First of all, who is qualified to discuss this subject? I am of the House of Rice and a fundamentalist of the fundamentalists, but that does not qualify me to put forth what successful evangelism is. Developing methods, writing books, making DVDs (sorry, in Japanese), teaching personal evangelism does not qualify me to speak on this subject.
So, what does qualify one to speak on the subject of successful evangelism? Seeing God work! Successful evangelism, or soul winning, if you will, is all of God. If you have never seen God work to save souls through your ministry and witness, I suggest you just read this thread, posting only questions and no opinions. Evangelism that sees no one saved is simply dead works, proving that believer to be not abiding in Christ. "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples" (John 15:8).
I have seen the blessed work of God in saving souls in many different ways. I saw God use my parents to save many souls. I saw God save my little friend Paul in kindergarten when I was just six. I saw God save nine kids in a tent at a county fair when I was 16. I saw God save 59 in 7 states in one year through my evangelistic team in college. I saw God work in a little church in southern Georgia, where a prodigal got saved and the whole church was weeping before God. I saw God save many Japanese souls during my 33 year career as a missionary there in a Gospel-resistant country where only 1/2 of 1% were evangelical Christians. This includes Abe, who then went to the other side of Tokyo to start a church; two jr. high boys when I preached my first official sermon; an adulterer; two different drug addicts; a yakuza drug gang leader and two of his gang members; and many others. I saw revival two years in a row at a little youth camp when almost every teen surrendered to Christ.
So, what distinguishes actual soul-winning evangelism from the failing kind? Is it the method? No. The book of Acts shows no specific methodology. Is it the personality of the believer. No. Is it the theology of the soul-winner? Only to the extent that he is giving the true Gospel. So what is it?
It is the power and work of the Holy Spirit. Doing evangelism without the power of the Holy Spirit guarantees failure. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin (John 16:7-11), gives boldness to the believer (Acts 4:31), acts miraculously in the salvation of the sinner, and does many other things in evangelism.
When we moved to Yokohama after language school to start a church, I was completely bewildered about how to begin, and literally went into depression. My wife suffered at this time, not knowing what to do for me. I began going down to a park for hours of prayer, Bible reading, and reading books to help me find my way. God was gracious to me and filled me with the Holy Spirit through the teachings of R. A. Torrey in his blessed book, The Holy Spirit: Who He Is and What He Does. With that, boldness and power came and God blessed my ministry with souls saved.
Are you filled with the Spirit? Right now?
So, what does qualify one to speak on the subject of successful evangelism? Seeing God work! Successful evangelism, or soul winning, if you will, is all of God. If you have never seen God work to save souls through your ministry and witness, I suggest you just read this thread, posting only questions and no opinions. Evangelism that sees no one saved is simply dead works, proving that believer to be not abiding in Christ. "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples" (John 15:8).
I have seen the blessed work of God in saving souls in many different ways. I saw God use my parents to save many souls. I saw God save my little friend Paul in kindergarten when I was just six. I saw God save nine kids in a tent at a county fair when I was 16. I saw God save 59 in 7 states in one year through my evangelistic team in college. I saw God work in a little church in southern Georgia, where a prodigal got saved and the whole church was weeping before God. I saw God save many Japanese souls during my 33 year career as a missionary there in a Gospel-resistant country where only 1/2 of 1% were evangelical Christians. This includes Abe, who then went to the other side of Tokyo to start a church; two jr. high boys when I preached my first official sermon; an adulterer; two different drug addicts; a yakuza drug gang leader and two of his gang members; and many others. I saw revival two years in a row at a little youth camp when almost every teen surrendered to Christ.
So, what distinguishes actual soul-winning evangelism from the failing kind? Is it the method? No. The book of Acts shows no specific methodology. Is it the personality of the believer. No. Is it the theology of the soul-winner? Only to the extent that he is giving the true Gospel. So what is it?
It is the power and work of the Holy Spirit. Doing evangelism without the power of the Holy Spirit guarantees failure. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin (John 16:7-11), gives boldness to the believer (Acts 4:31), acts miraculously in the salvation of the sinner, and does many other things in evangelism.
When we moved to Yokohama after language school to start a church, I was completely bewildered about how to begin, and literally went into depression. My wife suffered at this time, not knowing what to do for me. I began going down to a park for hours of prayer, Bible reading, and reading books to help me find my way. God was gracious to me and filled me with the Holy Spirit through the teachings of R. A. Torrey in his blessed book, The Holy Spirit: Who He Is and What He Does. With that, boldness and power came and God blessed my ministry with souls saved.
Are you filled with the Spirit? Right now?
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