Online Evangelism

[Sower]

1 hour ago, Arrabon said:

@Sower

ABSOLUTELY the best post of "ACTIVE FAITH" I have read on any forum. Even I needed to hear your post. Thank you.

Many years ago I found the need during my own busy life, to have a balanced life between providing for ourselves and our families,  studying God's word, and finding a way to be an active part of my community that can bring honor to God and bring loving kindness to all those in my life, and at times be blessed as you are to share some things about Gods loving goodness that may lead a person eventually to believe and be saved by God.

That balance that I speak of was always changing and challenging to stay focused on. Probably like that for you.

What your doing at your business is exactly what God would call a person to do, or in your case, a whole family to do, and it takes so little effort to do, and brings comfort, and a bit of time for rest in their crazy, busy days, to those delivery drivers coming to your business.

A perfect example of caring, and loving comfort that we all need so badly in these crazy, uneasy days of never knowing what tomorrow holds, without any hope for the future for their jobs, their families and their lives.

Plus, you give many here who read your post a great example of being a great GODLY husband and great GODLY father with the entire family involved in serving, that will gain great rewards in the kingdom, and in your own heart, watching your family serve our dear God, and His children he loves, coming to your house each day.

You have a beautiful loving heart my friend, and I'm honored to have been able to speak with you, and hear your story of Gods love and kindness, being alive and well in your family - PRAISE GOD !!

My name is Arrabon

Thank You for the kind compliment.

Don't know how to respond to that post, Arrabon, except to say I actually cannot do any thing myself, really, but only as I abide  will God work through me. I believe any/every saved person is also moved to tell others the reason for our hope.
I think it unlikely a lost pew sitter would understand the desire.
I was fortunate as a new believer, early eighties,  to be ask by my first pastor if I would like to go with him on a church visitation. I ask what is a church visitation, and he said come, and find out. I went. My job was to pray, try to keep any kids from interrupting, and try to cut the TV volume down etc. That evening I witnessed my first lost person come to saving knowledge of the gospel, confess to being a sinner and believing in Jesus's sacrifice to pardon her sin and save her in just a few hours.
She became a faithful member. It took me over thirty years before I heard the true gospel.
I was amazed how simple, and yet how powerful is the gospel. To the thirsty, the living water is life.
After that neat experience, I felt led to be involved in sharing the good news. I fixed up the old church parsonage garage apt., not being used, into a Monday night visitation room depot. We got the Sunday  visitors cards, prayer request info, new neighborhood family move ins, etc, addresses, put them available on cards with a number. On a map, I would pin those corresponding numbers on them relating to the addresses, and also had small brief cases with a map quest, bibles in English and Spanish, pepper spray, flash light etc, for each pair of two by two's going out to witness.  Anyone could then pick cards close to their neighborhood.
My first ministry. I was amazed at my own ease once started, to share Jesus. I realized it was probably the spirit taking over. Over all, I have had good response wherever, with only a few that ask me to leave. When I consider what foreign missionaries have to go through, I feel like a wimp:)
I do pray for the Lord to send someone to bless or share the gospel with, and that works. The older I get the more grateful I become, and I have no problem telling other how blessed I am, how its God who  supplies all my needs. And how they can know the same peace. This can open the door for more discussion. There is no better gift we can give. The price paid beyond measure.
Hope others here will share their own method, face to face or on-line, like Hopefully gave.
Jesus taught his disciples when they were together, and they learned the light of the word.
And then they faithfully went out and shared what they had learned.
And it spread...all the way to us.

 

[Hopefully]

8 hours ago, Sower said:

Hope others here will share their own method, face to face or on-line, like Hopefully gave.

I began online evangelism about 7 years ago by being a member of an online community that had nothing to do with God. I used to share funny memes and pictures of myself and chat with people about various topics. 
 

What made me stop sharing memes and pictures of myself and goofing around was there was a professing satanist there evangelizing for satan and others there promoting violence, racism and sex. It really started to bother me so I removed all my pictures and memes and started ONLY sharing the word of God and became known -as they called me -a bible thumper, and a believer of fairy tales among many many other insults.

 I would give people something to think about, for example I would say using condoms is not safe sex it’s deadly sex if your not married and then give a bible lesson about fornication and close it with the devils craftiness of words like “safe”. 

What I learned was people’s hate for God, what true evil is, how to battle them properly, and how the support of very few among many can give us the strength to keep going. It was very stressful and I stayed there for a few years before God gave me rest and pulled me out.

When I found this forum I breathed a sigh of relief thinking finally a place were everyone loves God and I can speak without opposition. For the most part that’s true but I also see people still argue and disagree while in agreement, and how it’s not just the piece of cake I thought it would be. 

Still God is teaching me a new thing here and I’m thankful for it.

 

Edited May 16, 2021 by Hopefully

[Sower]

1 hour ago, Hopefully said:

I began online evangelism about 7 years ago by being a member of an online community that had nothing to do with God. I used to share funny memes and pictures of myself and chat with people about various topics. 
 

What made me stop sharing memes and pictures of myself and goofing around was there was a professing satanist there evangelizing for satan and others there promoting violence, racism and sex. It really started to bother me so I removed all my pictures and memes and started ONLY sharing the word of God and became known -as they called me -a bible thumper, and a believer of fairy tales among many many other insults.
 

