Honoring Nick Kinn

The Bible tells us to give honor to whom honor is due. Yesterday was the 70th birthday of the minister most responsible for helping me become a successful soul-winner. Therefore, I’ve written this tribute to him.

Alex Nicholas Kinn Jr. was born on August 21, 1951, and grew up just west of Minneapolis. Like myself, he went through confirmation at a Lutheran church that didn't teach the necessity to be born again. Following high school and a brief college stint, Nick was drafted into the U. S. Army and got stationed in Germany. After his discharge, Nick returned to Minnesota and continued being an alcoholic. One night, he caused a drunk driving accident that almost killed six people.

Meanwhile, a few Christians had reached out to Nick with the gospel. Two of them happened while he was in the military. Another person had slid a tract underneath his door. A turning point occurred 45 years ago today. After Nick had been out celebrating his 25th birthday, he got down on his knees at 2:00 a.m. and said, “Jesus, if you’re real, I’m tired of being a drunk. Come into my heart.” His life hasn’t been the same since.

Nick immediately started witnessing but didn’t lead anyone to the Lord until almost three years later. While hosting an Amway meeting in his house, Nick had an altar call. One woman came forward to give her life to Christ. After attending various churches, Nick started going to Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park. In 1986, he was asked to take charge of their evangelism ministry. Two years later, Nick left his job at the post office to become a full-time pastor. As he often says now, “I used to be a mailman, but now I’m a messenger.”

I first attended Living Word in 1991. Back then, Pastor Nick also led outreaches called “All-Church Evangelism.” Wednesday night services were canceled once a month during the summer. That was to encourage more congregation members to share their faith. I participated in a few of those but didn’t pray with anyone until three years after my conversion. By that time, I committed myself to evangelize with Living Word every Monday night. Soon I became a team leader and started training other people how to win souls. 

My faithfulness to Living Word’s evangelism ministry resulted in various blessings. Since Nick and I are about the same size, he frequently gave me clothes he no longer needed. One night after returning from an outreach, Pastor Nick asked if anyone wanted prayer. I mentioned my starting a sales job with a meat company that day and needed to make money. Nick suddenly took up an offering for me. I received $68 in cash. That sales job wouldn’t work out for me. Eventually, the Lord led me to go into full-time ministry.

For over a decade, I mostly traveled along the east coast as a missionary. During which, I had little contact with Pastor Nick. Then one night in a Minneapolis suburb, I walked into a bus station. Nick happened to be evangelizing there along with another man I knew named Tom. Nick gave me some of his “Have You Heard the Good News” tracts. Tom then handed me $20. That inspired me to resume regular outreaches with Living Word during return visits to the Twin Cities area. I still enjoy listening to Nick’s teachings before we hit the streets.

I appreciate Nick Kinn’s continued commitment to the Great Commission and also his sense of humor. Often we experience bouts of holy laughter while looking at each other. With the help of other laborers involved with Living Word’s evangelism ministry, over 1.6 million salvations have occurred. Pastor Nick has (so far) ministered in 28 countries and 35 states. May the Lord give him many more years to give the devil a black eye.

“And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you” - 1 Thessalonians 5:12

How to Fish for Men

While growing up in Minnesota, my family had property on Big Sugar Bush Lake just north of Detroit Lakes. During the summer months, we spent almost every weekend there. Dad often went fishing. That wasn’t something I particularly enjoyed except when I caught a lot of fish. Years later, the Lord called me to be a fisher of men.

As a young Christian, one of the most powerful sermons I heard compared evangelism to fishing. Pastor Mac Hammond mentioned five key points to successful soul-winning. I will list the points below along with my thoughts on each one…

1. Go Where the Fish Are. Many Christians fish out of their bathtub. If you’re always surrounded by other believers and isolate yourself from the lost, you won’t have opportunities to lead sinners to salvation. Jesus said in Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”
2. Go Where the Fish Are Hungry. Although everyone needs to hear the gospel, those who are well-off financially usually aren’t as receptive. That’s why when coming into a new city, I often seek out low-income neighborhoods to evangelize. As Jesus said in Luke 4:18, “…He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.”
3. Use the Right Bait. The right kind of gospel tract can make a difference, especially when given to someone who doesn’t have time to converse with you. Normally I use Nick Kinn’s “Have You Heard the Good News?”, but sometimes hand out million-dollar bills. The latter are good conversation starters. Sometimes the Lord leads me to minister healing to people first before asking questions about their eternal destiny.
4. Present the Bait Correctly. We must always show compassion by speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). It’s the goodness of God that leads one to repentance (Romans 2:4), not guilt or condemnation.
5. Reel Them In. It’s frustrating when I work with believers who take too much time talking about the gospel when a sinner is ready to get saved. Jesus said in Luke 14:23, “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”

