| Jesus says to us: | | | | say, "here"or "this may be of interest to you", or |
| "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world,and | | | | nothing at all andjust stick it out towards someone. |
| preach the gospel to every creature." [Mark | | | | They either take it or theydon't. No fuse. No bother. |
| 16:15] | | | | It they ask, "What's this?" just say "Its about ..." |
| Our United States Constitution says: | | | | (whateverit is about) |
| "Congress shall make no law respecting | | | | Now what happens next is up to you. Some people |
| anestablishment of religion, or prohibiting the free | | | | will want totalk to you. You do not have to talk to |
| exercisethereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, | | | | them. You couldsimply refer them to the contact |
| or of the press;or the right of the people peaceably to | | | | information on the tract. Ifyou did not add any, the tract |
| assemble, and topetition the Government for a redress | | | | still has the contact for the |
| of grievances." [First | | | | American Tract Society. |
| Amendment of the US Constitution] | | | | But if you want to talk and or you feel led to talk, you |
| Being a good Christian means doing what Jesus said. | | | | knowthat the ice broken and you can start using the |
| Being agood citizens means acting in accord to our | | | | subject matterof the tract. |
| Constitution. | | | | You can use this as a regular ministry. Or you can do it |
| As a Christian, you are obligated to "preach the | | | | witha group. |
| Gospel". As acitizen, you are obligated to protect | | | | My church in Jersey City, NJ in the 1950's would have |
| everyone else's rightsas you exercise yours. Rights | | | | anoutreach of giving out tracts and then have a group |
| are like muscles, if you do notexercise them, you loose | | | | out door |
| them. Use them or lose them. | | | | "street meeting". This was done on certain Friday |
| But most of us are not public speakers. We may be | | | | nights in ashopping district which was busy then. A |
| able to talkone on one but certainly not to a group. | | | | small crowdregularly gathered and listened to the |
| And who would just walk up to a total stranger and | | | | evangelical message. |
| start aconversation. I for one would break out in a cold | | | | Anyone could go and participate in any way they |
| sweat. If Iwere to do anything I would need an ice | | | | chose. Youcould just stand in the crowd as no one |
| breaker. | | | | wants to be the firstto stop and listen. You could hand |
| The "tract" is the perfect tool. It is a short | | | | out tracts to people. Orif you wanted, you could say |
| documentpromoting Christianity on one sheet of paper | | | | something publicly as part ofthat street meeting. |
| folded like avery small brochure. It normally has some | | | | Or you could just do it on your own any time you |
| inspiring story anda call for action. It has a place for a | | | | wanted to ordecided to. |
| rubber stamp toidentify some local contact suggestion. | | | | I remember being alone while traveling from New |
| You can get these items from the American Tract | | | | Jersey to |
| Society attheir website, at a very reasonableprice. | | | | Virginia along route 81 in 1999. I stopped at a |
| Select something appropriate that relates to you | | | | Crackerbarrel for breakfast or lunch. I had on Jeans |
| andwho you might give a tract to. | | | | and a longsleeve flannel shirt. A woman came up to |
| As an example, if you like sports, you can find one | | | | my table and saidthat I looked like a truck driver and |
| featuringthe story of a famous sports figure. You need | | | | that she felt compelledto give me something. It was a |
| to be creativehere. Assume someone will ask about | | | | tract. I took it gracefullyand thanked her. I did not know |
| what is in the tract, youdon't want to appear ignorant | | | | why she felt I needed thattract. |
| on the subject. | | | | Maybe me writing this now is what God had in mind |
| So the next step is to distribute them. The rules are | | | | when heprompted that woman to give me that tract |
| thatyou need to be in "the public square" when giving | | | | some 8 years ago. |
| them out. | | | | Perhaps God knew it would take me 8 years to get |
| If you live in a big city you can just stand on any | | | | around to doit. (I cry when I read what I just wrote |
| corner andgive them to people as they walk by. | | | | here.) |
| What do you say when you give them out? You could | | | | So my honest suggestion, just give it a try. |