What I learned was people’s hate for God, what true evil is, how to battle them properly, and how the support of very few among many can give us the strength to keep going. It was very stressful and I stayed there for a few years before God gave me rest and pulled me out.

When I found this forum I breathed a sigh of relief thinking finally a place were everyone loves God and I can speak without opposition. For the most part that’s true but I also see people still argue and disagree while in agreement, and how it’s not just the piece of cake I thought it would be. 

Still God is teaching me a new thing here and I’m thankful for it.

 

Well said, Hopefully.
Sounds to me like you have had battle fatigue engaging the enemy, and not being just a pew sitter.
I often forget that when you engage the enemy on the/his front lines you will be wounded.
But our Lord, our commander, says 'count it all joy'.
And the enemy is everywhere, even here on Worthy, to cause division between brothers and sisters, and plant lies.
But we realize, the fight is not with our brethren, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Being kind when our flesh says no is the best time to humble ourselves.
Yet I often forget and allow my anger to vent shamefully, and post an apology forthwith.
Jesus said his yoke is easy and my burden is light. The only way I can figure that is if we let Him do the fighting through us.
As we abide, in Him.            Thank You for this needed thread, brother......

PS,  Even Jesus often took His disciples to a desert place to rest.
 

[Riverwalker]

On 5/15/2021 at 6:28 AM, Hopefully said:

We are to avoid all things which give advantage to our enemies

Who are our enemies? Surely not those witless  unbelievers who strike out against us. No we have one enemy and He hates the truth and wants to suppress it and kill it. So yes we must stand for the truth, be that light shining in the darkness. In a room full of seated people, the one who stands gets all the attention, good and bad

 

 

Edited May 16, 2021 by Riverwalker

[missmuffet]

On 5/15/2021 at 6:28 AM, Hopefully said:

““Listen! I am sending you, and you will be like sheep among wolves. So be smart like snakes. But also be like doves and don’t hurt anyone.

When you are arrested, don’t worry about what to say or how you should say it. At that time you will be given the words to say. It will not really be you speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking through you.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10:16, 19-20‬ ‭

We are to avoid all things which give advantage to our enemies, all appearance of evil or selfishness, and all underhand measures. Christ foretold troubles, not only that the troubles might not be a surprise, but that they might confirm our faith. He tells us what they should suffer, and from whom. 

It is our duty, not only to believe in Christ, but to profess that faith, in suffering for him, when we are called to it, as well as in serving him.

It appears plainly that all who live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution, and we must expect to enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations.

With the predictions of trouble we also have counsels and comforts for our times of trial. Believing  these counsels of the end of our troubles will be of great use to support us when under them. 

 The disciples of Christ must think more how to do well, than how to speak well. When under great peril, the disciples of Christ may go out of the way of danger, but they must not go out of the way of duty. No sinful, unlawful means may be used to escape; because then it is not a door of God's opening.

The fear of man brings a snare that disturbs our peace; an attempt to drawn us sin; therefore, it must be striven and prayed against. 

When God calls us to speak for him, we may depend on him to teach us what to say.

Christ does not say that we deserve a reward; for we cannot merit any thing from the hand of God; but we will receive a reward from the free gift of God. Let us boldly confess Christ, and show love to him in all things.
 

 

 

 

[Marathoner]

Reading the responses so far is a reminder of how little share I common with most. No, this isn't a commentary on anyone's faith by any means but rather, an observation of fact. The way the Lord called me from this world and sent me forth, clueless except for the word and promise of His Spirit, defines that difference which I struggle with from time to time. For lack of a better way of putting it, things happen and I find myself in the midst of it.

The heavy burdened will come and share their troubles. It just happens.
The atheist will begin to speak of their difficulties and struggles with God confessing that in truth, they're actually "agnostic." Is God really real, they'll ask? It just happens. 
Someone will come and without prompting, start talking about Jesus Christ and how they need to commit themselves to Him fully. Yeah, it just happens. 
I'll see someone in need and and render assistance however I can... accident victims, the elderly, the homeless mom, the child without a home.

Some of this occurs online with the notable exception of certain things I shared above, of course. I am, as a rule, quiet because I've learned that a tongue at rest is fit for use by the Lord, ready to speak in season when His Spirit moves me to do so. A heart and mind at rest is similarly fit to be used by the Lord, to extend my hand in whatever manner He sees fit. Listen always, speak only in season, and wait upon the Lord is how I approach things online and offline in the world beyond the screen. 

"See the need and meet it" is how it unfolds for me. Things have a way of happening and there isn't a thing I must to do seek them out. They find me!  

[Arrabon]

11 hours ago, Sower said:

I often forget that when you engage the enemy on the/his front lines you will be wounded.

@Sower

You sound like a "WOUNDED VETERAN" of the faith like many of us. I've come to believe that God allows our persecution to strengthen us, and learn to return love for the evil we receive.

Now, I'm fine with any of that, as I praise God he counts me worthy to proclaim His name under any conditions.

Edited May 17, 2021 by Arrabon