with me. Furthermore, having a set time each week prevents me from coming up with excuses.
I’m certainly not asserting we should only proceed with a partner; we ought to be praying to seize opportunities every day. But, I certainly see Jesus’ wisdom in sending the disciples out in twos.
May you continue to abound in the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58).
Jeremy
Hello Jeremy,
Thanks so much for the encouragement. I agree with your point about going out in pairs! My dad is always more comfortable with that, too, because of safety reasons. Also, I’ve found that partners can sharpen each other by giving encouragement and “constructive criticism”.
Now that our summer travels have ended, I’m praying about doing what you said and setting up a regular time once a week to go out witnessing in pairs. I see a lot of benefits to that (as you mentioned). It would definitely be a great way to keep us faithful and consistent.
Thanks again, I really appreciate your words of wisdom.
God bless!!
Grace
Hi Grace,
Wow! what an awsome time of sharing the gospel that must have been.:)
I would be interested in seeing the samples of surveys that you use when talking to people.
How do you go about organizing an evening of sharing the gospel like this?
Do the girls split up into pairs, or go to different areas of the park indiviually?
How do you recommend approching people and startig the conversation?
Blessings to you as you share the gospel,
Emily
Hello Emily,
Yes, we devided into pairs — and that worked really well. To start conversations we usually use interesting tracts or surveys. Sure, I’d be happy to send some examples of the surveys. I lost them when my computer crashed recently but I’ll re-type a few asap and send them your way.
God bless!
Grace