Testifying with Tracts

Tract evangelism is not as commonly practiced as it used to be. Have you noticed this? It seems that the use of tracts by Christians as a means of sharing Christ is a habit that is rapidly dying out. I went into a Christian bookstore the other day to look for a certain tract (the one pictured above), and not only did they not carry it----they hardly had ANY to choose from! I was kind of surprised--and disappointed-- at how few there were to choose from, and the ones they did have were less than appealing to the eye. And they were dusty!

I remember when churches had “tract walls” where you could pick through and take some tracts to give to people you met. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen such a wall in a church (especially a “new” church, less than 20 years old). And I’ve visited LOTS of churches. Don’t get me wrong---I am NOT condemning churches with no tract rack!! (Our church doesn’t have one either!) No prejudice intended—just an observation.

I do strongly feel that part of our responsibility as the church body is to train believers in HOW to share their faith, and to lead by example, especially new believers. It’s so easy to “complicate” witnessing with lots of books and training seminars. And while I’m all in favor of books and training seminars, I think that a well-written, simple tract is a really great, perfectly sufficient witnessing tool that ANYONE can use, whether they’ve known the Lord for a few weeks or a few decades. It is an EASY way to strike up the conversation and to quickly but effectively explain God’s plan of salvation to anybody.

We all continually hear about how it is every Christian’s responsibility to represent Jesus in their daily activities. And we know we’re supposed to share Christ with those around us. To actively SOW SEEDS by planting the truth in people’s hearts and minds, maybe even for the first time. You really cannot tell where a person is spiritually just looking at them. Even the roughest looking person might be on the verge of accepting Christ, but he needs a little friendly “nudge”. Likewise, the “nicest”-looking person may have a horribly corrupt heart and will have nothing to do with the Word of God. But most people out there are searching for TRUTH. Searching for answers to the big questions. “Why am I here? What’s the point of all this? What’s going to happen when I die?”

If we are REAL with people and communicate a true love for them in what we say and how we say it---if they sense in us a genuine care for their eternal well-being---I have found they respond very positively. They appreciate it. They may not jump at it right away. They may give you no indication that they are going to accept Christ any time soon. But they’ll remember their encounter with you if it was authentic and honest. And it may lead to further conversation—either with you or with someone else in the body of Christ---that WILL lead them to salvation.

A tract is small and easy for a person to keep and refer to later on. It’s not as “intimidating” as being handed a big heavy Bible. You can tweak a tract to make it more personal, with a hand-written verse or note of care that the person can re-read when they’re alone and searching. You can write info about your church on the back or inside the cover, so they aren’t left hanging. The Holy Spirit will work in hearts. But we gotta sow seeds!

It can be hard to talk about Christ and eternity with someone you don’t know well---like the person who waits on you at the restaurant. Or the cashier you always seem to see in line at the grocery store. Or your neighbors. People you work with. But the more you do it, the easier it becomes. And a tract makes it SO MUCH EASIER to witness to someone you don't know. Because it’s something you can SHOW the person as you’re talking to him. He can hold it in his hand and take it home with him. He can SEE a representation of what you're telling him.

There are lots of great tracts out there, but my favorite one and the one I want to recommend to you is called “Bridge to Life”. It is a little booklet with illustrations and a very SIMPLE outline of the Gospel. It is excellent. It's more than a sheet of paper, which I think makes it less likely to get tossed in a wastebasket. If you’d like to order some Bridge to Life tracts, go to www.navpress.com And if you don't like this one, I encourage you to find one that you do like, and GIVE IT AWAY!!


Mark 16:15 & 16—“ Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”