One Christian cliché I find annoying is “we are to make disciples, not converts.” Making disciples starts by being a fisher of men. When doing the work of the evangelist (2 Timothy 4:5), the focus is getting people saved. It’s often been said, “You catch them, He’ll clean them.”

“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” - Matthew 4:19

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Wondering Where the Lions Are

Recently while hanging out at Panera Bread, I heard a variety of songs playing on their sound system. One of them was the 1980 hit “Wondering Where the Lions Are” by Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn. For the next few days, that song kept going through my mind. Soon I got to thinking about lions in Scripture.

The lion is often called “The King of the Beasts.” Its furious roar can be heard for up to five miles causing other creatures to freeze in their tracks. Contrary to popular belief, lions abide in the woods or fields, not in jungles. Nor will you usually find them walking around in cities and towns. That’s why it’s ridiculous for the lazy man to claim in Proverbs 22:13, “There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!”

Lions are mentioned in prophecy. In Ezekiel 38, the “young lions” refer to countries birthed from the U. K. including the United States. The first of the four living creatures in Revelation 4:7 is “like a lion.” Revelation 5:5 refers to Jesus as “…the Lion of the tribe of Judah.” When He returns to set up His millennial kingdom, Isaiah 11:6-7 talks about “…the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them…And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.”

Lions have also been used to mete out judgment. One killed a prophet who disobeyed a commandment of the Lord (1 Kings 13:24). Proverbs 19:12 and 20:2 compare the wrath of a king to a roaring lion. In Roman times, Christians were often thrown to the lions.

On the other hand, men of God who walked in divine authority were victorious over lions. Samson tore up one in Judges 14:5-6. As a young shepherd boy, David overcame a lion as well a bear (1 Samuel 17:34-35). Saul and Jonathan “...were stronger than lions.” (2 Samuel 1:23) Hebrews 11:33 talks about people who “…stopped the mouths of lions.” That included Daniel who was supernaturally protected during a night in the lion’s den. His accusers were then devoured by the animals (Daniel 6:24).

In his book “The Believer’s Authority,” Kenneth E. Hagin wrote about a dream he had in which he and another minister were walking on a ball field and saw two ferocious, roaring lions…

“The man started running. I started running with him. Then I stopped and told him we were too far away from the stands to reach safety. We'd never escape those lions.

“I stopped dead still, turned around, and went back to meet the lions. They came toward me with their fangs bared, roaring.

“I was trembling. I told them, ‘I resist you in the Name of Jesus. In Jesus' Name you can't hurt me.’ I just stood there. They ran right up to me like a couple of kittens, sniffed around my ankles, and finally frolicked off, paying no attention to me.”

The dream reminded Brother Hagin of 1 Peter 5:8-9, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith…” Christians shouldn’t be afraid of the devil. His roar is worse than his bite. As I heard another minister point out, “he’s a gummer…Jesus pulled all of his teeth out.”

I’m sure the Lord is wondering where many of His lions are today. Instead of acting like the cowardly lion in “The Wizard of Oz” and staying in self-imposed cages, believers knowing who they are in Christ can change people’s lives through sharing the gospel. As Charles Spurgeon once said, “Never mind about defending Deuteronomy or the whole of the Pentateuch; preach Jesus Christ and him crucified. Let the Lion out, and see who will dare to approach him. The Lion of the tribe of Judah will soon drive away all his adversaries.”

“The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” 

- Proverbs 28:1

All By Myself

Over the years I‘ve had a few individuals tell me I shouldn’t be doing street evangelism alone. They think it’s unscriptural because Jesus sent his disciples out two by two. Certainly, there are advantages to going out in pairs or groups. Deuteronomy 32:30 says that if one can chase a thousand, two can “put ten thousand to flight.” There is power in agreement.

