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How to Use Tracts to Share the Gospel

10/16/2013

Halloween is coming up - an outstanding opportunity to pass out Gospel tracts along with your candy. I always keep tracts in my car and use them when I share the Gospel with others, especially children.

I've discovered the best tracts are ones that illustrate (using pictures) how to be saved. People tend to pay more attention to pictures than reading words.

My favorite tract and the one I use the most is Billy Graham's Steps to Peace with God. Along with being a crystal clear Gospel presentation, its also the most expensive. They're $5 plus shipping for a package of 25. (Click here to order).

This tract is a simple picture story about how a person can be saved. I use Steps to Peace with God will every person who accepts Christ at First Baptist Moreland - adults, students & children. Even someone who can't read can understand the Gospel with this resource. I highly recommend it, but for mass distribution, it can become expensive.

If you're passing out hundreds or thousands of tracts at a special event, I recommend the Fellowship Tract League. Their tracts are all free, they only ask you pay for shipping. I recently ordered 1,200 child-friendly tracts for our upcoming Trunk or Treat. I paid $5.80 for shipping. They have hundreds to select from in multiple languages. I prefer to call and place an order (compared to online) - I explain to them what event I'll be distributing at and they recommend the best ones. I'm very thankful and grateful for their tract ministry. Since 1978, they've printed over four billion tracts and have never charged for one.

Here are two other companies that provide a variety of tracts, typically each package of 25 is $2.50 plus shipping.

Crossway Tracts - they have outstanding designs

Tract Planet - they sell the famous $1,000,000 bill

Along with tracts, I give away Bibles. The most affordable and easy-to-read Bible (Old and New Testaments) I've found is the HCSB Outreach Bible from LifeWay. Last year, FBC Moreland gave away 1,200 of these to every home in our zip code and 2013 is the year of the Bible for the North American Mission Board. (They cost $1.25 each when you order a case of 36 - click here to order).

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4 Reasons Your Church Needs Yearly Revivals

10/12/2013

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Later this month, First Baptist Moreland, holds her annual Fall Revival. This year evangelist Bailey Smith will be preaching. Smith is the former president of the Southern Baptist Convention and the former pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. While pastor at First Southern, the church baptized 2,000+ people a year.

When I contacted Bailey back in January 2013, he told me many churches aren't holding revivals anymore, and he was glad for the opportunity.

Back in the good-old-days churches used to hold two week revivals every Spring and Fall. Today, most revivals are 4 days or possibly a week.

If your church isn't holding annual revivals, here's 4 reasons to consider:

1. Revivals allow for the biblical office of evangelist to be utilized at your church (Ephesians 4:11). God gave evangelists for the church, who are we not to use them?

2. Revival brings an intentional focus to evangelism and salvation. God wants people to be saved at your church. The Lord is more concerned about people getting saved than your plans, vision or Bible study.

"If you're opposed to evangelism, you're opposed to God." -Bailey Smith

"There's only one reason Jesus died, and that's because there's a literal hell." -Bailey Smith

"If we can't get together winning people to Jesus, then we don't need to get together." -Bailey Smith

3. Revival brings a renewed sense of vitality among the church. Nothing excites people more at church than to see people saved. People come to revival expecting great things. How excited is the person who invited their co-worker to revival, only to see their friend walk the aisle and trust in Christ.

4. Revivals bring more baptisms in churches. The Southern Baptist Convention is declining in baptisms (see article). The Great Commission commands us to baptize people. Churches that hold revivals will experience more baptisms.

Bailey Smith Ministries

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Why You and Your Church Should Be Involved in My Hope America

10/10/2013

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Next month Billy Graham turns 95 years old. He also has a brand new book coming out next week, The Reason for My Hope: Salvation. Graham is very weak and believes this will likely be his final crusade. Most crusades are held in football stadiums around the world. My Hope is held in your living room. Christians invite their unchurched friends, family and neighbors to come over for dinner and watch a 30 minute DVD of Billy Graham sharing the Gospel. At the end of the DVD, there's an opportunity to receive Christ as your Savior.

Last night at First Baptist Church, Moreland, Georgia was My Hope America training with J. W. Hutchens, the Georgia state director for My Hope. Every Christian and every church should participate in My Hope. Here's 4 reasons why:

1. God wants people to be saved. It's His will, purpose and plan. (2 Peter 3:9). Salvation is important to God, and if it's important to God, it should be important to you. My Hope is about people getting saved.

2. My Hope is easy. All you do is invite lost people to your home, serve them great food and watch a DVD. That's it. Billy Graham mails you the DVD. All it costs you is food.

3. Many people will not come to your church, but will come to your home. People are skeptical and suspicious of churches more than ever before, but will come to your home. This is what it means to be missional. You take the Gospel to the people. Meet them where they are.

4. My Hope could spark a great movement of God in America. It's been nearly 200 years since the Second Great Awakening. Over 24,000 churches are participating in My Hope America - that's the most churches ever to unify around a singular outreach. Don't miss what God's going to do through My Hope.

Resources:
My Hope America with Billy Graham (official website)
Baptist Press story on My Hope
Last night's My Hope training at First Baptist Moreland:

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6 Tips for a Terrific Trunk or Treat

10/9/2013

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Later this month (Friday October 25) First Baptist Moreland hosts Trunk or Treat. We began this in 2005 and it's grown into our largest event of the year. Over 1,000+ children will come Trick or Treating from the trunks of cars and trucks. It's a fun and safe environment for children to experience Halloween.

If you or your church is planning a Trunk or Treat - here are 6 terrific tips to have the best experience:

1. The number of trunks is most important. FBC Moreland has 75+ trunks - we want children leaving saying, "Wow, look at all the candy!" The number of trunks is the measurement most parents will use to determine if the event was successful.

2. Promote Jesus and other ministries at the church. Have trunks passing out Gospel tracts and fliers for other ministries (along with candy). One year we had a lady passing out toothbrushes along with candy!

3. Don't allow the children to grab the candy. You need to place the candy in children's bags, otherwise little hands will see how much candy they can grab. After 30 minutes, you'll need a refill.

4. Have people refilling trunks that are running low on candy. If your trunk runs out of candy, don't close your trunk and drive away. FBC Moreland buys $300+ worth of candy and asks for candy donations to refill the trunks that are out.

5. Children should carry a card around getting checked off after every trunk they visit. A few years ago - we had children making laps like it was the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Every trunk is numbered, when children arrive they receive a numbered card, once a child receives candy at trunk #1 - they receive a check on their card.

6. Bring a chair. If you're hosting a trunk, you'll be standing up for 2 straight hours.

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How to Use Tracts to Share the Gospel

4 Reasons Your Church Needs Yearly Revivals

Why You and Your Church Should Be Involved in My Hope America

6 Tips for a Terrific Trunk or Treat

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