The Author Speaks
I want to hear my Lord say, "Well done, good and faithful servant," when my days on earth are done.
Pat Robertson of the Christian Broadcasting Network answered this question on the 700 Club. He quoted Matthew 24:14 as the number one sign of the return of Jesus Christ: "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." According to Revelation 5:9 there will be those who have received Jesus Christ into their lives from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. Some from every discrete people group will need to turn to Jesus!
When will this have happened? Would it be fair to say there are 6 billion people on earth now? How many have had a fair hearing of what Jesus Christ has done for them in the language of their birth so that they could turn to him with their whole heart or not? This is what one pastor called "a proper introduction." World Missionary Press has printed one billion gospel tracts in 305 languages as of February 23, 2001. Every Home Crusade and many others distribute these and other literature around the world. The Jesus Film (the Gospel of Luke) has been shown in 234 countries (168 on television) and has over 24 million video cassettes in circulation in 643 languages. Over 4.1 billion persons have seen the Jesus Film as of February 28, 2001! The Christian Broadcasting Network has as its goal in 2001 to record 500 million decisions for Christ and if you turn on your TV set, you too can respond to their daily prayers of commitment to Jesus Christ! And let’s not forget Billy Graham simultaneously broadcasting a crusade around the world. Wycliffe Bible Translator workers are learning and writing down languages new to the outside world so the Bible can enter these people groups. Each year more people are being reached faster. For those who can’t read there are hand-operated devices that explain the Gospel. And now we have the Internet and satellite broadcasts which invade once prohibited borders. With each breath we breathe we are nearer to the whole world having heard. When will the last person finally have heard who hasn’t heard yet? This is an intriguing question. Perhaps he is waiting for you! Can you sleep tonight without having asked Jesus Christ, if he is real, to show himself to you as your Lord? Can you sleep tonight without praying that those who haven't yet heard, that they will hear before they go into eternity?
2. What can you do? (I know you can do what I did because I did it)
A. Check out some ministry firsthand
B. Go solo if you have to but GO!
C. Look for more stationary opportunities
A. Check out some ministry firsthand
Keep doing this until you say, "I can do that!" Don’t
leave too soon; it’s comforting to have company when things
go bump.
In 1971 I went to Bermuda with Campus Crusade for Christ over
spring break. We asked college students on the beach if they
wanted to take a religious survey. At the end we asked if they
wanted to know more about Jesus. If they did we read through the
"Four Spiritual Laws" with them and they had an
opportunity to receive Jesus Christ into their lives. I learned
you could approach a total stranger and successfully share the
gospel with that person. I learned just to point to (without covering)
the words in the "Four Spiritual Laws" with my finger
as I was reading them aloud. Speaking slowly in a monotone seemed
to allow the words to speak more deeply. Courtesy was easy as it
just flowed. The only place to remark about was the page where
you pick between two diagrams to show what you think your life is
like. Some say they are in the middle, not in either diagram. No
problem, just ask "Which would you like your life to be
like?" People generally point to a life ordered by Christ.
The next page has a a prayer of commitment. It is read first and
then the person is asked, "Does that prayer express the
desire of your heart?" If so, ask, "Are you ready to
pray that prayer right now?" If they are, they pray. If they
aren’t, no problem, just say, "You’ll have this
for when you are ready and give it to them with your blessing."
The booklet will probably reappear on just the right day!
By the way, once I met a young man out riding a horse and I was
walking. We agreed to meet later. He sat in the passenger side of
my VW Bug and I asked him if he wanted to pray and receive Christ
right now. He said, "No." I asked him if it were all
right if I prayed. He said, "OK." So I prayed. When I
was done he said, "I feel clean all over!" It took me
over twenty years to realize he changed his mind as I prayed. I
wasn’t using the "Four Spiritual Laws" that day, I
just respected his decisions.
B. Go solo if you have to but GO!
You may find after time that you want to go to places your
group isn’t prepared to go. If the place is safe for you (it
offers no temptation you cannot easily overcome), go!