However, that doesn’t mean Christians are useless by themselves. There are examples in the Bible where individuals ministered to others without having fellow believers with them such as Philip leading the Ethiopian eunuch to salvation (Acts 8:26-40). While I prefer having a partner with me on the streets, many times no one else has been available or willing to join me.

One day while staying at a church in Hanover, Germany, the Lord told me to go out and evangelize that afternoon. But except for handing out a couple of tracts, I resisted doing so because I wanted someone else ministering with me. While venting before the Lord in the church sanctuary, I received a revelation as to why He often has me witnessing solo. It is to overcome the fear of man. As the old saying goes, “You and God are a majority.”

Because of my disobedience, the Lord kept me in Hanover an extra day and told me to aim for ten salvations. I had to do a lot of “fishing” to find those ten souls. During this, I was also able to share many Scriptures with an atheist, a lesbian, and a young woman promoting the Green Party. After praying with my tenth person that day (a Muslim originally from Lebanon), I was walking back to the church when I felt led to approach a couple talking in front of a tattoo parlor. The woman spoke English and prayed with me to get born again. Praise God for 11 salvations that day!  

If Jesus Christ continues to tarry His Second Coming and more laws are passed restricting the preaching of the gospel, we may find ourselves in challenging situations where the Lord will expect us to testify of Him even if other believers aren’t present. Jesus said in Matthew 10:18-20 (KJV), “And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.”  

If you were waiting at a bus stop and the Lord put in on your heart to witness to an elderly person standing next to you, would you refuse to do so just because nobody else was with you? I hope not. You could be that person’s final opportunity to receive salvation.

Speaking of the elderly, I once saw a news report about an 84-year-old New Yorker named Irma Moraes. For over 40 years, Irma passed out gospel tracts alone in the Times Square area almost every day. If an 84-year-old woman can do that all by herself, then how can other Christians have an excuse for not obeying the Great Commission?

 “For many are called, but few are chosen.” - Matthew 22:14

Minutemen Ministers

In the period preceding and during the American Revolution, there were colonials who volunteered to fight the British at a minute’s notice. That’s why they were called Minutemen. During a State of the Union message nine days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks of 2001, President George W. Bush told the U. S. military “Be ready.” As soldiers in the army of the Lord, we should always be prepared for sudden opportunities to fulfill the Great Commission.

A large percentage of the people I’ve led to Christ occurred in the marketplace as opposed to planned outreaches. For example, I was walking home one night and saw five boys playing touch football in a church parking lot. A thought crossed my mind that when their football landed by me, that would be a signal for me to witness to them. Seconds later, the football bounced my way when one of the boys made a bad punt. However, I continued walking wanting time to myself. When I got home, God kept telling me to “go back.” So I put my shoes on and hurried to the parking lot where the boys were still playing. When I arrived there, one of the boys scored a touchdown. That was the right time for me to have them take a timeout. All five boys got born again.

Christians should also be prepared to minister in the house of the Lord whether it’s giving a prophetic word or a prepared sermon. This past Monday, I got to do both those things. That afternoon I arrived at Living Word Christian Center for a prayer meeting. Pastor Folu Gisanri exhorted us to pray in the Spirit and then come forward if we had something to share. The Lord led me to walk up to the front of the chapel and read a particular Scripture.

Later that night, I took part in Living Word’s regular Monday night evangelism outreach. Pastor Nick Kinn normally does a teaching before we hit the streets but decided to take the night off after leading a weekend outing in Kansas City. I was asked to take Pastor Nick’s place and felt led to share an abbreviated version of “Why You Should Be a Soul Winner”, a message I taught at another church two weeks before. My fellow soul winners were blessed and encouraged. As usual, we saw many people come into the kingdom of God that night.

The whole world could be evangelized quickly if all Christians had the dedication like that of Ray Comfort. The New Zealand-born evangelist has offered to pay $1,000 to anyone who ever catches him without a gospel tract, even if he’s by a swimming pool! I always make sure there are plenty of tracts and gospels of John on me before leaving the house. So again, I exhort you to be minutemen (or women) ministers and be ready to share the gospel at a moment’s notice.

