"Effective Witnessing"

[Windozer]

OK everyone,

I thought Vic's Idea to start a thread such as this to be a good suggestion.

Lets have your successes in your witnessing life?

This should include how you have successfully helped someone (anyone) to change direction in their life.

I have been successful some of the time and may share that later so as not to influence the direction of this thread.

However it may depend upon the input in this thread as to exactly how much (if any) that I will share.

If you are successful at surprising me, perhaps this thread can turn into something where we can become more successful, by getting different ideas from others experiences.

I don't expect this thread to go very far. But I am willing to be surprised.

 

[Lyric's Dad]

Preach the Gospel Always and When Necessary Use Words ...




John 13:35
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."


I guess I just think that love is the best witness and that people will want to know the source of that love when it is given to them freely.

I will not say for a moment that I am very good at this but I pray that God will bring me to a place where it flows freely from me.

 

[Gary]

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

Persoanlly, I do not think it is right to talk about "your successes in your witnessing life".... ALL the glory is for the Lord, not us.

 

[Windozer]

Persoanlly, I do not think it is right to talk about "your successes in your witnessing life".... ALL the glory is for the Lord, not us.

ROTFL Alright Gary exalt the Lord for us. Show us how the Lord has worked through you to bring about a change in others. And be sure to give the Lord all the credit? :D

 

[wavy]

John 13:35
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Nuff said. Isaiah 8:16 and Isaiah 8:20 could be added to. :-D

 

[Gary]

Did you read the Scripture? That says it all.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
1 John 3:16-20

But it is ALL for His glory. These are extracts from 2 letters I received this last year (2005)

Thank you XXXX very much for your help and great heart. Your love for the Lord inspires us very much. You really encouraged us to do more in helping the needy. To all your church members we also say thank you...

Yours in nation building
XXXXXXX

We the above mentioned organisation would like to thank you very much for the donations and food we received from you. They really did serve their purpose of helping the needy.

May you please never get weary of doing good because we praise God for being a caring, loving God and He has revealed that through you.

Sincerly
XXXX XXXX (Secretary)

What a wonderful saviour we serve! Did you notice who these wonderful people praised? Yes.... the Lord!

 

[Windozer]

Preach the Gospel Always and When Necessary Use Words ...

John 13:35
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

I guess I just think that love is the best witness and that people will want to know the source of that love when it is given to them freely.

I have experienced some success with tough love, But tough love in and of it's self has never worked unless that person has been able to clearly see that I have had his/her best interests at heart.

One person who came to a web site that I was part of (very suicidal) told me that he felt I knew him better than he himself did.

It was only because I had experienced a similar environment in our child hoods and had previously addressed every issue that I was aware of. That I was able to understand what he was going through, and what needed to happen that would enable him to move forward.

Today over a year later he is one of the most happiest and one of the strongest people on that web site.

And none of that would have been possible had Jesus not helped me through that, and gotten enough of myself out of the way so that he could work through me, to bring that about.

You are Quite right...without love all I would have been to him would have been a clanging symbol.

 

[Windozer]

Did you read the Scripture? That says it all.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
1 John 3:16-20

But it is ALL for His glory. These are extracts from 2 letters I received this last year (2005)

Thank you XXXX very much for your help and great heart. Your love for the Lord inspires us very much. You really encouraged us to do more in helping the needy. To all your church members we also say thank you...

Yours in nation building
XXXXXXX

[quote:87a8a]We the above mentioned organisation would like to thank you very much for the donations and food we received from you. They really did serve their purpose of helping the needy.

May you please never get weary of doing good because we praise God for being a caring, loving God and He has revealed that through you.

Sincerly
XXXX XXXX (Secretary)

What a wonderful saviour we serve! Did you notice who these wonderful people praised? Yes.... the Lord! [/quote:87a8a]

This should include how you have successfully helped someone (anyone) to change direction in their life.

While what you report is worthy and not to be taken lightly. It does not contribute to the focus of this thread.

It does not show that a life direction has been changed through your witness.

 

[Gary]

While what you report is worthy and not to be taken lightly. It does not contribute to the focus of this thread.

It does not show that a life direction has been changed through your witness.

