What are you doing to help further the gospel (I need ideas)

[Blessedx4]

I am looking for ideas. Besides witnessing and handing out tracts.....

Do you support particular ministries/missions/missionaries?

Do you send clothing or whatever where needed?

I put tracts in my correspondence, leave tracts wherever I can. Try to tell people about the Lord but would like to do more.

Thanks for any feedback you can give :):

[matheteou]

I am looking for ideas. Besides witnessing and handing out tracts.....

Do you support particular ministries/missions/missionaries?

Do you send clothing or whatever where needed?

I put tracts in my correspondence, leave tracts wherever I can. Try to tell people about the Lord but would like to do more.

Thanks for any feedback you can give :):Have you considered the next step?


GO! :D:

[RobinB]

I sponsor a patient who is undergoing chemo-therapy (chemoangels.com) but am only allowed to discuss faith if they are agreeable, and my first patient was a Baptist, so I felt comfortable. I sent her a book of devotionals as well as cards and trinkets, before she passed away in May. Now I'm on a waiting list for another patient. I sent a donation to Gideon Bibles in her memory (they put Bibles in hotels, etc.)

I give clothes and household items to local collection orgs such as Disable Vets and Purple Heart. We also donated an old car but that was more for tax purposes, to be honest. I donate copies of my own books or books which have devotionals written by me and others when possible.

Almost forgot--dh and I give small toys like Beanie babies to sick/abused kids at Christmastime--we get our pastor involved so that the kids think the toys are coming from the church itself. We hope every little bit of caring helps.

[Blessedx4]

I have 4 kids and a husband.

Go where? (they might have something to say about my "going" anywhere far) :lol

[Blessedx4]

Robin, :nod wonderful ideas.

[matheteou]

I have 4 kids and a husband.

Go where? (they might have something to say about my "going" anywhere far) :lolYou mean they don't share your desire :confused (we really need a 'tongue-in-cheek' smilie). I understand what you're saying. My bride and I also have 4, but 3 of them are old enough to take care of themselves (or at least they're learning to :lol ) so we're taking our 4 yo with us to Korea. We'll miss the others including our grand daughter, but can we really say no to God?

I know God will reveal to you His plan for you and it may come through one of the posts here.

[mbtcforJesus]

I bring my children to a beautiful park we have here on Whidbey Island, Wa. Last year the Lord brought a grandfather who is raising his step-grandson to this park and our kids became friends. I've been sharing about Jesus with the grandfather and we've had the grandson over our house several times.

I can think of no better way to further the gospel than to express love and kindness to these people. The Lord has been speaking to me about my need to have people over our house and let them see the love we have for Him.

A couple of houses down there is another neighborhood boy who comes over our house every night to play with my son. He was sick the other day. He had a case of strep throat. The Holy Spirit spoke to me that we should go down and get the boy a get well card. So we did.

These are two practical ways of furthering the gospel by showing the love of Christ. :):

[J&J's mom]

I bring my children to a beautiful park we have here on Whidbey Island, Wa. Last year the Lord brought a grandfather who is raising his step-grandson to this park and our kids became friends. I've been sharing about Jesus with the grandfather and we've had the grandson over our house several times.

I can think of no better way to further the gospel than to express love and kindness to these people. The Lord has been speaking to me about my need to have people over our house and let them see the love we have for Him.

A couple of houses down there is another neighborhood boy who comes over our house every night to play with my son. He was sick the other day. He had a case of strep throat. The Holy Spirit spoke to me that we should go down and get the boy a get well card. So we did.

These are two practical ways of furthering the gospel by showing the love of Christ. :):

that is really beautiful. Thank you for sharing! :nod I try to do things like this also... but tend to become selfish and busy. Your post helped me to remember how simple and important it is!

I have felt HS pulling me over the last 2 years to branch out with Samaritan's Purse - Operation Christmas Child Program. It started with me putting toys in a shoebox... then I told my church about the program. They gave boxes over the last 2 years, now DH and I are branching out to our city to tell other churches about the program. Like you Blessed - I have 2 small kids - can't go anywhere now. The program is amazing - people like us fill a shoebox with toys and other small items + $5 for shipping (if possible) SP then adds a booklet about the story of salvation - in the child's own language - and they are shipped around the world. Last year, they sent almost 7,000 boxes. The stories that come back are amazing! I have found my passion with this program. :nod You can read more about it here:
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.asp?section=Operation+Christmas+Child

[Blessedx4]

I don't feel led to go anywhere. I'm just looking for more ideas to witness and touch others. That's all :): We say "Boy I really feel I want to do more for the Lord and don't really know where to start" but really, if we look around us there is a whole mission field right in our own backyards!

