hi Kathy,
That's right.   The word tells us that we are all supposed to be able to
give a reason for the hope that lise within us.  Stephen, who was only a
deacon (I say that sarcastically) certainly knew the scriptures a little,
wouldn't you say?
So wherever Gpod puts us, as far as a lost person is concerned, there is the
church.
Vinny
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathy Du Bois" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2005 7:42 AM
Subject: Re: Cut It Short


> This might sound really synnical, but in my opinion, if those who
> need to get saved are told to go to church to do so, it alieviates
> the person doing the inviting to give their own testimony or do any
> witnessing  of their own.  I get so frustrated with people who say,
> "oh, I couldn't say anything," or, I'll ask the pastor to pray
> because God will listen to him better.  We should all be willing to
> bring Christ into every situation and if that means that someone gets
> introduced to Christ in the bathroom, so be it!!
> Kathy
>
>
> At 07:40 PM 9/1/2005, you wrote:
>>Phil, that is too bad about the price Randy prayed.  That workbook of
>>yours sounds good.  One of the Baptist churches, in this town, got a
>>jump start when a pastor won a few to the Lord, using home Bible
>>studies.  He used the book, Won by one.  He studied with them in
>>their homes and when they were ready to come to church, nothing would
>>stop them.  I just don't understand this idea that we have to invite
>>people to church to be saved.  Take the gospel to them and not try to
>>drag them to the gospel.  I know some get saved in the church
>>buildings, themselves, but I think people have a greater chance of
>>being saved where they are comfortable.
>>
>>earlier, Phil Scovell, wrote:
>> >John,
>> >
>> >Your story reminded me of another.
>> >
>> >I wrote a 4 lesson Bible study specifically to be used as an evangelism
>> >tool.  A friend of mine and I were members of a church which had about
>> >150
>> >members.  The pastor had been there 40 years and was a great man of God.
>> >My
>> >friend, Keith, and I had been praying on sunday nights at the church for
>> >close to a year with only one or two others ever coming.  finally, I put
>> >this workbook together and Keith and I went to the pastor.  The idea was
>> >to
>> >get others, who were interested of course, to use the work book in
>> >establishing short 4 week home bible studies.  The workbook was made to
>> >help
>> >people follow along, filling out information as it was studied from the
>> >Scriptures, which ultimately led a person, not only to Christ, but to
>> >the
>> >importance of following Christ into water baptism, and church
>> >membership.  I
>> >knew a pastor who had used this method to build two different churches
>> >which
>> >both reached a thousand in each church and in an amazingly short period
>> >of
>> >time.  Additionally, other spin off churches were being established in
>> >distance communities as a result.  When we presented this to the pastor,
>> >he
>> >said he would be willing to announce it from the pulpit and even put it
>> >into
>> >the bulletin.  He, on the other hand, said that he had tried everything,
>> >over the years, and our plan would not work.  Keith had a man who worked
>> >for
>> >him who was not born again.  He and his wife said they would like to
>> >have
>> >the four week Bible study in their home once each week.  They were both
>> >not
>> >saved.  The workbook I designed was made in such a way that you were
>> >leading
>> >the person to Christ by the second Bible study.  The second week, the
>> >man's
>> >wife was born again but when I began talking to Randy, her husband,
>> >about
>> >salvation,  he said no.  After some discussion, it finally came out that
>> >he
>> >would have to give up his marijuana and alcohol if he became a
>> >Christian.  I
>> >worked on him, sort of speak, for some time trying to get him to see how
>> >huge of a mistake he was making and to get saved now and let the rest be
>> >taken care of by the Lord.  He kept saying, no, because, he said, "I
>> >know
>> >God will make me give up these things."  A year or so passed and one day
>> >Keith said, "I heard from Randy."  The man had stopped working on the
>> >house
>> >building crew that Keith had.  I asked about Randy and Keith said,
>> >"Well, he
>> >wants to come back to work.  Unfortunately, he has lost everything but
>> >fortunately he is now born again."  I asked what happened.  Keith
>> >reported
>> >that Randy's drinking and dope smoking finally pushed his marriage
>> >beyond
>> >its limits and his wife divorced him.  They had two little girls, about
>> >4
>> >years of age, who were twins.  Randy finally hit bottom and checked
>> >himself
>> >into a drug and drinking rehab.  Some place along the way, he got saved.
>> >Thank God for that but he paid a big price for saying no once too many
>> >times.
>> >
>> >Phil.
>>
>>John