I witnessed in conjunction with Campus Crusade for Christ on the
University of Pennsylvania campus. I remember clearly the Campus
Crusade for Christ representative sharing the "Four
Spiritual Laws" with the gas station attendant while we were
having his gas tank filled. Ask God to put someone in your path
who will be open. What’s the worst that can happen? Someone
may tell you to go to hell. No problem, just tell them with your
best smile, "That’s impossible!" No matter what
you get hit with, you’re better off than the person in front
of you since you already have received Jesus. And that could have
been you mocking a faithful Christian out there presenting the
gospel. If so, wouldn’t you be glad he or she did not let
that mocking be a deterrent? Is it mocking, or is it some deep
place of hurt coming open with explosiveness and you can greet it
with a blessing?
C. Look for more stationary opportunities
People will know how to find you and look you over for a while
before stopping to hear what you have to say. I don’t beat
around the bush. I display large ( 22x16 inch) attractive signs
that say "Jesus Is Lord." If it is in a place that
requires prior permission I get that in writing and keep a pile
of copies so I’m never without one. If it seems it should be
OK I still call, go, check in with the police and the
headquarters of the event first. I make sure of my rights and
limitations and keep the name, rank and badge number with me of
the person I received the information from. You may not like
where the free speech areas are located (sometimes they are by the
toilets, but alot of people come into contact with you) but as long as you appear
fairly mobile no one can disturb you. Make friends, be nice. I
try and relate to each person as they give permission. I try and
relate to each person as they present themselves. I think of my
presentation as a bird feeder. It’s available but not
mandatory. If a person says, "What are these?" I say,
"These booklets explain how you can have a personal
relationship with God through Jesus Christ." You are going
to have everything happen to you while you are out there but I
tell you, there is an angel standing with you. Remain calm. A
bird feeder brings loud and cranky birds and nervous birds almost
too afraid to express their need. You be the link between whoever
they are and what the Lord Jesus Christ has for them. Answering
with reality and truth and humility isn’t wrong. Only the
bird knows why it came. If it got what it wanted and needed, good.
Becoming a Christian can be a series of steps. Help someone get
from step A to step B or step X to step Y. You’ll be step Z
at some point. Maybe you’re steps A to Y and God is allowing
a relationship to be healed you know not of on step Y to step Z.
Here are some things I have done and what I thought about them.
I was in Jerusalem in 1972 and one day I was overcome with
something I would have to call fear and I did not go out with the
group. Instead I read Tortured for
Christ by Richard Wurmbrandt. I did not know until that day
that persecuted Christians did not have Bibles in their own
languages. When I put the book down I was no longer afraid. I
went out for a walk with part of my group. I looked up from the
dirt street and saw a bookstore that had Bibles in other
languages! I went in and purchased 30 Bibles in each of the
languages of the countries we were going to: Turkish, Bulgarian,
Yugoslavian. They gave me tracts also. I went back to the group
and presented the idea of taking Bibles in and that I had one
Bible in each language for each one to carry. I cautioned them
that if we ran into problems, they couldn’t say they were my
Bibles. I can just tell you, it gets real out there! I spoke
German fluently which enabled me to speak to people in many
countries. In Bulgaria I got to speak with some police who were
very interested in my contacts in that country. They’d done
a routine search of our VW buses in a campground while we were
out. They found the Bibles and were told they in fact were all
mine! I finally told them, "I am dealing with the Living God
and he has all the contacts and there was no need for me to know
anyone ahead of time." A few days before I had actually stood two feet from a
table where about 20 soldiers had been seated.
I even asked the restaurant owner in German how to say Jesus with
a Bulgarian Bible open. It wasn’t my idea, the missionary
asked me in English to do it. To attract the least attention I
just did it. The restaurant owner began to cry. I asked him why
he was crying. He said he’d never seen a Bible in his own
language. The soldiers never saw a thing. It’s a matter of
decision to continue on handing out Bibles in Yugoslavia after
spending time with a room full of interrogators in Bulgaria! I
left Yugoslavia against my will with one Bible but God intervened
and got it back into Yugoslavia. By the way, I wrote plenty of
letters home saying if I disappeared, try a Bulgarian prison.