To me one of the best places to find ways to minister to others is through your church. What does your church do as part of its community outreach or what ministries/missions does your church support for instance? Each year men from our church go to Mexico sometime during the summer (Usually after Vacation Bible school - this year the older kids attending vacation Bible school helped - this gets them personally involved in the trip to Mexico- they packed the items in bags & boxes). The church purchases formula, and a variety of things the men take with them and pass out at the various camps they go to. Those who cannot go, financially support the trip or donate supplies to be taken down there.

What ministries/missions do you support? Are they online? I support Voice of the Martyrs and Operation Christmas Child. Those two are probably two of the best known. But there are also little known ministries out there. Mabe ya'll could share some of them. For instance, these two are probably not nationally known, here in Birmingham we have Jimmie Hale mission and Jesse's Place. Both do good work helping the homeless and those in trouble http://www.jimmiehalemission.com/ and http://www.jimmiehalemission.com/sections.php?page=jessiesplace

[Awall]

I am looking for ideas. Besides witnessing and handing out tracts.....

Do you support particular ministries/missions/missionaries?

Do you send clothing or whatever where needed?

I put tracts in my correspondence, leave tracts wherever I can. Try to tell people about the Lord but would like to do more.

Thanks for any feedback you can give :):

Unfortunately I can't offer anything specific, but I remember a quote from "Concentric Circles of Concern" that "Love is meeting needs." Look around you and see what people need. It doesn't have to be big. Does a co-worker need a sholder to cry on or gripe to? Pick up lunch for some one. Remember we ARE salt and light to the world it's not something we should be it is something we are wheter we want to or not. Some Christians are called to preach to thousands while others find smaller ways to minister. Most of all Pray. That is something I am convicted of and think that we all need to do more, pray for others.

[pillaroftruth]

have a website

[architectlink]

great thread. Here are the ministries that the Lord has illuminated for me in the past three years that I give all of my time to:

1. Ministering to folks in the neighborhood through THE ROCK & THE RABBI. It is an awesome musical that plays all over the country. see www.theplazatheatre.com

2. I just visited the www.doerivergorge.com , a camp in Tenn where there is a crusade of Christ every night after dinner. It is only $375 per week and most camps are over $900 per week for stayovers. The kids can horseback ride, rock climb, swim, white water raft, etc. There is a father son weekend coming up in Sept. Discounts if you tell them you are with our RR group.

3. Beth Moore bible studies are awesome gifts for people, especially JESUS THE ONE AND ONLY.

4. Gib Allen tapes are incredible and are only $1 each. I've given out over 300 of the 23rd Psalm. www.calvarychapel.com orlando

5. Bob Coy's testimoney at www.calvarychapel.com Ft. Lauderdale is incredible. He recently met with George Bush and is one of the best pastors I've ever listened to.

6. I totally agree with you on Samaritan's Purse...we pray for the children we send our gifts to and we include photos of the children so they know who is praying for them.

7. We are starting something new at our church called GUESS WHO IS COMING TO DINNER? A matrix for 4 couples to meet each month at different houses and get to know each other. Email me and I'll send you the matrix...really fun and a great way to get to know others.

8. We started a pilates group at my house and 20 women signed up...everyone wants to do exercise. The local magazine even wanted to do an article. I know the Lord is working through this.

9. Sending the book WHEN GOD DOESN'T MAKE SENSE by James Dobson when someone loses someone. You can get copies for $1 on ebay half.com, and it is an awesome book.

10. HOW TO SHARE YOUR FAITH by Gregg Laurie is another awesome book that I love to give out...it will really light you on fire for the Lord and only costs a few dollars.

11. Opening my house to other Christians has brought incredible blessings from the Lord. We LOVE our house guests...and the Lord LOVES to surprise us.

[allynnegirl]

I am a very timid person (and while I been a "Christian" since I was 9, I am still very much a baby Christian), so I try and do things to help those people who are able to do "bigger and better" things.

Example: Work the nursery during VBS, so the men and ladies (with children) who are not intimidated by people (big and small) can share the gospel with the children.

