Issue 2002 #3
THEME:
Telling Others
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Isaac Neudorf
A while back I met a man at the mall. We talked for a while and he seemed open
to the Gospel. I shared my testimony and gave him a tract. Later on he returned
and wanted to receive Jesus into his life. The second time I met him, his sons
were there as well. He was very excited about Jesus and wanted to know Him.
Prior to that point he had felt that there was so much darkness in his life and
he now believed that Jesus was the answer.
It is possible to share your faith. I take the approach of being friendly to
people and asking them questions to see if they are interested in spiritual
things. If they are I take the opportunity to share my testimony. I also keep
in mind that it is important to share Jesus with people in a way that appeals
to them. You can only do that if you are sensitive to them and take the time
to get to know them.
Arnold Stobbe (Dori Krahn writes about her Dad)
What do I remember about my Dad with regards to telling others about Jesus? I
remember that he was committed to it, that he would interrupt his schedule to
do it, that he would serve in whatever capacity was available and that the Lord
has blessed him because of it.
I remember one winter he made a number of shelves to hold all the tracts that
he kept on hand. The shelves were designed in such a way that they would hold
about 50 of each tract vertically. He made sure that he always had a good
supply on hand.
But it is not witnessing to stockpile tracts in your house - you actually need
to use them.
For many years Dad made hospital visits every Friday afternoon without fail.
Every year the combine would stop or the work continued without Dad on Friday
afternoon because he had a more important commitment at the hospital. Dad would
visit with everyone there and would read Scripture and pray with them. A lot of
the tracts stockpiled in our house went to the patients there. It made a difference
too - hearts were touched, people encouraged and blessed, and souls were saved
for eternity.
Later, after Mom and Dad had moved off the farm, Dad heard a voice saying, "You
can do it." This was referring to finding a way to place Christian literature
into every home in their community on a regular basis. With the confirmation of
the Holy Spirit he set out to find a way to do exactly that. And over the years
God consistently provided just enough seasonal farm work for him to cover the
expenses associated with that initiative.
Does God bless those who trust His leading and are obedient to Him? You bet
He does! A person may not always see the results right away, but over a lifetime
they are abundant and obvious. Dad remembers being in a public place and having
people come up and hug him for witnessing to them years earlier. Dad has had the
joy of seeing children that he led to the Lord through kids' club continue on in
their walk with God and change the world they live in. Dad has been asked to
conduct funerals for people. Why? ...because the family knew that he had talked
to their loved ones about eternity. Dad has also had the experience of being
told years later by someone that they had quietly prayed the sinner's prayer
along with him. He didn't know that heaven was rejoicing at the time but later
on he could rejoice as well.
Telling others about Jesus is a commitment as well as a responsibility. But you
know, God blesses those who are obedient and faithful. Arnold Stobbe is living
proof of that fact - you can be too.
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