“Be ready in season and out of season.” - 2 Timothy 4:2

Boasting in the Lord

When you step out to fulfill the Great Commission, be prepared for some Christians who will challenge your motives. A former Facebook friend I never met personally once wrote accusations against me on my wall based on erroneous information. I emailed a message to him offering to discuss his concerns privately. Instead, he posted another public comment “warning” other people about me. Sadly, another Facebook friend I had been ministering to chose to believe this man’s lies. Before I could email her an explanation, she blocked me after sending a message complaining about my “boast posting” (referring to my evangelism reports). This is how Satan can use believers to “sow discord among the brethren”, which the Lord hates! (Proverbs 6:19)

The dictionary defines boast as “talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one’s achievements.” It’s not wrong for a believer to testify what the Lord has done through him as long as He gets the glory. Psalm 34:2 says, “My soul shall make its boast in the LORD.”  

When writing an evangelism testimony, I usually end it with a Scripture or glorify God for the new converts. Many of my friends have been blessed by my praise reports. In some cases, they were inspired to go out and share the gospel themselves. This fulfills my mission statement: “Preach the gospel and teach others to do the same.”

Still, there are Christians who get offended by that especially when they hear about the number of decisions made during an evangelism outreach. But God is interested in numbers. The Book of Acts mentions occasions when 3,000 and 5,000 people got saved at one time. There’s even a book in the Bible called Numbers.

The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:10, “As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.” So the next time the Lord uses you to lead someone to salvation or bring healing to their body, don’t let religious people try to shut your mouth. Testify…and give all the glory to God!

“In God we boast all day long, and praise Your name forever. Selah” - Psalm 44:8

The Sinner’s Prayer

I’ve been faithfully doing evangelism now for twenty-three years. During that time I’ve used a variety of gospel tracts but prefer ones that include a salvation prayer at the end. Sometimes the Lord will lead you to approach people who don’t have time to talk but are willing to read something later. One day I stopped at a convenience store in Virginia and gave a tract to a young Russian woman working behind the counter. When I happened to stop by there again the next day, this woman thanked me for the tract. I found out she prayed a prayer like the one pictured here and gotten saved!

Nevertheless, there are Christians opposed to leading people in a “sinner’s prayer.” One reason often cited is “it’s not in the Bible.” Yet we have other generally accepted traditions not specifically mentioned in Scripture. Sunday schools cannot be found in the Bible yet many churches have them. The same thing could be said about altar calls for salvation. 

“Sinner’s prayer” critics seem to think when someone is ready to get saved, he or she will initiate their own salvation. One time I went street witnessing with a minister who tried to get potential converts to cry out to be saved. I didn’t see any of them give their lives to the Lord.

Not all sinners who are convicted of their need to get right with God will immediately know what to do or say. One example in Scripture is the Philippian jailer who asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30) On the night of my conversion, I didn’t become born again until responding to my brother-in-law’s offer to pray with him. The power of God flowed through me and my life hasn’t been the same since.

The “sinner’s prayer” is simply a tool to guide people into making a decision for Christ. So the next time you witness to someone who recognizes their need for salvation, don’t be afraid to ask to pray with them. But instead of calling it the “sinner’s prayer”, I prefer the term “prayer of salvation.” Once a sinner accepts Jesus, he is no longer a sinner but a saint.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” - 2 Corinthians 5:17

Counting Conversions Correctly

One time I was with a fellow missionary at a park in Tampa, Florida where groups of people prayed with us. It was a challenge keeping a correct count of salvations because some kids followed us around and prayed again. Still, I made sure I didn’t write down two salvations for each person praying twice.

It grieves me when I see ministers inflate their numbers to where their praise reports aren’t truthful. During another outreach I took part in, nine of us led 46 people to the Lord. On our way back to the church, one woman mentioned praying with 21 people five days before. Later that night, one of the other laborers posted this on Facebook: “We gained 67 new brothers and sisters in Christ tonight."

One man who filmed various Christian events with audiences in the hundreds noticed the evangelist claimed “thousands attended.” There were other events where thousands showed up but was later reported as “tens of thousands.” This practice has been jokingly called “evangelistically speaking” or "evangELASTICALLY speaking.” In reality, this is flat out lying. 

It’s bad enough when we see political leaders shading the truth to make themselves look good. Christian leaders in particular should have the most integrity. Exaggerating the number of people attending their church or going up to the altar at a revival meeting does not glorify the Lord. Keep in mind Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead for lying about their giving. 