They probably thought I was joking. This was on a two month trip
through Gordon College in Wenham, MA.
I was staying in Squaw Valley in the early 1990’s. All the
housekeeping staff seemed to speak Spanish only. I began to
realize I needed to locate the "Four Spiritual Laws" in
Spanish. I went hiking up on Squaw Valley Ski Corp property high
up in the mountains and I ran into a woman from Germany. We spoke
German together briefly. I realized I would have to locate the
"Four Spiritual Laws" in German.
I stood in front of Safeway, the grocery store, with permission
of their corporate office, as Easter approached one year with my
"Jesus Is Lord" sign and had "Four Spiritual Laws"
in English only. Some people said they gave already (!), some
with Christian T-shirts on were indifferent, some people were so
happy to see someone there with the way to God in hand. I was
most impressed, however, with the chattering in other languages.
One man asked me if I had one in Russian and I didn’t. I
began to realize that to minister in the Silicon Valley, you’d
better be prepared since walking out your front door can be a
mission trip!
I moved on to the Berryessa Flea Market in San Jose, California. By then I had the "Four
Spiritual Laws" in as many languages as were available. I
also had the "Jesus Film" in English. I asked a sign
maker if I could pop the "Jesus Film" into the TV/VCR
he had there to entertain his kids and if he could direct
inquirers to our spot which had no electricity. Even with the saw
on it was apparent the "Jesus Film" was getting
attention. We saw about one decision per week at the flea market.
I just opened the back of my pickup and camper shell and put
everything out on the tailgate. One man said God had told him to
do this at the flea market but he didn’t. Another woman said
God was going to bless us for doing this. Some Vietnamese vendors
turned to Christ. The teen age daughter of someone selling yard
sale type items came to Christ. A child came and received Christ.
A young man said when I asked would he like to receive Christ
right now said, "Who wouldn’t!" A man walked past
my truck and then stood there as if he were going to keep going.
After a minute I realized he was in a Holy Spirit lock and I
asked him what language he spoke. He said,"Chinese."
That is the last word we could find that both of us understood.
But I pulled out the Chinese "Four Spiritual Laws" and
turned to the prayer (easy to find). I showed it to him. He read
it and he was surely surprised as to what it was. He left with it.
I really wanted to rent an indoor area and put in TV/VCR’s
with head sets so I could show the "Jesus Film" in many
languages. People tried to buy the "Jesus Film" in
English from me waving bills in front of me. I was unprepared for
requests in different languages.
In 1994 the Lord told me to go to the Space Needle in Seattle and
witness. He said I’d have to go right away or wait for a
long time. I didn’t know that in just two weeks I wouldn’t
be able to take vacation for another 6 months! I ended up going
at the end of November. I told the Lord how much I’d need
for gas, etc. I was surprised to receive a check for very close
to that amount a week before I left from a class action suit I
hadn’t known about. Believe it or not they promised to send
more money later! I slept in my truck in a campground and ate 50
cent burgers and commuted back and forth. Just a few days before
I left I had a dream and God gave me very specific instructions
about a certain man I would meet. I actually stood at the Seattle
Center in the same complex as the Space Needle. I had my "Four
Spiritual Laws" in languages, New Testaments, and my "Jesus
Is Lord" signs. What I remember is being very cold, the
workers there were absolutely not thrilled at my presence but I
met the man God had shown me and I did what God said. The Lord
told me the people around him were doing nothing, perhaps that’s
why he brought me up from California. I remember several things.
