I was led to Christ by the personal witnessing of some fellows of the Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship Chapter of the University of Nebraska in 1953. But not like you may think. It was fall, football time. I had been attending the IVCF meetings trying to pose as a Christian but knowing I was not.

So on a Saturday, standing in line to buy a ticket at the stadium, a carload of guys drove up and unloaded. Their hands were full of gospel tracts as they fanned out along the waiting line to do literature witnessing. I recognized them as fellows from the IVCF Chapter. Conviction of my lustiness hit me along with fear they would see me, give me tracts, and bid me join their personal evangelism thrust.

Somehow I got lost in the crowd and evaded my fears coming true. The conviction that rolled into my soul is that I had no power or passion to do what those guys were doing. My being lost without Christ struck me with a force I had not known before and eventuated in His apprehension of me shortly thereafter.

The Importance of Personal Evangelism. My testimony demonstrates an important point.. As has been said, “One is either a missionary or a mission field,” Mk. 8:38. But the biggest importance is that it demonstrates agape, God’s love as expressed in Jn. 3:16. Another is Prov. 11:30, “He that wins souls is wise.” Knowing the lostness of the unsaved, the end for an unbeliever, the everlastingness of a soul, the value of a soul to God reflected in the price God paid to redeem a soul and the reward to a saved soul are matters of divine wisdom. Too, Matt. 28:19-20 contains not the divine suggesting but the great commission of Christ to every believer. And we can’t leave out Matt. 9:37, 38 where Christ tells us to pray focused on the issue of winning the lost.

Ways we can share: A bird needs two wings to fly. So does an airplane. Personal evangelism needs two things to empower us in sharing Christ: a holy (Spirit-filed) life style, Acts 1:8, and knowledge of the Gospel to boldly share Christ in word (printed and spoken) Rom. 1:16, Acts 4:13. We’ve heard it said that actions speak louder than words. Some would have us believe that to be a witness to Christ all any believer has to do is live a holy life without using our communication abilities. Not so. Jesus is called the Word, Jn. 1:1. And “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word” Rom. 10:17. Witnessing takes a holy character to back up the sharing of the Gospel intelligently.

How to Say the Gospel: Humbly, boldly with confidence in God (boldness is not the absence of all fright), non-judgmentally, warmly, with the willingness to have what you are saying rejected.

When and to whom to say the Gospel: Trust God for “divine appointments” with others. Trust God to either give a “green” light or to check your spirit about sharing. Be ready when it seems convenient or inconvenient 2 Tim. 4:2.

What to say: I use four opening questions to see as much as I can if the person is already saved and if not is willing to hear the Gospel. In the Gospel presentation I use the Campus Crusade for Christ’s Four Spiritual Laws.

1. “Would you be offended if I asked you a religious question?” If “No, go to question #2 If “yes,” I say, “There was a time in my life when I would have felt the same way. May I leave this little booklet (the Laws) with you?”

2. “If you were to die right now do you know you would go to heaven?” If “no” go to question #3. If “yes,” I say, “That’s great. Tell me if God were to ask you why He should let you into heaven, what would you answer?” If he responds with a “Christ-grace” answer, encourage him to also be a witness giving him a Laws to give away.

If he gives a “works-righteousness” answer, I say, “There was a time in my life when I would have given that kind of an answer. Then someone showed me the answer God is looking for. Would you like to know that answer?” If “yes” go on to question #4. If “no,” “I don’t know,” I’m not sure,” “Maybe someday,” answer with “there was a time in my life when I would have said the same thing. I’d like to give you this little booklet that explains peace with God. Someday you may want to know Him personally.”

3. “Would you like to know you would go to heaven?” If “yes,” go to question #4. I “no,” identify with him from your past unsaved life and offer the booklet.

4. “Would you like for me to show you how? It will take about 15 minutes of our time.” If “yes,” read the Laws letting him read silently sitting beside you. Before trying to lead him in the prayer to receive Christ ask three closing questions: (A) “Do you understand what we’ve read so far? Are there any questions?” (B) “Do you know of any reason why you cannot receive Christ?” (C) “When do you want to receive Christ?” If he is prepared by the Spirit, his answers will reveal that. If not, offer the booklet.

Where to say the Gospel: Be sensitive to the person’s privacy. The conversation’s circumstances will largely dictate this important aspect of witnessing. Make a special search in John’s Gospel about how God has prepared a harvest for us to find and reap. Acts verifies this. Soul-winning is not forcing the unsaved to do what they don’t want to do. It is finding those prepared by the Spirit and showing them by the Gospel how to do what they want to do but don’t know how.