witnessing?

[evenifigoalone]

How does a shy introvert who gets intimidated easily go about witnessing? I'm able to mingle well with a good deal of people, they know my beliefs since I am honest about them, though I am not in-your-face about it in such a way that it would drive them off. But I do feel like I need to try to reach out more than I have been. I've been able to do stuff online, discuss topics with nonbelievers and all, and some of these have led to sharing the gospel.
I am involved, and happy to be involved, in various things my church does, some of them outreach related, though I usually do stuff in the background. (Which is what I prefer, being in the background.) But IDK...is it enough?

 

[JonShaff]

Good evening! My advice is simple, Pray, Pray Pray and desire to Have a Deeper walk with Christ Through His Word, Fasting, Praising, Fellowship, Thanksgiving, etc. Desire to Know Christ in a more intimate way and while doing so Pray for opportunities to Share the Complete Gospel. This is what stepping out in faith is all about. He will Sustain you and Empower you with His righteous Right Hand!!! Ask for boldness, courage and the Words to Say. Pray this tonight, like isaiah did, Here i am Lord, Send me!!!!! I'm nervous almost every time i share the Gospel, but every time i step out in Faith, Christ Fills my heart with Words to say. Don't let nerves keep you from sharing, the Flesh is what is stopping you from sharing the Gospel. That stupid, stubborn, no good Flesh! But you have the power of the Resurrection Living Within you! You have God's Holy Spirit Dwelling inside of you. He wants to use you to Glorify God's Son Jesus Christ. Let Him guide and direct you, Rely on Him, Trust Him, Depend on Him to do with you as He wills! Praying for you!!!!

P.s. Sharing the Complete Gospel allows us to fellowship with Jesus Christ in such an intimate way. 1 Cor. 3 says we are fellow laborers with God and His presence is deeply felt when we are Sharing the Glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ. It gets sweeter and sweet every time you share!

and remember, He doesn't call us to convert anyone (That's the Holy Spirit's Calling) He calls us to be faithful. Don't fear rejection, they are not rejecting you, they are rejecting Christ. Ask God for a burden in your heart for Lost souls. If you're not going to tell them about Christ, Where are they going to get their knowledge of Him from? The media? And lastly, what an amazing truth it is to know that you were a part of Christ's Work if someone received Eternal Life! God get's all the glory, and it feels amazing knowing that you were faithful to Him!

 

[John of Japan]

How does a shy introvert who gets intimidated easily go about witnessing? I'm able to mingle well with a good deal of people, they know my beliefs since I am honest about them, though I am not in-your-face about it in such a way that it would drive them off. But I do feel like I need to try to reach out more than I have been. I've been able to do stuff online, discuss topics with nonbelievers and all, and some of these have led to sharing the gospel.
I am involved, and happy to be involved, in various things my church does, some of them outreach related, though I usually do stuff in the background. (Which is what I prefer, being in the background.) But IDK...is it enough?

Tracts are an easy and often effective way for a shy introvert to witness. In particular, write your own tract (or use one by a friend), and then you can have a ready excuse for handing them out: "This is a little something I wrote. I hope it's a help to you."

But in the end, it's all about the power of the Holy Spirit. Pray for power from God, asking in faith that He wants you to witness, and believe that He has given it. I have seen total introverts turn into bold witnesses with God's power.

 

[evenifigoalone]

If there's one thing I hate (well, sometimes), it's being so sensitive. I both hate and appreciate it--I think being sensitive makes me think about my actions more and I'm a more gentle person because of it, but it also hurts a lot when people get angry at me. (I've always been like this.)

Another thing is how best to go about things. I find people are most open when you make it clear that you're not trying to force anything on them. But people getting upset is still going to happen because, y'know, you can't please everywhere. But how much backing off is acceptable, and how much being bold is acceptable?
What I tend to like most is an opportunity to talk about my faith without it seeming like I'm just doing this because "hey you need to accept Jesus or you'll go to hell"--y'know? That tends to close people off more, I feel like people are more open when I make it more of a discussion. But I don't know if that actually does any good. I'm seriously not a bold person.

I like the idea of making something myself. I'm a (beginner) artist and that wouldn't be unusual for me. The thing about tracts is they seem very impersonal and I think people are typically quick to reject them. Doesn't mean they can't still do some good, of course.

 

[John of Japan]

I like the idea of making something myself. I'm a (beginner) artist and that wouldn't be unusual for me. The thing about tracts is they seem very impersonal and I think people are typically quick to reject them. Doesn't mean they can't still do some good, of course.

Are you writing this about tracts being rejected from personal experience or something that someone has said? My experience is the opposite--that almost anyone will take a tract, especially one with that personal touch that I mentioned, one you can say "I wrote this" or someone you love wrote. I have many times passed out my grandfather's tract, "What Must I Do to Be Saved?" and remember it being rejected only one time, going down the stairs in a train station in Japan, when the man (an American) threw it down. That is significant--that I only remember one time that tract was rejected.

On the other hand, one of our most precious believers in all our years in Japan was Habazaki San, who got saved after getting one of my tracts. He wrote a post card with just four Chinese characters meaning, "I wish to enter your teaching," and when I visited him he easily trusted Christ as Savior.

 

[evenifigoalone]

Meant a bit more in the sense of they might read it but not really take it seriously. That said, most of the people I have spoken to are in the mindset to be skeptical as they are often atheists or "used to be Christian". So that colors my perceptions a bit.

 

[John of Japan]

Meant a bit more in the sense of they might read it but not really take it seriously. That said, most of the people I have spoken to are in the mindset to be skeptical as they are often atheists or "used to be Christian". So that colors my perceptions a bit.

Well, someone would have to prove that to me. Part of the problem you mention may be tracts that are not meant to be taken seriously: poorly written, poor graphics or printing, poor presentation of the Gospel, too short, etc.

John R. Rice's tract, "What Must I Do to be Saved?" is a very complete tract of over 30 pages (says my memory), yet handy enough to fit in a shirt pocket. It has been printed in over 40,000,000 copies in many different languages. Literally tens of thousands of people have come to Christ through it. A pack of 50 can be ordered here for $5.00: http://www.swordbooks.com/whatmustidotobesavedeng.aspx

Another greatly used tract (though a little short, I feel), is Ford Porter's "God's Simple Plan of Salvation." According to the website, thousands have been saved through it. (http://www.godssimpleplan.org/info/miracle.html)

 

[JonShaff]

Well i purchased 100 of the tracts, "What must i do to be saved." Please pray the Lord would use these to bring glory to Himself!

 

[Jordan Kurecki]

Boldness is a supernatural gift given by the Holy Spirit, it is not something you learn to work up, but something that must be prayed for and claimed by faith, in Acts the early church prayed for boldness in the face of persecution and God answered. You must find boldness by prayer and faith, meditate on Acts 1:8 and pray over it.

 

[JonShaff]

Boldness is a supernatural gift given by the Holy Spirit, it is not something you learn to work up, but something that must be prayed for and claimed by faith, in Acts the early church prayed for boldness in the face of persecution and God answered. You must find boldness by prayer and faith, meditate on Acts 1:8 and pray over it.

Amen!

Read Acts 1-4

We see in this entire section of Scripture it is the Holy Spirit who empowers the Apostles with Boldness.

 

[John of Japan]

Well i purchased 100 of the tracts, "What must i do to be saved." Please pray the Lord would use these to bring glory to Himself!

Great Jon! May God bless your efforts with souls saved.

Sorry it took so long to answer this. I just got back from Africa, where I was for 12 days with very limited Internet access.