Leadership
FORMULATING A FISHING CLUB
Enlisting volunteers
For a long time, I have desired to conduct a soul winning ministry in the local church. What better place is there to conduct such a ministry when you have Christians who are eager to reach their lost friends for Christ. First, I would like to say that although we use the term “soul winning”, it is not always the best term to use when trying to enlist people to be members of your program. Over the years, it has had a negative connotation and scares people into thinking that you are trying to make clones out of people who have a reputation for being obnoxious and insensitive. There is a good reason for people to think this way because programmed “soul winners” are frequently that way. So, let's change the name to “faithful witnesses.” Looking at it from a secular point of view maybe we can call the club “effective fishermen.” That means we have people in our club who are interested, excited, experienced and desirous to help others be the same way.
Imagine having the opportunity in this club, to meet some of these enthusiastic fishermen. You hear about the stories that they tell including their failures and their successes. A true fellowship would exist as it is a place where other fishermen love to go on a regular basis and they all learn from one another about how to be more successful. The exciting part of being in this club is that one never stops learning and is always finding new methods to catch different types of fish. In the Christian context, there is nothing more exciting than that of becoming a successful fisherman because of the existence of this “fishermen’s club.”
Now the question arises, how do we form such a club and how do we motivate others to want to be part of that club? I recall someone saying that being a fisher of men is better caught than taught. What do we mean by that? Let me use an example. If you announce to your church that you want to start a soul-winning ministry, there is going to be a lot of negative reactions from some people. In their minds, they imagine that in this club, they will go out into the neighborhoods and knock on doors, presenting some type of mechanical discourse to persuade them to become Christians. That is a common understanding of what soul winning is all about and if you want to keep people from being effective witnesses, invite them to join your soul winning club.
Now, why do I make such a statement? I have seen it happen many times. Now I am not saying that there is not a place for this type of evangelism. I find it especially helpful when you're trying to start a new church in the community and you need some type of outreach to let others know what you want to do. But I am thinking about something different. I am talking about evangelism as my way of life. That doesn't mean that I must talk to everyone I meet about Christ. If you want to scare people out of evangelism instill that idea. The goal is to motivate people who are genuinely concerned about their unsaved friends and neighbors. They may not be particularly articulate in how to say the right words, but with proper training in the fishermen's club, they will eventually know how to share by their lifestyles and their own way of communicating. We want these witnesses who care for their friends and neighbors to keep caring for them, and always pray and seek new ways of reaching them. With our fishermen's club, we are having fellowship with men and women who face the same situations in their lives. They can share their successes and failures and pray for their fellow fisherman. So, how do we begin to be effective witnesses for Christ?
In Acts chapter 1 verse eight, Jesus instructed his disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they are endued with power from on high. That means praying, much praying, persistent praying, expectant praying. Without praying and without the inward witness of the Holy Spirit, evangelism becomes mechanical and ineffective. We must believe with great passion that unless urgent effective prayer is present, evangelism will fail and may I add, it will turn potential witnesses from being so. The first thing that Jesus said is to wait until you be endued with power from on high. When do I ask, will we know we are ready? In Acts chapter 2, we saw that question answered when the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost. When we begin with prayer, we begin to have confidence in the power of God to work. We can proceed forth expecting something to happen, even though we may not know when or how at the time. Praying activates the work of the Holy Spirit, and the results of that activity are what is exciting. Going forth after praying is the act of faith, believing that God has gone before and prepared the opportunity. The second thing that Jesus said in this verse is that we shall be witnesses, I like that, unto me in Jerusalem, extending to the whole province of Judah, extending further to all corners of the earth
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Now we may ask, how it is possible that this small group of 120 believers could reach the whole world for Christ. The message is important. When we are faithful in the Jerusalem or Judea where God has placed us, that is our mission field and those our opportunities to influence others for Christ. The kingdom of God increases as we are multiplying ourselves by teaching and training others. I am a firm believer that we must earn the right to share the gospel with others considering the fact where evangelism has gone over the years. Three principles I have found to be most effective in sharing Christ with others and I don't even have to say anything. One great evangelist told his people “preach the Gospel; and if necessary, use words". There is much to share on the subject.
Here is a simple formula for success in every area of life. First, be a friend. That does not mean that we should make friends or will have a lot of friends. It means simply that I am a friend to someone who needs one. Maybe that person is not attractive in the way that appeals to me, but he is a person who needs a friend. You will be surprised by being a friend, what a friend he will be, but that is not the purpose.
We are to be a friend with no conditions or expectations attached. Second, be a servant; that is not easy. Sometimes it means swallowing our pride to help another person with a legitimate need. I have a friend who tends to be very argumentative and totally opposed to my Christian way of thinking, yet over the past year, she has become very infirmed. There has been the opportunity for me to show Christian love to her by taking care of her lawn all summer long. It has become a part of my weekly mowing my own lawn. I have refused the money and I told her that you cannot do for money what you do for love. I love this woman, she is a widow and needs the love of my wife and myself because her children have neglected her. The last time I visited with her we could talk about things we disagree on without being disagreeable. I gave her a copy of my recent book and she was very grateful.
Love and the newfound relationship came by being a servant. Being a servant means that we must be willing to face some suffering to meet the needs of others. Third, and most important in everything, is to be faithful. I hear people say all the time “you are in our prayers and our thoughts,” but I wonder who they are praying to and what they are thinking about. It is easy to quote these quaint little phrases, but I have found the most effective way of being a witness for Jesus Christ is that when I say I will pray for you, I tell them that means I'm starting today and I'm going to pray for you every day, and you can depend upon it. By being faithful, people will know they can rely on you to keep your word, and if you employ the three principles in your life you will be able to be a great witness for Jesus Christ.
In our fishermen's club, we will share these principles and these experiences that we have, and they will motivate others as well because they work, and our lifestyles give testimony to the fact.
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