Am I obsessed with tracts?

[evangelist6589]

Is it the tracts or just passing out the gospel? I have 10-15K in tracts. I have lots of varieties of tracts and pass them out often and everywhere. Just today ordered a pack of tracts with a photo of Hitler on the front that I plan to mail out to every abortion center in the Denver metro area. But I will also preach the gospel JonC as I always do.

I wonder if I am just obsessed with the tracts or obsessed with evangelism itself. Another WOTM evangelist on FB boasts of passing out 100K tracts so no doubt she has more than me in her house.

 

[Rolfe]

I have 10-15K in tracts.

I read this two ways:
1. You have 10-15 thousand tracts that remain unused.
2. You have 10-15 thousand dollars invested in tracts.

Either way, the answer seems self-evident.

 

[Rolfe]

I wonder if I am (...) or obsessed with evangelism itself.

A book suggestion:

 

[Rob_BW]

In my "business," we have a problem with "measuring by metrics."

So the mid level managers focus on getting the scores they need to look good, often at the detriment of the overall health of the organization.

Passing out 100K tracts gives us a concrete number, something easy to score as a success. A nice big number like that would look great on a performance evaluation. But is it really telling us anything this lady's ministry? I don't know.

 

[evangelist6589]

I read this two ways:
1. You have 10-15 thousand tracts that remain unused.
2. You have 10-15 thousand dollars invested in tracts.

Either way, the answer seems self-evident.

I am trying to use them but I can't pass out or mail 15K that easily.

 

[Revmitchell]

Is it the tracts or just passing out the gospel? I have 10-15K in tracts. I have lots of varieties of tracts and pass them out often and everywhere. Just today ordered a pack of tracts with a photo of Hitler on the front that I plan to mail out to every abortion center in the Denver metro area. But I will also preach the gospel JonC as I always do.

I wonder if I am just obsessed with the tracts or obsessed with evangelism itself. Another WOTM evangelist on FB boasts of passing out 100K tracts so no doubt she has more than me in her house.

The problem is not the handing out of tracks. It is the over reliance on them. You seem very easily enamored with any method, to deliver the gospel, that does not require much of you i.e. handing out of tracks, and street preaching, but seem to have an aversion to anything that requires any real sacrifice where you are required to see people actually come to salvation and then spend time discipling them. I am always glad to hear when anyone is wanting to share the gospel but it saddens me when they want to deliver the gospel and then leave the hearers hanging with no follow up.

 

[Rolfe]

I am trying to use them but I can't pass out or mail 15K that easily.

You probably should not order more until you use what you have. Especially considering your financial issues.

 

[InTheLight]

Trying to think of something, anything, that I own that amounts to having 15,000 of them.
I can't think of anything.

I'm going to say, yes, you are obsessed with tracts. You can't stop buying them. You can't stop collecting them. You can't stop handing them out. You can't stop posting about them.

 

[evangelist6589]

You probably should not order more until you use what you have. Especially considering your financial issues.

That's the plan but it gets tempting sometimes.

 

[Salty]

My first thought - how much space is needed to store all those tracts?

Also, Rev Mitch had an excellent post # 6

 

[Jerome]

yes, you are obsessed with tracts. You can't stop buying them. You can't stop collecting them

how much space is needed to store all those tracts?

Maybe he could get on Hoarders?

Jimbob Duggar raked in five figures per episode of his reality show.

 

[Rolfe]

That's the plan but it gets tempting sometimes.

Self-control, Evan. That is the only way.

Cheers.

 

[nodak]

If tracts are the only way you witness, then yes, you might be obsessed. If you have that many, and want to buy more, yes, you are obsessed.

I live in the same general geographic area as you and give out many tracts. I use them as a cultural saturation tool. Amazing how many you can leave here, there, the other place and not be at all confrontational. Those that do not live in this pagan part of the world do not understand how many people have never, literally, heard that there was a person named Jesus, not just a cuss word. Or that there is such a thing as sin. Plant, friend, plant! More power to you!

But also water--friendship evangelism. And also reap as God gives the increase--lovingly praying with someone as they are saved.

Tracts are a tool, not the tool. If all a farmer does is plow there will never be crops. Diversify.

 

[evangelist6589]

If tracts are the only way you witness, then yes, you might be obsessed. If you have that many, and want to buy more, yes, you are obsessed.

I live in the same general geographic area as you and give out many tracts. I use them as a cultural saturation tool. Amazing how many you can leave here, there, the other place and not be at all confrontational. Those that do not live in this pagan part of the world do not understand how many people have never, literally, heard that there was a person named Jesus, not just a cuss word. Or that there is such a thing as sin. Plant, friend, plant! More power to you!

But also water--friendship evangelism. And also reap as God gives the increase--lovingly praying with someone as they are saved.

Tracts are a tool, not the tool. If all a farmer does is plow there will never be crops. Diversify.

It's only 1 of 4 ways that I witness.

 

[evangelist6589]

The problem is not the handing out of tracks. It is the over reliance on them. You seem very easily enamored with any method, to deliver the gospel, that does not require much of you i.e. handing out of tracks, and street preaching, but seem to have an aversion to anything that requires any real sacrifice where you are required to see people actually come to salvation and then spend time discipling them. I am always glad to hear when anyone is wanting to share the gospel but it saddens me when they want to deliver the gospel and then leave the hearers hanging with no follow up.

This is false. If I was over reliant on tracts I would not be writing letters and asking for a conversation.

 

[Revmitchell]

This is false. If I was over reliant on tracts I would not be writing letters and asking for a conversation.

Which you do to confront false religion. It is not a regular practice to make disciples in fact you have asserted that it is not necessary. Don't obfuscate.

 

[evangelist6589]

Which you do to confront false religion. It is not a regular practice to make disciples in fact you have asserted that it is not necessary. Don't obfuscate.

Half true. I have written many personal letters as well to non churches.

 

[Don]

If we're going to use numbers to "score" ourselves....
...then what's wrong with IFB pastors who put out how many people made professions of faith?

 

[StefanM]

If we're going to use numbers to "score" ourselves....
...then what's wrong with IFB pastors who put out how many people made professions of faith?

I call inflated numbers of that kind "church camp numbers."

Church Camp Statistics:
231 attendees
745 salvations
400 rededications
195 calls to "full-time Christian service"

 

[Salty]

Half true. I have written many personal letters as well to non churches.

How many responses have you had
How many invitations have you received to meet in person?