Wisdom for Soul Winners
and Warners

Useful Tips, Tried and Proven over many years ...
* Never tell them they are saved
* Instant Soul Winners
* What is going on in your area?
* Reaching Your Community
* Getting in Front of the Lost
* Assurance of Salvation is Vital
* Take your prospects as far as they will go
* Who said, people do not want to see how to be saved?
* New Role
* Do we do any Discipleship?
* Give them something they can use
* Training churches for Booth work
* Tract Ministry

Never tell them they are saved

When witnessing to the lost, and they ask the Lord to save them, we never tell them they are saved, no matter how genuine the experience may have seemed. No one but God and the saved person actually know.
We tell them, "If you meant your prayer, you are saved, if you did not, then you are not saved." Then we interject, "Now, you are probably wondering, how can I know if I meant my prayer, or not?" We then show them 2 Cor 5:17, "If any man be in Christ (saved, born again), he is a new creature (new person) …". We explain that a recently saved person has experienced a God-given change. They may make some changes themselves and should, but those changes are not proof. The change that God makes is the evidence of the New Birth. Then we tell them, "Now you are probably wondering, what kind of change?" Typically a saved person will want to let someone know what has happened to them or want others to know what they could have or just having received an urge to go to work for the Lord in some manner, etc. Then ask, "Did you get the change?" This lets them know if they were saved or not, offering no false hopes of salvation, yet assuring them with 100% confidence that they are saved, if they got the change. People do not know what to look for, tell them. Many go to work right away and start bringing others to the booth. We are not talking about emotions.

Instant Soul Winners

We like to encourage those making a profession by saying, "If you were saved just now, the Lord will make some changes in your heart. He almost always put this one thing in every new heart. It is a desire to let others know you were saved and would like for them to be saved, too." When people hear this they know then that the urge to tell others is not just some wild emotion and they begin to bring others by the booth.

What is going on in your area?

Some tell us that they don't have an event or that their event is not any good. I can't argue about what I have not seen, but I can say no matter what type of event you have in your town, it is worth you taking the Gospel to it.

Most churches are looking to find a way to … 
1. spread the Word of God in their community
2. train their members to do the same

Call us.  We can help you get started. 

A typical example
We were in Sanger, TX recently to help Pastor Glen Fogg and his new church get ready for their festival. We spoke on Sunday night on how to seat prospects for a witness and how soul winners were only going to talk to people who have already asked to see it.  Every person, 100%, in his new church volunteered to help.  At their event they seated 32, 25 made a profession and 1000 got a tract, all in 4.5 hours and during off-and-on rain.

This past summer has been excellent for helping churches.
Trainings were done with training videos which were sent to Kansas, Alaska, New York and a half dozen places in Texas. "Hits" on our website are at a high point.

Should your church be doing something to reach large numbers in your community? Find out how you can easily and simply touch the hearts of people who want to hear.

Reaching Your Community

Who is reaching your community?  Liberal churches?  Cults?  At the very least the secularists are making in-roads.  Shouldn't your church be making a proactive assertion in the community?  Of course God wants to see everyone saved, but He is looking at you and me to take the message. 
He is not going to *… write it on the wall - *…send a lightning bolt - *…strike anyone with salvation.

God is waiting on you and I to do something, anything, that he can use to work in the hearts of your city.
Contact us and let us know you want to talk about it, see what it takes to do a good job.  In the mean time, your people will be learning how to witness with hands-on experience, without confrontations, no classroom training and no books and tapes to buy.  "I never imagined it was this easy!"

Getting in Front of the Lost

Since the unsaved will not come to church, "We have got to somehow put ourselves face to face with the lost, in order to relate the Gospel to them."  Most of the time this can be a formidable task.  But at public events the lost come to us.  "At our fishing hole, you don't cut bait and use hooks, the catch jumps in the boat."
We set up our booth and wait for them to walk by.   We use 3 Questions to Greet, Meet and Seat them for a witness.  These 3 Questions (all that must be memorized) are used to get their attention, discover their eternal status and sit them down in front of another worker.  1) No Confrontations;  2) No Arguments;  3) No Meeting Objections;  4) No Hours of Classroom Time;  5) No Community Backlash;  6) Re-Contact Info Obtained with Short Testimony; and much more; 7) All training is hands-on; 8) Witness only to those who have already ASKED TO SEE what it takes to be Born Again; 9) All witnessing is done at a table with chairs, for a comfortable, un-rushed experience; 10) Use a Witness Pamphlet which lends itself to be read with the prospect and given to them for their review later; 11) Leave with new vigor for reaching the lost.   
Who is reaching your community, the Lord or the devil?  Tell the Lord you will reach it for Him.
See:  http://www.andresusa.com/02-public-events/soul-winning/discover-soul-winning-opportunities.htm

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Assurance of Salvation is Vital

Once a person asks Jesus to be their Saviour, the devil will show up very soon and attempt to tell them …
* "It did not happen" 
* "You are too big of a sinner to be saved" 
* "You are not saved, you just went right back to the same old sin"
* and much more

New saints need proof. 
Not a feeling, not an emotion, not a vision, but rock solid personal experience.

