When evangelism is obediently done as one is inspired and directed by the Holy Spirit, the results are powerful. Consider these two examples as encouragement to go forth as a "labourer in the fields which are now ripe unto harvest" (Luke 10:2)

Story #1

During the 1960's, a friend of ours, owned a car dealership in North Surrey. Although he was upright and honest in his business, he possessed one major problem - alcoholism - which caused him great and his family great difficulty.

Month after month stories would be told regarding his unwelcome and unwholesome conduct among friends and associates at parties or during business seminars. Everyone, including his wife, except the dealer knew he needed help with his drinking problem. However, regardless of the counsel offered, he would not follow the counsel offered.

Whereas others were ready to abandon him to his demise, his wife persistently believed God could and would intervene and bring him to a better life. One weekend, some weeks later, his wife learned that he had to attend a seminar in Calgary. Whiler packing his suitcase, she placed a tract, "God's Intervening Grace" at the top of his suit and then prayed over the suitcase.

During the Saturday evenings 'Associate's Banquet' this man became drunk to such an extent that the 'bouncer' had to throw him out of the bar. A holtel steward, seeing the man lying helplessly in his drunken stupor in front of the elevator, took him to his room and laid him on his bed.

As the dealer turned and tossed he eventually fell on the floor near the bed, landing on his suitcase. In the morning, on awakening, he reached into his suitcase to get his shaving kit. Seeing the tract, he decided he would take a few seconds to see what, if anything, the article offered as help. As he read the tract, the Holy Spirit spoke to him forcefully regarding his sad spiritual state. Instead of attending the business breakfast, he visited with the hotel chaplain and accepted Christ as Saviour and Lord. His life was dramatically changed all because of a tract his wife, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, left in his suitcase!

Story #2

Some years ago a friend of mine asked if I could get a few tracts from the church I was attending so he could place them on ships while he worked as a long shoreman in Vancouver.  Recognizing his sincerity and his gift of evangelism, I immediately accommodated his rquest.  The tracts had the contact address for Cloverdale Pentecostal Church, Cloverdale BC., so I did not think they were of any value to him.

Regardless of what I thought, my brother put a tract in the cabin of a ship which had its origin in Greece.  After the ship departed Vancouver, a seamen placed it in his pocket, and gave it to a friend, Jose, who lived in Spain.  He instantly became intrigued with the message because, as he told me later, "It offered change to those who might desperately need it."

About six months later, while heading towards South Africa, Jose found became depressed about the futility of life as a seaman. As he rummaged through his duffle bag, he once again, accidently came across the article he had placed there some months earlier.  Reflecting on the message of the tract, he decided that he would read it over once again.  It was at this time the message gripped his heart and he recognized it was time to accept Christ as his Lord and Saviour.

Within a week he thought decided he should receive more reading material to help in his new spiritual quest, and so he sent an envelop to the Pastor of Cloverdale Pentecostal Church.  On the envelope, in large bold letters he wrote, Please I need more spiritual help." Within a month of Jose posting the letter, it reached the pastor.

The pastor, knowing I was interested in kingdom seed planting gave me the envelope and said, "look after his needs," and I did.  During Expo '86 I had the opportunity of meeting Jose in Vancouver. Throughout the visit he repeated over and over again, "Gordon, my dear brother, thank you for taking the small step of faith by sending me the literature. Through your kind act, I have been changed for time and for eternity."

God has promised that His word, when dispensed for kingdom witness, "shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Isaiah 55:12