April 20, 2021 – Click here to listen
I have many friends involved with all sorts of ministry. God called different people to use their Christlike passion for all sorts of needs in His kingdom. I was blessed with many gifts but I’m elated that God’s primary gift to me was evangelism.
When I was a businessman nearly everyone that I encountered in the ministry told me my primary gift from God was the ability to make a lot of money and my calling was to finance various ministries. I did that for quite a while and felt good about giving away money, but my real joy in life was offering my testimony and watching God harvest lost souls for his kingdom.
Recently one of the people whom I admire most in life, my dear friend Bill Glass – Founder of Behind the Walls prison ministry – called and asked for a financial pledge for his ministry. I truly believe Bill has a special anointing and over one million inmates have come to know the Lord as their Savior and several hundred thousand volunteers have been taught how to witness to others about Christ through the 40 some odd years of this ministry. I spent many years going to various prisons with them and count it as one of the highlights of my life to speak as a platform guest on prison yards all over the country and watch thousands of inmates step forward to accept Christ.
I told Bill Teresa and I gave away almost all of our money to help take care of our children and to support too many ministries to remember. I set aside enough to live out my days in moderate comfort but I’m no longer in a position to help ministries financially. I told him that if I could, he knew I would give a pledge and generous contribution because I believe in what he is doing, but I cannot. I ended my response with, “So sorry – I truly believe that you and your ministry are anointed by God to reach those who have lost hope. I wish I still had the millions I once had and could join hands with you guys, but my time has passed.”
Bill wrote back, “Dear Bob – My time has passed as well. Only I never had millions like you did; prison preachers don’t make as much money as you were able to accumulate. But since we both ended up in the same position, I guess it is fair and I don’t even have a boat or a smelly fish box to show for it. Lol.”
Later that day he wrote a subsequent e-mail, Dear Bob – Let me suggest that your “Words for the day” should be broken up into several good books. Preserved in book form for the edification of the Christian world. It would be especially appealing to the non-Christian world as well. In fact it could be an evangelistic tool and it would be relatively easily put together.” 😊
I miss evangelism. Due to my back problems I have difficulty traveling and definitely cannot fly all over the country every week to speak at prisons, churches, rehab centers and the like as I used to. Neither can I see all that well anymore, but I can still see well enough to write and edit and just might take on that lofty project of going through 23 years of five times a week posts and let that book or books get out on the street planting seeds. Arghhh!
It is hard to believe but I wrote my book Miracle on Luckie Street nearly 12 years ago and though we don’t distribute but a fraction of what we used to, it is still alive and well and just yesterday I gave away four copies – Two in English and two in Spanish. One of the workers at my home gave one to his brother a war vet who served in Afghanistan and he told me that he comes home from work and his brother is reading my book and crying. That my friends is the Holy Spirit.
So I say all of that to ask those of you who are just passing time and not contributing to the kingdom to consider what gifts the Lord has given YOU and to think about how you can get started using them. I can tell you there is no greater joy I have found, (and trust me I’ve experienced life to its fullest,) than leading someone to Christ and watching the Lord take over their lives.
Personally I believe the Bible is clear that we are ALL called to evangelism. We can help people by giving away food, money, shelter, water, etc. but if they die without believing in Christ and go to hell what have we accomplished? I think all those ministries are vital and necessary but they should be done in conjunction with a well thought out evangelistic outreach.
Are you terrified to speak of God in front of strangers? It’s easy, just smile and simply ask someone what they think will happen when they die. Generally the Lord takes it from there and He gives you the words to say. Then invite them to church or bible study with you or give them a Bible or some other book that will help them with their new walk with the Lord.
Romans 10:15
And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”