A couple of young men were videotaping me and making fun of me on
tape. However, I just used my good old standby, "These
booklets explain how you can have a personal relationship with
God through Jesus Christ." When they found the New
Testaments were free they asked if they could each have one. They
left in a different manner than they came. Some people were so
impressed with what I was doing I was treated to a Thanksgiving
dinner! The last day I was there it was starting to rain and get
dark. One of the men who’d made fun of me came over and told
me it was starting to rain and I should pack up and stay dry. He
was very nice.
I moved on to Valley Fair Mall in San Jose. I stayed there the
longest. I was so excited after the Space Needle how God could
send me to a specific individual that I began to think of what
could happen next. I’m not a shopper and I enter malls only
if I know exactly which store I’m going to and exactly which
entrance is closest. But there I was applying to sit with Bugs
Bunny on one side and B Dalton Bookstore on the other with my
"Jesus Is Lord" signs. I asked the Lord for a
confirmation that I was to do this. As I left I found a woman in
the parking lot who was disoriented. She had gotten on a bus to the mall
but didn’t know how to get home. It became apparent she
spoke French only. I speak no French. I got out a French "Four
Spiritual Laws" and wrote in English a note to the bus
driver where she needed to go and sent her to the bus area. I
took that as confirmation. I had the largest number of
interactions in the mall. Some days were quiet. Other days were
very busy.
One weekend I went to Lake Tahoe to relax. I was interested in seeing the Blue Angels fly. I went to Reno. I found they were flying at Fallon Air Force base still 1 ½ hours away and that they had already flown. I headed east on 80 telling the Lord I had no idea why I was headed out there if they’d already flown and maybe I was wasting gas but I just felt I should go. I was getting a little more depressed as the miles went by. I followed signs and I saw a man standing on top of a pile of gravel. I pulled over and said, "What are you looking at?" He said, "The Blue Angels." I said, "Have they flown yet?" He said, "In 4 minutes,." So I stopped and got on the gravel pile with him and watched a perfectly wonderful air show. Afterward, I realized I was near a lot of people and I had my "Jesus Is Lord" sign with me. There was nothing to keep me from witnessing. I asked the Lord to make it easy to start. A woman came up immediately and said how much she liked my sign and she prayed with me. I went down about ¼ mile where the cars were coming out of the huge grass parking field. I stood there with my "Jesus Is Lord" sign dressed so nicely smiling so nicely since I knew I was in the center of God’s will. As I learned later 23,000 cars went past me moving very slowly. Some people showered compliments. Some pelted me with their wishes and understandings. Some people let me know they were Satanists. If I could rewind the tape, I would ask them so nicely what was it about them or what was it about Satan that they willingly backed a losing team, but I didn’t think of it then. I remember car after car with children in the back, all reading "Jesus Is Lord." I know they were asking Mom and Dad, "What’s that?" No matter what they said back to the children, I know they knew it was something good. The next day it seemed the Lord wanted me back at Fallon. I asked the sheriff was there any better place to stand than where I was standing. He smiled at me and said, "No, every car had to come out past me." They opened up both directions so the cars went faster. Still, it took way longer for the cars to leave. I do not know how many cars went past but it was at least 2 ½ times 23,000! Can you imagine, what a weekend! I do not know why God did not have someone from Nevada do it but I received the privilege. By the way, God arranged for Kentucky Fried Chicken to receive me with full honor and refused payment on the way home. The man knew nothing of my weekend adventures but God decided to feed me.
Let me stop for a moment and say that when you are out there, it’s a spiritual battle. You’re going to get hit with lies and depression designed to drain the life and leading of God out of your life. "Stop handing out Bibles in Turkish because the people can’t read them, it’s old Turkish." That turned out to be a lie. Lucky I handed them out. The worst case of depression I was hit with was in 1973. I was at the Grand Canyon and I was inviting people to church services Saturday night in the campground. Two teenage girls wanted to come but their parents said no. The next morning I was hit with depression so I could hardly function. I considered not going. But I went. Those two girls had come and I had assumed the parents changed their mind. They both received Christ. They told me they had just come anyway. The way I view it is, that could be me out there. It could be another hit with depression and me that didn’t get the chance to receive Christ.
