Getting started...

“Mitsuo Fuchida was the lead pilot of the December 7, 1941, raid on Pearl Harbor. Fuchida was the one who shouted the war cry, "Tora, Tora, Tora!" He fought the United States throughout WWII and was intimately involved in the planning and leadership of the Japanese war effort as flight commander and later as a senior operations officer. After the war, Fuchida was a defeated warrior in occupied Japan, farming to meet the needs of his family. In 1950, Fuchida miraculously came to know Jesus Christ as Saviour through a tract handed to him while exiting a train in Tokyo. The tract was entitled, "I Was a Prisoner of Japan," written by Jacob DeShazer, a POW held captive by Japan for 40 months.”

Most born again believers really want to witness to others. This compulsion, however feint, stems from an inbuilt, God given desire to see others saved. “For the love of Christ constraineth us…” (2 Corinthians 5:14)

Most believers don’t witness to anyone. I can already hear someone shouting, “But what about witnessing with my life?” Good point, but I have never, ever spoken to anyone who was won to Christ by a good testimony alone. No one ever came up to me and exclaimed, “I have watched your life for years; what must I do to be saved?”

No. Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. How shall they hear without a preacher? It is obvious that we must use our mouths to spread the Gospel message to lost sinners.

Here’s the sticking point. How do I get started? We want to witness, but we can’t seem to get going. May I suggest that you can begin by getting into the habit of passing out Gospel tracts. Easy? Sure is. Too easy.

Why then do hardly any Christians even carry Gospel tracts with them? I understand that some believers hand out tracts instead of talking with people. This is not good, but we need to get going. Many a conversation can be started by offering a tract to a stranger. Let me share with you a few ideas that may help.

1. Use good quality tracts that are in perfect condition. Dog-eared, worn, sloppily printed tracts should not be used.

2. Don’t use the word “tract” with the unsaved. They don’t know what a tract is, so use the word “flyer” or “leaflet” or even “booklet”.

3. Make sure your tracts contain good theology and are well written, in simple language.

4. Always keep a supply on your person.

5. Give a tract to the first person you come across each day.

6. Always be ready to share the Gospel message if the opportunity arises.

7. Don’t take knock backs personally.

8. Leave, stash, drop, place, hide tracts throughout the day. You city or town should be saturated with the message of salvation.

9. Ensure that there is a plentiful supply of tracts at your church for all to use.

10. Print tracts that fit comfortably inside a shirt pocket or a purse.

11. Ask God to lead you to at least one person each day with whom you can share the Gospel.

The sad fact is this; In my almost 48 years of life on planet earth, I have never had a Bible believing Christian knock on my front door, offering to explain to me the way to Heaven and forgiveness. Maybe only once or twice in my life has someone, on a street somewhere, offered me a Gospel tract! It is amazing that utilizing the power of the printed word is neglected by so many today.

Friends, anyone can start to be a witness for Jesus Christ by faithfully using tracts. This is only the beginning stage of becoming a fisher of men, but it’s the start many of us need.

Get busy today!