The changed heart is the proof. 
We are to be witnesses for Jesus Christ who saved us.  A witness is one with personal experience.  He is not a witness, if he says ...
* I heard someone else say it
* I read it somewhere
* I have faith that it is so, etc. 
It must be ...
* "I saw it." 
* "I did it." 
* "I was there." 
* "I have first hand knowledge"

This is the kind of proof that a witness brings. 
"I know I am saved, because I have the changed heart that people get when they get saved."  2 Corinthians 5:17

It is not I change that I made. 
My changes would be self made proof, but a change that God made in me.  I like to ask, "Don't you want to tell someone I am saved.  Wouldn't you like to see what it is about?"  They may struggle to try to tell someone, but the evidence is in the "want to".

This kind of Assurance lets a person know that they are either saved or they are not.  "Did you get the change."  Everyone understands this.  Everyone knows if they got it, or not.  Everyone is clear, saved or not.

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Take your prospects as far as they will go
Some ask from time to time ...

"How do you know if your prospects are sincere?"

"If you are not sure about your prospect's sincerity, how far should you take them?"

Sincerity
I gave up a long time ago in trying to figure out who is sincere and who is not.  None of us are as sincere as we should be.  Let the Lord sort it all out.

We take each person as far as they want to go. 
If they pray to ask the Lord to save them, we are careful to point out they should expect a God-made change, then let them know what to look for.  This way, if they are not sincere, they know they are not saved, because they did not receive the changed heart.  But they also know what it takes to be saved and what to look for in their own heart when salvation arrives (Every new saint, wants to tell someone else what has happened).

Some interject ...

"I don't want to tell someone they are saved, when they may not be." 

Good for you.  And do not tell them they are saved, when you think they are.  We never tell anyone they are saved, because we do not know if they were sincere or not.  My wife and I have been married for almost 48 years and she is still not sure I am saved.

That person and God are the only ones who know if he or she is saved.  This is why we pray with all who want to, then let them know that all saved individuals receive a God-given change.  They may make some changes and they should, but it is the God-given change that provides the proof of actually possessing salvation. 

Not a Feeling
Please understand, we are not talking about a feeling or an emotion, but an unexpected, Heaven-endowed, miraculous, new direction from God.  Take your prospects as far as you can, then let them know what to expect.

Also, realize we are not Christian inspectors. 
We hear Christians say all the time, "We are not sure if Uncle Bob is saved.  He just does not project any Christian attributes."

Displaying Christ-like attributes is not a sign of salvation.  Notice the persons who are doing good things, but are not saved.  It is the person who hears what the Lord is saying and then goes out does them.

Matt 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Matt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Matt 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Matt 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matt 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Matt 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Matt 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Matt 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Matt 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
Matt 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Cults
Cults are full of people who are displaying wonderfully good accomplishments.  They are just not what the Lord has spoken to them to do.  Members or good churches often are moved by God to pray about something, then instead of beginning immediately to agree in prayer with the Lord on the topic of His choice, they want to call everyone they know to have them join in.  Corporate prayer is good, but making sure everyone in the congregation knows how the Lord has given you something to pray about, may be more prideful, than humble.

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Who said, people do not want to see how to be saved???

Everyone wants to know how to be saved. 
They may not care about
* what your church is doing
* how it looks
* what you are teaching and preaching
* what Bible you use
* who is going to preach your revival

But they do want to SEE how to get to Heaven.  Everyone does.  (Really, what they are saying is, "How can you help ME?")  We have tried and proven it many times, in many states with many different cultures.  HOW???

Ask them. 
"If I could show you how to be born again (saved, etc.), you would like to just see it, wouldn't you (shaking your head up and down)?  Not asking you to do or be anything, just see it, what would it hurt?"

Then no matter what their reply, if not Yes, repeat it again.  They have not yet heard what you said. 

Some reply
"I don't believe all that."  "I don't blame you, it sounds farfetched, but, if I could show you how to be …"

"I am an atheist (muslim, skeptic, Democrat or Christian denominational church member)."  I understand, I am not asking you to believe anything, but, if I could show you how to be …"

Sometimes I have to say this 4-5 times, until they finally get the idea, that I am not trying to change them, just SHOW them.  Once they see that, and time permits, they will listen and observe.  We usually draw and speak at the same time to SHOW it to them.  Remember, no matter what the objection stick to the question.

When not at a public event, I say this ...
"I show people all over Texas and the Midwest how to be saved, if I could show it to you, not asking you to do anything, but just SEE it, you would like to see it, wouldn't you?"

Remember
I didn't say people want to be saved, I said they want to SEE it, and showing is all we can do.

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New Role
Normally we use the first couple months of the year to preach in churches, mission conferences, etc., to stir up the Christians for evangelism. 
Also ...

In 2008 AGM asked us to help expand into more events in the South Central states of TX, LA, AR, MO, KS, OK, CO and NM.  We are still going to work our events, but we will be looking for and training more event managers (churches or individuals) to work their local fairs and festivals.

