“O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise. Psalms 51:5, NKJV
Witnessing has always been very close to my heart. Someone said that sharing the gospel can be defined very simply as one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. Sometimes we see videos or photographs of starving adults and children and our hearts respond with sympathy at their plight. Even so our hearts should respond much more as we see people all around us living in spiritual darkness and hunger, daily moving to a lost eternity without Christ, without God, and without hope!
As a young man I was extremely shy, and cringed at the thought of speaking publicly. During my teen years I trusted Christ as my Savior at Word of Life Island, in the Adirondack mountains of New York state. During my last two years of high school I worked on the staff of Camp of the Woods, a Christian family conference center, also located in the Adirondack mountains. It was there I began to grow in my walk with the Lord. From the start I had a deep desire to witness for Him, using my musical ability as a springboard to point people to Christ.
After active military duty and while working as a draftsman, I met and married Lillian Klenk. Lillian’s father was one of the men who started Pine Bush Bible Camp, located in the Catskill mountains also in the state of New York. For over fifty years my wife and I have been involved in the ministry at Pine Bush. Our three children were also involved in camp as they grew up.
My desire to evangelize spilled over to a thirty-year outreach in area nursing homes, preaching at Yonkers Mission for many years until its closing, and doing open air work in several states. I write this because if the Lord could use a naturally shy person like me in these ministries, I know He can use anyone.
So, for those desiring to witness for Christ, here are a few thoughts to help them get started. Be sure to have a consistent and in-depth quiet time with the Lord. Your fellowship with Him will be reflected in every area of your life and witness.
Carry tracts in your wallet or purse and pray that the Lord will bring people across your path that need Him. Take time to get to know others, looking for the opportunity to turn the conversation to spiritual things. It never ceases to amaze me how the Lord will direct you to the right person at the right time.
Get involved in your home assembly outreaches: Sunday School, youth work, nursing home services, in rescue missions, and summer camp work. Your service for Christ may begin by a word of testimony, and then lead to counselling, and eventually to taking a Bible study, or even preaching. And remember, you are never too young or too old to start to witness.
We all have been commissioned by Christ to share the gospel with others. We are all His ambassadors, and we are all missionaries. May the Lord help us to show Christ in our lives, and share Him with our lips.
So that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24, NKJV)