Personal Evangelism

1. If we found the cure for AIDS (and especially if we were living in a country where most of the inhabitants are HIV positive), we would probably do everything we could so that ill people take the medicine. We would try hard to persuade them even if they did not believe in the recovery (perhaps not even in the disease), laughing at us. The excuse that a lot of people have tried it in vain could not stop us either. Why aren't we more determined in evangelism? Perhaps because we do not believe in it that much, since it has not essentially changed us either.

2. We should not think that the spreading of the gospel--a task that is more important than almost every other duty--can be delegated to others whose profession is evangelism: missionaries, pastors, etc. The Great Commission of Christ is for each of us: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matt. 28:18-20). But how shall we accomplish this task?

b. It seems that these days people do not respond so well to evangelising programs and large-scale preaching of the word--such events usually produce very few converts and even less permanent fruit. So today building personal relationships is the most effective method. Try to make some friends and get as close to them as possible without striving to convert them (especially at first, you should not even talk about such things if possible), and witness to them through your character and your life. In time you might win them - or at worst you will have some good friends.

3. What I said above is confirmed by the fact that the following method that I used for about a year did not have the results I expected--though it produced some fruit, I know of no people who were saved because of it. From 26 May 2005 to the beginning of August 2006 I practised evangelism--among other ways--as a "sandwich man" by developing the example of a friend of mine: I hanged two boards (110 by 32 cm each) on my neck (I am between them, hence the expression) with the following inscription:

I'm a translator
JESUS IS
THE LORD!
www.hivo.hu
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart... For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).
"Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded" (James 4:8).
"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it" (Mark 8:35)
"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48; NIV).

- Here is the solution to corruption, heavy taxes, plenty of divorces and misery!
- I am ready to speak to anyone in Hungarian or in English.
- FREE Biblical counselling!
- As a high school teacher I translate texts and take students in English and maths.

REVIVAL = BEING PURE & PERSONAL & POOR!

4. First the boards contained the same text both in English and Hungarian (the front and back boards always have the same words), so they were 62 cm wide. But this was too difficult to manage, the wind blew it away easily, so I soon took only the half of it. Since I was not allowed to carry the boards into markets and shopping malls, and to use them on public transport vehicles (at the office in Akácfa Street I was told that their inner rules did not allow this), I had a firm called Kreatív Póló make a shorter inscription with black letters on a white T-shirt (using the words of the first 4 lines and the last one). This firm is in Sugár at Örs vezér Square (there are such services in the underpass at Kálvin Square and in Mammut-I at Széna Square, too). So I used the T-shirt for travelling and wore the boards at busy places (railway stations, bus stations, etc.). The five-part boards made of corrugated cardboard are easy to transport since they can be folded like a map (I stuck 5 pieces of A4 size paper on them and covered them on the outside with transparent plastic sheets bought at the chemist's). During this ministry I had several serious discussions. Apart from my friend I mentioned above, I met another person who applied this method at a town for 3 months. Some Christians found it strange, others were happy about it and cheered me up. If only as many of us witnessed to the Salvation of our Lord and our gratitude and love for Him and we did it as many ways as possible!

5. From 26 August 2005 I used a new board that contained a shorter inscription with larger letters, because few people had stopped to read the longer text. At the same time I offered tracts with The "Unknown" Gospel, my Call, The Problem of Sin And Suffering and some of my other writings. The new board had the following inscription:

JESUS IS
THE LORD!
www.hivo.hu
I'm a translator
"Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded" (James 4:8).
REPENT!
THE END IS NEAR!
PREPARE TO MEET YOUR GOD!
REVIVAL = BEING PURE & PERSONAL & POOR, & PRAYING!

Róbert Hargitai (www.hivo.hu), 05/2005-08/2006.
You are free to copy this material without modification if you include the above quotation (free download).