More and more the term soulwinning is disappearing from our vocabulary. I wonder why?
Across the land our churches are declining and many are saying, "what happened?" I believe that over the years our churches, schools, and spiritual leaders have downplayed the term 'soulwinning' to other terms less powerful, such as: effective witnessing, relational evangelism, sharing the gospel, etc. (all of which are alright in themselves). The de-emphasis of the term 'soulwinning' has created a generation of believers that seldom lead a soul to Christ, and discourage door-to-door evangelism. Soulwinning is more than praying a prayer with someone, it is building a personal relationship with a person with the intent of leading them to Christ and then discipling them faithfully.
What is even more disturbing is that even gospel tracts are omitting the 'sinners prayer' and church members are discouraged from leading someone in the 'sinners prayer' in order to help them receive Christ.
All of the above has contributed to 'declining, struggling, joyless churches'. The 'turnaround' or 'comeback' church will re-establish evangelism (or introduce soulwinning) as a major priority in its ministry.
If soulwinning is suffering in your church. Please relieve the suffering!
David P Smith
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5 comments:
Have you ever tried to move a church beyond the "Us 4 and No More" mindset when they are scared to death of growing? When they have only known years and years of staying in the very same comfort zone? When they equate evangelism with excruciating torture?
My wife and I both prayed and agonized over just such a church and their lack of vision for a future beyond themselves. We wound up having to leave.
During the time when I was attempting to cast vision for growing the church, I visited over 5,000 homes in the community. My focus was to bring people to faith more than just inviting them to church. For 14 months, I went door to door every day of the week, except Sunday, attempting the practice of "soulwinning." I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it! Although, to my knowledge, no one ever came to faith, I became well respected in the community, if not so much in my church.
Soulwinning, sharing my testimony, spreading the gospel, whatever you want to call it, its something I do every day, everywhere I go. The Great Commission actually means something to me and, so does I Corinthians 9:16 where it says: "Woe Is Unto Me if I Preach Not the Gospel."
Thank you for your good Word on this subject Brother David, I thoroughly agree. AMEN.
Blessings,
Gene Bowhay
I have used the 'chic' tracts in the past, and we set a goal of delivering 200 per month into the hands of friends, neighbours and others we come in contact with. They have resulted in people asking a lot of questions and opening opportunities. I also get to share the gospel in other ways of just opening discussions. There is however a fundamental gap between the winning and then getting them in the door. I have also found that making yourself available to serve the people even thise not of your church opens a lot of doors. I will also admit that between working a full time job, studying and making time to rest door to door witnessing is almost impossible for me. The tract avenue offers a much more flexible way of witnessing that incorporates opportunities as they come. Make sure to carefully select the 'chic' tracts, they are good for tghe most part and they all include the sinner's prayer, but use the specific gospel ones and they will be very effective.
Sean
I believe that just like our fear of being labeled "Pentecostal" has caused shouting baptists to quick shouting that our fear of being labeled with the "social" gospel has caused us to stop doing the good works that show the love of God in action and open peoples hearts to the message! SoulWinning with out the good works is dry and begins to appeal only to certain personalities that are verbally inclined. This is usually preachers and not all of them at that.
Why do we let fear of being "labeled" drive us so in so many areas. On other issues we don't succumb ie. When the Campbellites/Church of Christ started preaching the perpetuity of their churches did we stop doing it because we might get labeled "Church of Christ". The truth is that we kept believing it because it was true and right. Well shouting, clapping, lifting holy hands is true and right. SoulWinning empowered by good works is true and right. I say lets do it and lets do more of it!
In my particular region (Louisiana), it seems that people would rather argue religion than share Jesus. These people don't need to heart what you believe or think about religion or church, they need to hear about Jesus. Jesus is the only one that can save them. It seems some are like the church in Revelation that "lost its first love."
A few of my friends have been having a lot of success with Ray Comfort's and Kirk Cameron's "Way of the Master" method. This method takes a person through the Ten Commandments, showing them their failure to keep the Law - thus humbling them - and then shows them God's wonderful grace. Willaim Fay's "Share Jesus Without Fear" method is pretty good too.
If there is one thing I do know, it is this: something must be done. The average church grows (if at all) by about 5-10 people a year down here, and almost all are by transfer of letter from some other church. The last time I checked the New Testament, churches grew by preaching Jesus, and they grew exponentially, according to Acts 6:7.
The church I pastor in Merced, Ca. had a witnessing seminar earlier this year and we had about 19 show up. That was including the people from our church. We used the "Sharing Jesus Without Fear" material and realy enjoyed the teaching. Just not many people are concerned. One church even was going to pay for all of the youth that would come but none from their church would come.
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