Almost all have events in your area where tracts can be distributed and a witness imparted.  We are available to train groups large and small to effectively ...
1) Greet, Meet and Seat prospects
2) to whom others witness (Team Soul Winning). 

A training session requires only one church service. 
* No classroom time is needed
* No memorizing countless verses and rebuttals to meet objections are needed
* No memorizing scripts to handle confrontations are needed
* Volunteers to witness will only talk to those who have already ASKED TO SEE how to be saved.  There are very few Christians who would not want to tell a teenager or even an adult how to be saved, if that person has already asked to see it, especially, when the witness knows exactly what to say to each one and how to do it.
There were many in 2008, who lead people to the Lord for the very first time, overcoming fears of all types, because they understood the Team Soul Winning Concept …

The Shift Leader (half the Team) finds a listener using 3 simple questions, then sits the listener down in front of a Worker (other half of the Team) who immediately goes into a thorough presentation of the Gospel, suggests a prayer, reveals assurance, obtains the listener's contact information and a short written testimony.  All by reading to the listener a specially prepared tract, which flows effortlessly from one point to the other.

Many object, "We cannot follow-up with 101 prospects like the church did in Victoria, TX."

Following-up is excellent, but to put-off witnessing because the work after witnessing cannot be handled is like not preparing food for a starving man, because there is no dessert.  Do what you can and let the Lord handle what you cannot do.  He is much more anxious to work than the most zealous of any of us.

Contact us - as few as 1-2 people can work a one-day event.

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Do we do any Discipleship?

"Just how many of these people really get saved, Baptized and into church?"
A common question

Way too few! 
But a whole lot more than if nothing is done at all.  Our aim and the churches' with which we work is to ...
* give a tract to everyone in sight
* witness to as many as possible
* reap those willing
* mature even a smaller number and
* love the whole bunch. 

There is an urgency in spreading the Gospel.  God has not dictated that some will be saved and some lost.  All have a free will and are welcome, "whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely". 

It is His wish that ...
1)  "not any should perish"
2)  the message be taken by you and me
"how shall they hear without a preacher
(a preacher here is any witness, not necessarily a pastor)?"

So the criteria is not how many really got saved, Baptized and into church, but how many were told.  Hence the name of the ministry: Winning and Warning.  We can safely say that everyone who received a verbal witness was told!  Even a good number who received a tract were told through the printed page. 

Even a more telling question might be, "how many were NOT told?"

But for Discipleship, we also retain contact information ...
* Name
* Address
* Phone
* Age
* eMail
* Testimony

This information is left in the hands of the local church. 
* They witnessed to them
* They won them
* They call on them
Winning and Warning simply seats the prospects to whom the church can witness.  Winning and Warning may work events where the church is not present.  We cannot sit and wait for the church to come out of its lethargy.  People are dying and going to hell, everyday.  Only the Calvanists believe that there is no hurry, no urgency.  Their philosophy is "If they are going to get saved, they will get saved."

The person(s) with which the church members have dealt, expects to see them either at their door or at church.

Ah, but not only do we train churches in seating prospects for soul winning, but we also teach them how to connect with the prospects for a better Discipleship experience.

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Give them something they can use

Two teens sat down for a witness.  One was saved already.  When the other boy prayed and asked the Lord to save him, I went over some necessities, then asked if he wanted the diagram I had been drawing during my witness.  The boy who was already saved said, "I want it."  Since he did not need it to be saved, I asked if he knew how to witness.  He said, "With this I can."
* He saw the diagram drawn out
* He heard the explanations given during the drawing
* He understood the drawing and explanations
* He knew that he could see the diagram redrawn on the
   internet
* He was confident he could do the same

Why shouldn't he be confident?
There is nothing difficult about it.

The woman at the well left her water pot and immediately went into the city, telling everyone how Jesus had known all about her life that He was the Saviour.
* She heard the explanation
* She understood what was said
* She knew that she was a sinner
* She wanted that eternal life giving spring of water
* She was able to tell others
* She was not ashamed of Jesus

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Training churches for Booth work

We use the Team Soul Winning method.  The Shift Leader Greets, Meets and Seats prospects, while 1 to 6 Workers relate the Gospel at counseling tables and only to prospects who have ASKED TO SEE how to be saved.  Workers knowing this, volunteer much more readily.  We train Shift Leaders in an hour in a private session and Workers (even those without witnessing experience) in one, regularly scheduled, church service.

To see details on how this is done, go to these Slide Shows ...
* Team Soul Winning
* Shift Leaders
* Workers

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Tract Ministry
We like to put tracts in hands.  We like leaving them laying around or with a tip, but an effective tract ministry places tracts in willing hands, by using comments like, "Did I ever give you one of these?" or "I wouldn't be much of a Christian, if I wasn't handing out literature, would I?" or "Bet you never got one of these, did you?"

Churches learning to exercise useful comments, go from laying tracts around, to placing them in hands.  When it is in the hand, they must deal with it.  Remember many Soul Winners start with tract distribution.  I DID!

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