While I’m all for setting soul goals and reaching many people with the gospel, we should feel honored whether we pray with one person or a thousand. God alone gets the glory.

“… there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”  
- Luke 15:10

My First Love

Mention the phrase “first love” and people often think of a significant other. During grade school, there were numerous girls I liked. One who I consider my first real girlfriend was named Kathy. We were first-grade classmates at Riverside Elementary School in Moorhead, Minnesota. Then I got transferred to a different school but came back to Riverside for sixth grade. Once again, Kathy and I were in the same class. We started exchanging notes and calling each other.

On February 14th of that school year, I received two valentines from Kathy. I also received valentines from kids that made fun of our relationship or discouraged it. Nevertheless, Kathy remained an off and on girlfriend throughout my junior high years before she broke up with me for good. We remained friends during high school. Kathy always smiled at me whenever we passed each other in the hallway. 

The last time I saw Kathy was in 1983 when I was 19. My dad sent me to Godfather’s Pizza one night to pick up dinner for the family. Kathy happened to be working behind the counter. After I picked up the pizza, Kathy gave me that beautiful smile. Although I was still attracted to her, I knew we weren’t meant to be a couple.

Over the next eight years, I went through a variety of relationships until I became a born-again Christian in 1991. Nine years after that, I got married on Valentine’s Day. Unfortunately, that marriage was short-lived. My new wife left me for a man that had been my best friend. She subsequently filed for divorce.

Not long afterward, I decided to search for Kathy online and found her bio on her employer’s website. I sent Kathy an email and she replied with an update on her life. Since Kathy had also become a Christian, I started sending her my monthly newsletter. Eventually, we drifted apart again due to theological differences.

Fortunately, there is One who will never leave us or forsake us. Regardless of your marital status, Jesus wants to be the lover of your soul. Often people look to other individuals or things for fulfillment. The Lord rebuked the church of Ephesus for leaving their first love in Revelation 2:4.

The Lord is saying to everyone today, “Be My Valentine.” Will you let Him be the first place in your heart?

“We love Him because He first loved us.” - 1 John 4:19

Little Preachers

Among the greatest tools for spreading the gospel is the printed page. I praise God for organizations like The Gideons who distribute Bibles throughout the world. Sometimes I give away their New Testaments to people who don’t have a copy of God’s word. Other times I give out gospels of John produced by the Pocket Testament League.

Still, I believe the greatest evangelism tool is a simple gospel tract. This handy “little preacher” is able to do what many of us often fail or are unable to do. Consider the following advantages of using gospel tracts…

• The gospel tract never stumbles over words or forgets important Scriptures.
• The gospel tract can be given during extremely brief encounters (when making a purchase, passing someone on the street, etc.).
• The gospel tract never gets sidetracked or caught up in an argument. It just gives the message of salvation, plainly and clearly.
• The gospel tract is never intimidated or fearful.
• The gospel tract is never tempted to compromise the message of Christ.
• The gospel tract can wait on someone’s door until they get home.
• The gospel tract can be left in public places and wait until someone’s curiosity causes them to pick it up and read it.
• The gospel tract never gets tired and gives up.
• The gospel tract never gets discouraged or disheartened.
• The gospel tract is inexpensive to produce.
• The gospel tract travels easily in letters, purses, and pockets as it goes into communities we could never personally reach. 
• The gospel tract will speak over and over when read and reread, whereas our verbal witness is usually only heard one time. 

Adolf Hitler’s personal bodyguard came to Christ as a result of reading Dr. Ford Porter’s famous tract “God's Simple Plan of Salvation.” After Hitler’s death and Germany’s defeat in World War II, Kurt Wagner’s life was in shambles. Everything he had owned was gone. Everything he had believed in was destroyed. With his life ruined and his future bleak, Wagner wandered the streets of Frankfurt penniless, hungry, and downcast. With thoughts of ending his life ringing in his mind, he turned into a YMCA for a free meal.

Wagner sat down in a chair and happened to pick up Dr. Porter’s tract printed in the German language. As he read the tract over and over, deep conviction set in. Wagner sought out a godly pastor who then led him to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. His life was transformed and eventually became a pastor himself.