It does. I thought "You really encouraged us to do more in helping the needy" said it. Did you miss that?

This organisation now supports 40 HIV/Aids infected and affected children and feeds the home-based carers and their families!... all while taking the Gospel to the same people.

Enough??

I have many other examples and they all relate to this:

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

:-?

 

[Windozer]

I thought "You really encouraged us to do more in helping the needy"

I can't understand where you got that impression from. I was not attempting to encourage you to do any such thing.
I don't believe the Lord has equipped you to do any more than what you have shown us here.

And I would most certainly not aspire to do anything to encourage you to continue in that direction.

 

[Gary]

Read my posts again in this thread. You have got it confused.

I will highlight where the quote was from. That may help you.

:-?

 

[stovebolts]

Gary,
I think what you are doing has the potential to alter lifestyles dramatically. After all, it's the little things that count because you never know what kind of impact it will have on the other side of the world... I view it as if a butterfly flaps it's wings in greenland...

Anyway,
I went into the jailhouse and there was a kid who looked like he was going to bite my head off. When I asked him if he wanted a bible study, he just gave me a dirty look and said something about if god was so good, why would he burn people in hell... I told him that we all had a choice to make and changed the subject very quickly to something secular.

I found out that he had an anger problem and he was aware of it. So, I asked him if I could prepare a lesson on anger to which he agreed. The next week, I came prepared, but he didn't want to study. So, I told him that I prepared a lesson just for him regarding anger so he'd better get his rear over. Halfway reluctant, he joined me and two other inmates. This came to that and the next thing I know, I've got half the pod listining and this guy is really touched by God's word. It was amazing to watch God's word to move in the life of this guy.

We closed with a prayer and I asked what the guys wanted to study for the next week (gluttony, like they really get enough to eat in there :wink: ). It was great studying with him for a few more weeks and it was neat to see his eager, happy face for the weeks that followed. I don't know where this guy is at with his walk in the Lord because he got shipped to another facility and I havn't been back to the ministry since June, but I know that he was touched by the word, and God will take it from there.

 

[Windozer]

Hi all,

Once again the purpose or focus of this thread is "Effective Witnessing". Not you never know what kind of impact it will have on the other side of the world... This thread is meant to be about those you know.

I am involved weekly in an organization that raises about $1,500 (every day) six days a week year round. And occasionally we have days where we have raised over $3000 in a single day.

This money goes to help the needy all over the world.

While this is worthy (and helps those who we will never know about) it is not what the intent of this thread is about.

Gary I don't have it confused. I am speaking about what you have shown us, as opposed to what you have told us. I am speaking about your actions. Which can speak louder than words.

 

[Vic C.]

This is what we are studying in our Wed. evening Bible study and prayer meetings:

When Worldviews Collide

A sample of the book:

When World Views Collide Intro
(Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

The videos that go along with this study are wonderful.

It was written by Dr. Ergun Caner. If you don't know who he is, get to know (about) him. He is on fire for the Lord and His word. I'm pretty sure Gary is familiar with him already.

 

[Gary]

Windozer, my posts have been about those projects and people I am directly involved with... by actions. They are only a few km/miles away from me. I have shown you the letters and told you about their response to what I do. Every week I personally deliver food for the 40 children and the home-based carers. We witness by words and by actions. We call it "Bread of Life" because we give both physical life (by the food) and spiritual life by the Word.

HIV/Aids is a major issue for us. 4 months ago, 12 of the people who visited the local clinic were sent home. Their HIV had progressed to Aids and their CD4 count (the count of the strength of their immune system) was so low that the doctor did not even prescribe the ARV (antiretroviral) drugs. The people were essentially sent home to die!

Our home-based carers have been using the food I supply and I am pleased to say that 11 out of the 12 people are still alive. They are being counselled and prepared and we are hoping that they will start their ARV treatment soon.

Everything we do is based on Christians principles and the passage from Scripture that I have already shared with you.

If you want to know more, please ask. I can share photographs as well.

As I said, I have many more examples.

:-? :-?

 

[Gary]

This is what we are studying in our Wed. evening Bible study and prayer meetings:

When Worldviews Collide

A sample of the book:

When World Views Collide Intro
(Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

The videos that go along with this study are wonderful.

