What is Evangelism Today?

The following was a writing I reciently did for this on-line course with CGOM MINISTRY ACADEMY:

Before I moved to North Carolina, I lived in Florida.I volunteered for work thru my church with the Salvation Army providing cold night shelter for those in need.  Yes…it does get cold in Florida during the winter months and people living on the streets either by choice or force need warm places to sleep.  Anyway, usually before going to the shelter, I prayed for the opportunity to bring a person to Christ.  I did and still do carry Bibles in my car to help me lead a person to Jesus.  I prefer and use a modified Roman Roads salvation process (Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:13, and 10:9-10).  I learned we need to start with the beginning.  In this day and age, many people do not even know that God exists.  When I was growing up, we knew there was God and a Bible, whether we believed or read it or not was a different issue. I have found today people need to know there is a God and we do sin.  Some people do not believe they sin, so I have had to use the 10 Commandments at times to help them see they sin.  So…back to the Cold Night Shelter.  A man had approached me and stated he wanted to be saved, I did feel the Holy Spirit was working.  Initially I panicked because I did not have a Bible to use for the Roman Roads process, but the Holy Spirit spoke audibly to me reminding me there were Bibles in my vehicle.  So, I rushed to get a Bible and found the man.  In the middle of a noisy crowd, God created a cone of silence where He gave me the privilege of providing this man the Gospel with Scripture.  We worked through the process; the man professed his personal claim to salvation and drove his stake.  I had him write his name and the date in the Bible as record of his salivation with instructions to always return to that Bible and see the date when the devil would challenge him concerning his salvation.  So, presently I don’t know who has been led to Christ by me specifically.  I am bowling with a serious non-bliever and maybe God will soften this person’s heart and again allow me the privilege to give him the Gospel.  I do know too that working on and having relationships with people is good fertile ground for preaching the Gospel today.  There has been a change from cold preaching as Billy Graham did to working on personal relationships for the Gospel.  Regardless, it is all to the glory of God…Amen…

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Author: hisword295

Testimony of Theodore (Ted) Matteson My story is simple. I’m a sinner in love with Jesus, the Christ. I stand here today through a series of God instances and by God’s grace. I truly live in this grace for He has said in Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. I can look back on my life and see all the forks in the road of grace that God was protecting and guiding my walk. I was born and grew up in the Methodist Church. I have always known who God is; however, I did not ask for His gift of eternal life or submit to His lordship in my life. I was a “paid-in-full” member of the Lord’s “frozen chosen.” In my life, I did not do things worthy of God’s notice. I never smoked, drank, or whored around. I made good grades in school, wrestled for sports, did my best to be a good child for my mom and dad. When I graduated from high school, I joined the Air Force which resulted in 26 years 28 days of honorable service. In 1973 I married the love of my life Sherry Dufford, and we were given two daughters and seven grand children before my Lord took her home in 2015. So you can clearly see an unremarkable life from a world perspective. I can identify with Peter. What a blessing it must have been to personally be in the very presence of the Lord. Peter knew the Lord’s love enough so that when he was fixing to drown in the sea during the storm, he called for Jesus. Matthew 14:28-31 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter came down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw the boisterous wind, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Regardless of Peter’s “little faith,” he knew enough to call on the Lord. On 7 September1987, I could not walk, button my shirt, stand unassisted or even write my name on a paper. I was told I had Multiple Sclerosis for which there is no cure. At that point in time, the doctors could not guarantee I would ever regain my faculties. I felt like my world had come to an end. All my years in the Air Force; what was going to happen to me? What was happening to my family? How would I support them? That night, everything I had thought important in my life changed. Isn’t it funny in the truth of His Word when He says Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. But at that time I was scared. My wife and I prayed together for the first time. God’s justifying grace was extended to me. Through God’s sanctification which included Bible study, Christian fellowship and service, and a very special weekend in the Emmaus program, I submitted to Jesus’ Lordship in my life on 1 April 1995. It was then I received assurance of my salvation. 1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. I still do not know what God intends in my life but I know I walk in His grace. In grace I seek is righteousness. Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. It is in His grace that I walk knowing Hebrews 13:5 ….; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. It is in His grace that I walk knowing Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. It is in His grace I have a place to live with my daughters and be a part of my grand childrens’ life. It is in His grace having good health. It is in His grace my Lord has given me a saint called Alison Harris and allowed my heart to care much for her. It is His grace he allowed me the mind to study His pure Word and obtain Pastor Credentials to minister and pray where He needs me. It is His grace He has set before me a house of worship called the Community EFC Monroe and serve there as an Elder praying for my pastor and congregation. It is His grace…It is His Grace…It is His grace. In closing of the testimony I celebrate this truth 2 Samuel 22:47 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. Humbly Submitted. Ted Matteson Theodore (Ted) Matteson < < < < < < < Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

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