I went to Christmas in the Park in San Jose, I believe in 1996. The free speech area was next to the portable toilets. I took my folding stool, a table cloth, my "Jesus Is Lord" sign, and my Four Spiritual Laws in about 50 languages. I wasn’t so sure God was wanting me to do this so I said, "If you want me to do this, you’re going to have to get me a really good parking space!" I got the one absolutely closest to where I was. I could make several trips across the road and still watch things. I set up and a police car came by and the officer was not smiling. I know he figured I was selling something. But when he saw the Jesus Is Lord sign and all the items, he left. The police aren’t necessarily against you, they have a job to do and they make certain assumptions as we all do. Since they can cause a lot of pain, I comply completely. I was never disturbed after that. Many cars had to sit in traffic looking at me. I don’t prefer that people have to bend over to the ground to get a tract but this is the way it was. Over time I realized that what people feel when they see a tract in their own language is that they are loved. The language that seems to make the biggest impression to the speaker is Persian. It was cold and a young man spent time with me. The next time I brought a second folding stool. After a while I began to realize he was homeless and hungry. I began to bring food. I’m a camper so I always have my stove. It was he who kept me company on the long hours. It was like the Lord sent me someone to help me. I just remember he was able to minister to some who would not have identified with me. A young man stopped by and explained his dream of becoming a boxer for Christ. His pastor and wife wanted him to give it up thinking it was unrealistic. I was able to tell him about Evander Holyfield and that he was in good company. I prayed for him.
By the way, live broadcasts allow you to pray real-time. I was washing dishes half watching a Holyfield fight. About round 5 I realized it was live and I could pray for him. I prayed for the Lord to strengthen him. At the end after he won they were trying to get him to talk about the fight. All they could get out of him was, "Thank you, prayer warriors!" Then all they could get out of him was, "Thank you, Jesus!"
You can open for business anywhere. I was coming west on highway 80 from Lake Tahoe to Sacramento and 80 finally came to a standstill. I pulled completely off the road onto the grass and open my tailgate and put up my Jesus Is Lord sign. Of course, I got the full gamut of responses. A young man on a motor cycle stopped and parked behind me and we talked. I invited him to the Billy Graham Crusade in Sacramento. One time I was over near the Pacific Ocean on highway 1. The Lord told me to pull over. I did and had a perfect view of the ocean. I was leaving and the Lord said, "Why are you leaving?" So I backed up and stayed. After a while a man came along. I told him I was going to watch the sun go down. He came back later to watch the sun go down also. His mother had called him that morning and told him he had to give his life to God and to go to church. He said he watched football and decided to go to the beach. When he realized he’d come back to talk to me that he couldn’t get away from his mother or God. I figure I couldn’t get away from his mother’s prayers either!
How did I get this domain name, "JesusIsLord.org?"
One night I was praying, "Oh God, people tell me I can’t
reach the world for Christ! I don’t want to hear it from you!
Don’t tell me I can’t reach the world for Christ! Put a
tool in my hand so I can reach the world for Christ!" This
was in February of 1996 on a Tuesday.
The next morning I was to go to a seminar on the Internet at a
hotel close to work. It had come up so suddenly I was asked to
use my credit card for 3 people and get reimbursed later. I had
asked so many times for training on the Internet. I heard the man
speak and in less than an hour I realized that the Internet is
the modern version of the Roman roads that took the Gospel from
Jerusalem to the known world! The attendees lined up to find out
from a man with a laptop computer connected to the Internet if
their proposed domain name was already taken or not. I had no
plans so I stood at the head of the line watching. I would say
that 97% of the desired domain names were already taken. The man
turned to me and I intended to say, "Sower Ministries."
But I said, "JesusIsLord.org." The man looked at me and
said, "I can’t believe it, it’s still there."