It was written by Dr. Ergun Caner. If you don't know who he is, get to know (about) him. He is on fire for the Lord and His word. I'm pretty sure Gary is familiar with him already.

Yes Vic.... I have read his books about Islam. He co-authors with his brother, Emir Caner. The book I still have by them is "Unveiling Islam".

Thanks for those references and links.

 

[Windozer]

Gary...

I am not disputing what you have told us I have said it is worthy.

I am also not one to argue. I have asked for situations where some ones life has changed direction as a result of ones witnessing. Not has it changed so much as what ones part was to bring that about.

Now I am not about to continue this back and forth stuff with you here. Do you suppose that we could see if anyone else has anything to offer to this thread?

 

[Vic C.]

Yes Vic.... I have read his books about Islam. He co-authors with his brother, Emir Caner. The book I still have by them is "Unveiling Islam".

Thanks for those references and links.

I really admire him for his testimony. He reminds me of the person you told us about some time ago that was abandoned by his family and friends for converting to Christianity.


John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

I think the lesson learned in John 8:2-11 could be paraphrased and used as a means of witnessing.

 

[Gary]

Gary...

I am not disputing what you have told us I have said it is worthy.

You have been confused:
(1) Was I personally involved? I am.
(2) Where was this witness? Overseas? No. Right in my backyard.

I have asked for situations where some ones life has changed direction as a result of ones witnessing.

... and that is exactly what I have described. As a result of my witness and actions, the leader of the organization has changed direction and added new elements to their programs. I quoted you what she said. She said: "Your love for the Lord inspires us very much. You really encouraged us to do more in helping the needy." They are now feeding 40 HIV/Aids infected and affected children every day. I have also explained the situation of the 12 people sent home to die. All of this work is now done directly with these groups and we now share the Gospel with them all as well.

Have their lives changed direction? Yes, definitely. From a life of despair; from a life with no hope, no future; from a life where they question if God even exists..... they now see Jesus through the hands and efforts of Christians. They have a future with our Lord. They know he exists.

Not has it changed so much as what ones part was to bring that about.

I have explained my part. I will expand on it further.

The people I witness to live in a very poor area where unemployment runs at well over 50%. About 30,000 people live in very small, overcrowded "matchbox" houses close to the industrial area. Across the road, another 10,000 people live in shanties; houses made of plastic and bits of wood and sheet metal. Fire is a constant threat. There is no running water and no electricity. HIV/Aids in the whole are is at about 40% (i.e. 4 out of 10 people, men, women and children are HIV infected - most don't know it!)

My Christian witness has been to do what Jesus wants us to do... look after the poor, the orphans and the hungry. I became aware of their plight because of the work I do in the HIV/Aids field. My Christian witness has been to bring all the resources together to bear on the situation. I have involved the local church. I have involved my own church. I have co-ordinated with the local heath department as well as the provincial social services. I have got ongoing funding for the food from another Christian organization. I have co-ordinated meetings where everyone present has prayed and pleaded with our Lord to show us how to handle the challenge.

I have involved local businesses and also secured funding and contributions from an international company.

I have sourced Gospel booklets in the local language for the home-based carers to use.

I have convinced the local church to buy a freezer so that we can store the frozen meals in bulk. I have convinced my own church to fund the organization from which we source the meals. Once a week I pick up the frozen food and deliver it to the project.

I co-ordinate many visits to the project from both local and overseas visitors. This has resulted in additional donations in money and other essentials like clothes.

I have taken the head of the project to my church and she has witnessed directly to our congregation. This has resulted in several of our members visiting the project and then contributing in kind and time. Two of our small Bible study groups have adopted different elements of the project after I witnessed directly to them about the project.

There is a lot more.....

P.S. In everything we have done and in everything the project has done for the HIV/Aids infected and affected people, we have carried the Gospel to those in need. In everything we do, we continually give all praise for the work to our Lord. He has opened so many doors and many of us have witnessed His healing power, both spiritually and physically. To Him be all the glory! We serve an awesome God.

:D

 

[Windozer]

Smile!!!