No doubt stories like this are more than we could ever document. Communists and cults are aware of the power of the printed page and use them to advance their poisonous ideas. 

It seems like such a simple thing to hand someone a gospel tract or leave one in a restroom, on a table, in a waiting room or phone booth. We will never know this side of heaven how God will use our efforts to get His word to lost sinners unless we step out. Only eternity will reveal the exact number of souls saved and lives impacted by these “little preachers.”

Prayerfully consider setting a goal to give out a certain amount of gospel tracts. It wouldn’t take much time and effort to give out at least three tracts a day. By consistently doing so, you would reach over a thousand people within a year. All of us can do that regardless of our age or background. 

The “little preacher” will remain faithful and true presenting the gospel beyond our circle of influence…but only if we give Him out and make Him available.

“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” - Romans 10:14

Sowing the Seeds of Love

God often uses secular songs to minister to me. This past Wednesday I had a dream in which I was watching a revised music video of the 1989 Tears For Fears hit “Sowing the Seeds of Love.” One of the lyrics had been changed by mentioning the Lord. When I woke up, I perceived this dream was direction to go evangelizing that day (I had stayed home the previous two days fasting and praying). Later that evening, I got blessed with a huge amount of gospel tracts.

I also recalled a prophetic word I received five years ago in which I was compared to Johnny Appleseed. This 19th Century missionary lived a nomadic lifestyle planting apple orchards in Pennsylvania, Ontario, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, as well as the northern counties of present-day West Virginia. A popular legend is that Johnny randomly planted apple seeds without seeing the fruits of his labor.

Although I’ve prayed with thousands of people to receive salvation, I’ve also planted countless seeds through gospel tracts. Many times I will hand someone a tract without engaging them in a conversation. I’ve also placed tracts on bulletin boards, in bus shelters, telephone booths, ATM machines and other places for someone to read later. Tracts are like “little preachers” that can reach people in places we otherwise wouldn’t have access to.

In the Parable of the Sower (Mark chapter 4), Jesus compared the word of God to natural seeds. Not all of them will eventually produce a harvest. Man has a free will and can still choose to reject the gift of eternal life. Nevertheless, our labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58) as long as we speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

Even if you're not yet comfortable sharing the gospel one-on-one with people, you can at least do your part in obeying the Great Commission by handing out gospel tracts. One piece of literature could initiate a change that would alter a person’s eternal destiny and deliver the reader from hell to heaven. Even simply telling people “Jesus loves you” is a seed that can bear fruit. 

Go sow some seeds of love today!

“having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever” - 1 Peter 1:23

Too Much Information

It’s often been said the gospel is so simple it takes man to complicate it. While evangelizing with other Christians, I’ve seen some try to give out too much information. One night I hit the streets with a woman who literally preached a sermon with everyone she approached. This wasn't necessary considering some of these people were already saved.

Another time prior to an outreach I was asked to lead, the pastor suddenly handed us large flyers promoting the church plus devotionals to give away. Although two people still got saved during this outreach, we could have seen more if our focus hadn’t been diverted by the pastor’s instruction to hand out all the extra literature. We already had gospel tracts, Bibles, and business cards from the church.

Then just recently, a man showed me booklets he hands out when witnessing. In response, I showed him the “Good News” tracts I've been carrying with me. I was politely pointing out my tracts are much simpler. In our fast-paced society, many people are in a hurry and won’t take time to absorb lengthy theological explanations. Gospel tracts should take no more than a couple minutes to read.

One exception would be the cartoon tracts put out by Chick Publications. While I don’t agree with some of Jack Chick’s doctrine (especially his “King James Only” stance), I do agree with his website’s assertion that “Chick tracts get read.” One time I went evangelizing at a college fair with a friend who brought a huge variety of Chick tracts. Some of the students came back to us asking for more tracts. They were collecting them like baseball cards.

Nevertheless, a fisherman wouldn’t put a bunch of lures on a hook just to catch one fish. Likewise “fishing for men” doesn’t require overloading people with information. Unless the Lord leads otherwise, it’s best to find out quickly what their spiritual beliefs are, review the gospel if they aren’t born again, and then lead them to salvation if they are ready. 

Evangelism should be kept as simple as possible.

“For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” - 1 Corinthians 2:2