[spadart]

Check out whether your church needs help in outreach ministry. Volunteer at a local soup kitchen or food bank and just be there. Christs love touches them through you (I hope that doesn't sound too new agey :): ) I also leave tracts on buses or in government offices I have to visit (ie passport office, Ministry of Transportation, etc.) and I also just try to live my life the way that God wants me to and the opportunities to witness to my friends and family come up all the time. Sometimes you don't even have to be vocal, they will come to you and ask because they see something in you that they don't have and they want it.

[D'Light]

Blessedx4,

I think all the ideas are wonderful. I also believe in addition to works, would be 'actions and examples'. I will explain this, because I think the same thing..."What else can I do?"

A saying I keep in mind that helps me to think of things to do other than only verbally witnessing, or actions that can lead you 'into' verbal witnessing.

""Witness, and when need be, speak!""

Alot of Christians blow off the idea of Christian decals on your car or Christian t-shirts, I don't because I have had too many conversations start up over them, which has always been a positive thing.

Ihave a Christian sticker on my truck window. It is a cowboy kneeling at the cross with his horse behind him. I actually had someone, stop next to me at a stop light, motioned for me to roll down my window, he started talking about my sticker and one he had, and that he would like one like mine. He wanted to set an example.

I have a t-shirt with a trail ride we had, with the name of our church, the name of a friend we lost, the trail ride was dedicated to him, and a saying..'saving lost souls, how the west was won!'
I have gotton so many discussion with that shirt, like where is your churchm aybe we will visit, I new Jeff G----, He was a good person, is this the church he went to....! How the west was won, wow, thats unique, what is your church's stance of belief.

My sister's action brought Christ to the front, when she gave a (apparently homless man) 10.00 and took him in to get a meal, He was afraid at first, saying, what do you want? You must be a Christian,no one else does things like this.

Action...action...action...and examples!

It is so easy to witness and find different ways, when you keep this in mind.

Sory this was so long. Love ya all!... :hug

[Blessedx4]

Thank you all! Those are exactly the kinds of things I was looking for!

Great ways to witness and touch lives for the Lord :nod

I can have some really :doh moment when it comes to ideas, so I really appreciate the things ya'll do (I wish I were so creative)

[AnyDayNow]

Through the years, I have done or tried everything short of being an overseas missionary...cold calling, jail ministry, tract passing, etc. Recently I was reading a secular book about our society. In it there was a scathing account an action by Christians by the author, who had worked as a waitress in a national restaurant chain. On her shift one night, a church youth group came in and rang up a $93 bill but left just a $1 tip. She couldn't understand how people who profess to follow Jesus could be less sensitive than unbelievers, who left much better tips.

My point is that if we expect Jesus to honor our attempts to share our faith, we first have to show we really do care by our actions. James was trying to tell us this very thing when he said that "faith without works is dead". He wasn't talking about being justified before God. He was talking about being justified before unbelievers. How can those kids in that youth group expect God to bless their testimony if they aren't willing to display Love in their actions? And why should any unbelievers who hear the waitress tell her story ever believe what other Christians say?

I know that the Holy Spirit can overcome such errors. He can still convict despite my or any other Christian's behavior. But can God honor our attempts at witnessing and answer our prayers for the salvation of others when we are not living Love in what we say and do? I don't think so.

I know this doesn't answer the question of the OP, but if current methods you are using aren't making you feel right, maybe it is the same feeling that I have had before through the years. I need to examine and consecrate myself before I go. I just want to make sure the problem isn't ME first. Just MHO. :):

[RobinB]

3. Beth Moore bible studies are awesome gifts for people, especially JESUS THE ONE AND ONLY.



Great idea! I loved both of Beth's online studies-- "Believing God" and "Living Beyond Yourself" but I never thought of giving them as gifts. :thumb

Also as far as fish emblems and bumper stickers go-- I hesitate to put them o my car, because I am always afraid if I do something stupid like cut someone off, it will be remembered as something "some inconsiderate Christian" did.
:wacko

[D'Light]

AnyDayNow,

Good post, so true! Just like a song I have, that says..."I don't care how much you know, until I know how much you care." That says alot! :nod

RobinB...I understand what you are saying. As a matter of fact, on a discussion before on this board, I had mentioned that anyone that has road rage should not have a Christian sticker on their car!... :pound

(not saying you have road rage... :laugh )

[architectlink]

I have the rules how to start a GUESS WHO IS COMING TO DINNER supper club in your area. You can start it in your neighborhood, church or any group with 20 couples who sign up. Let me know and I'll mail you the rules.

[Blessedx4]

Architectlink you have a PM :):

Thank you all for your responses. I've copied and pasted this because ya'll given me some great ideas- again - thanks