So I wrote a check for much more than would be needed normally
and on February 16th of 1996 it was registered to me. When I
consider the name, I know the content and demeanor must remain
pure. It’s taken me 5 years to think of putting personal
items on the site. But I have polled those I trust and they say
it’s good. By the way, the Internet works even while I’m
asleep!
Be ready in an instant to take advantage of opportunities! On a
Wednesday evening I learned of someone going to China to teach a
class for 8 hours. I had a dream that night that I should ask him
to take Chinese Four Spiritual Laws to China. I asked him to
arrive 15 minutes early because I had a personal favor to ask. I
said, just as mules take drugs I’m asking you to be a mule
and take Chinese gospel tracts into China. He looked at me and
said, "Is this so people can go to heaven?" I said,
"Yes," and he said, "I’ll do it!" It was
Thursday evening. The Lord had said 300 tracts only and I’d
already called Campus Crusade for Christ and ordered them for
next day UPS delivery. I took a very late lunch and went home to
get the yellow slip from UPS off my door and then I asked the
Lord where the UPS truck was. I drove around and found it. The
man had my tracts! I went back to work and asked someone to write
in Chinese, "Take one, they’re free." I wrapped
them in packs of 10. Over the weekend I missed the voice mail at
home saying he couldn’t do it after all. I called Sunday
night and he told me he couldn’t. I asked if I could bring
them over before work Monday so he could take a look. When he saw
how few there were (330, I couldn’t resist!) his wife
wrapped them up in two packages of Christmas wrapping. They ended
up in a remote village that could read. I heard from Campus
Crusade for Christ in Singapore requesting to know where they
ended up so they could do follow up. At a prayer meeting at my
church we prayed for this village. They have definite needs and
God can supply them!
Pray for the gospel to go forth! Get Operation World by
Patrick Johnstone. Countries and their needs are presented for
each day of the year starting with January 1st. Don’t wait
for January 1st, pick up on whatever day it is. I have a coworker
who credits his winning trivia question prizes due to praying for
the 10-40 Window.
Give to those who are out there doing it! Which part of the
operation fascinates you the most? Do you want to support those
who develop and print scripture tracts, those who distribute
them, those who send believers Bibles, those who meet physical
and medical needs or those who do all of it? Do you want to fund
a new language translation of "The Jesus Film?" Do you
want to help send a team out to show "The Jesus Film?"
Many ministries have giving catalogs with items such as dig a
well in a village with a price next to it. Jesus said the Kingdom
of God has the highest returns (more than you can ask or think,
pressed down…shaken together…running over), so invest
in the kingdom of God! I think of giving to the gospel as funding
a diversified mutual fund run by the smartest money manager in
history! The thing closest to the heart of God is people and if
he’d leave the 99 to save 1, we should consider it too.
Where the 10-40 Window is concerned it’s more like leaving
the 30 to save the 70. Help me here someone! 'Top'
In progress...let me know!!!.
You! An evangelist! Your heart is to share Christ throughout the earth but you don't speak every language! Not to worry. Online and orderable resources to help you can be found through JesusIsLord.org. Allow God to begin to work through you in ways you never imagined. Tongue tied? Tracts speak as you sensitively share them. Go for it!
Last updated 08/28/2004
Background music is: IT'S JESUS (THE LOVER OF MY SOUL)
Who can fill my heart with joy,
When all the earth is trembling?
Who can sing a song of love
So sweet my heart comes running?
Who can take a wounded soul
And fill it up with life, and make it whole?
It's Jesus (3x)
The lover of my soul
It's Jesus (3x)
The lover of my soul!
Who can fill our broken world
With grace that leads us to repent?
Who can fill a broken heart
With hope and faith that's heaven-sent?
Who has walked our road of pain
And bears the Name that is above all names?
Who has promised us that we
Will live with Him forever
If we will deny ourselves,
And learn to love each other?
Who calls us to take our cross
And count the former things to us as loss?
by Tim Barber ©1991 Papa's Music. All Rights
Reserved. Used By Permission. CCLI Song No. 2294232