Unlimited!

Reaching Out: Evangelism and Compassion

These great articles from WT Online will will challenge you to care for the people God puts in your sphere of influence—and to be open to opportunities to share the gospel.

Special Feature
Life’s Greatest Decision by Randy Hurst
Are you ready to explain to someone why you are following Jesus Christ? This article from the Assemblies of God Commission on Evangelism (www.reaching.ag.org) will get you on the right track. If you memorize the main points and Scriptures and add in your own experience, you’ll have the perfect “answer” for “everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).

Special Feature
Breakdown at Delilah’s Day Spa by Carol G. Stratton
People don’t plan their breakdowns. Sometimes they just happen in the most unusual places—like the beauty parlor—when the emotional pain becomes unbearable. As believers, we need to stay alert for those chances to tell others about our loving God.

I Still Do!
Leading Your Unsaved Spouse to the Lord by Harold R. Newsome
This award-winning article from Harold R. Newsome gives practical advice to wives whose husbands aren’t believers.

A Closer Walk
The Worst Neighbor by Gina St. Cyr
“We have the worst neighbor in our neighborhood. You’ll never guess who it is.” Gina St. Cyr shares great tips for reaching out to your neighbors—good or bad.

Book Feature
Leading Someone to Faith in Christ from Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult by Nick Pollard (InterVarsity,1997)
What can we do when someone wants to become a Christian? How do we take our friend through that process? Just as there is no one formula for helping people to understand the gospel, there is no one formula for helping people to take that step of faith to become Christians. Nick Pollard will help you guide your friend through this major decision.

Special Feature
What Love Can Do by Muriel Larson
The 2-year-old girl weighed only 9 pounds when she was admitted to a hospital. Lisa couldn’t talk or smile. Her mother had refused to care for her. Under a government program, “foster grandparents” were called in to spend time in the hospital with Lisa. After receiving two months of tender, loving care, the little girl had gained 7 pounds, spoken several words and smiled. People need love!

Special Feature
Tiny Kindnesses by Cindy Boose
Do you ever feel like the little things you do just don’t seem to matter? Sometimes I get caught up with the idea that if I don’t do something monumental, earth-shattering or life-changing, then I’m not making a difference. I admire people who start up food banks or train welfare recipients to support themselves or live in a third-world country to share God’s Word. Now that’s a sacrifice! That’s making a difference. But not too long ago, God showed me something: It’s not always the big things that count the most.

Family Matters
Forgiving Our Prodigal Son by Nanette Thorsen-Snipes
Nanette Thorsen-Snipes shares the difficult yet encouraging story of forgiving her prodigal son.

Breaking Bread
Delicious Mexican favorites, including taco soup, enchilada casserole and Mexican sesame seed cookies.

Laugh Lines
Glamorless by Jill Baughan
Have you ever had your picture taken at one of those places claiming to make you more glamorous than you’ve ever been or ever will be again? A few years ago, I decided to surprise my husband by getting one such temporary makeover—although, with crazy curly hair, permanently attached glasses and a left eye that shuts at will, I am a bad study for even the best photographer.

Book Feature
Patient and Persuasive Evangelism from Character Witness by Christine Wood (InterVarsity, 2003)
God will bring people to us who we, at first, don’t think we are qualified to evangelize. Perhaps we feel too busy. Or maybe they are more talented, too far from God, too educated or even not educated enough. God puts particular people in our paths for their sake and for ours. We learn patience with them as we learn how to persuade their minds, hearts and behaviors to come to Jesus Christ and serve him as king.

Special Feature
Witnessing with Stories by Muriel Larson
I’ve found that one of the best ways to share the gospel message is by following the example of Jesus. He never bored His listeners, instead telling them interesting stories about people or events that people of His day could understand and relate to. We can do that too!

Single Woman
The Single Woman’s Home: A Mission Field by Carolyn McCulley
Did you ever think of your home as an outpost for your church? You can use your home for a variety of ministry purposes—from inviting newcomers to lunch after the church service, to inviting your neighbors over for a Bible study, to celebrating milestones with your friends over dinner. Though it might be a little bit more work to do this as a single woman, it’s quite possible to do—and let’s not forget, it’s fun.

Look What God Is Doing!
Call Her by Elaine L. Schulte
“I didn’t want to call the woman. After all, we lived in different cities now and I’d written a letter of condolence. For years our only tie was Christmas cards.” Elaine L. Schulte was pleasantly surprised when she obeyed God and called an old friend.

Special Feature
A Pattern of Caring by Annie Laura Smith
Christian families must demonstrate the pattern of caring they wish to leave as a legacy to their children. When our children see us actively caring for others—not just for selfish reasons,
but truly caring—they will learn the Christ-like qualities of love and have compassion for hurting people.

Special Feature
Children of Light by Cindy Boose
Christians are called to a higher purpose. We are to “live as children of light… and find out what pleases the Lord” (Ephesians 5:8,9). When senior citizens like my mom seek to please the Lord instead of retiring to a life of leisure, the entire body of Christ benefits.

Ministry Wife
Strangers on Earth by Heather Bradford
Married less than a month, living out of our suitcases for six weeks and setting out as missionaries in an ancient culture known to be difficult for foreigners to navigate was all just the beginning. In the weeks and months that followed, God enlightened us to an aspect of His Word we could only have learned experientially. The very particular difficulties we faced as aliens in a foreign land served for the Lord as object lessons to show us how we all, as Christians, are truly in a land that is not our home.

Special Feature
Regrets by Joy De Kok
“Dwelling on the things I wish I’d done is discouraging. It steals my joy and bogs down my Christian walk. Just what the enemy wants!” Author Joy De Kok comes to terms with past mistakes and moves on in spite of her regrets.