Leadership Thought: A Cross, Some Tracts and a Lady Standing Outside a Restaurant

Dear Friends,

Recently I was standing outside a restaurant in a town where we have a summer vacation cottage, and I noted a person wearing a cross standing outside the restaurant door. Whenever I see a person wearing a cross, I am often interested in starting up a conversation with them. This is part of the reason a year ago I decided to wear my own cross as it can become an opportunity to start a faith conversation with strangers.

I  asked if she was a believer, and she said yes, and I then asked her if she was waiting for someone. She said "No, I am passing out Bible tracts."

I thanked her for her faithfulness, and as we continued  talking,  she suddenly reached out and handed me a large stack of tracts. She said passing out tracts was her ministry, and she was always looking for opportunities to share her faith by passing out gospel tracts with others.  

Today I received a package of tracts from my friend Brian Rechten, a good friend of mine who now lives in Kentucky.  Brian is one of the most faithful distributers of tracts I know, and he has some amazing stories to tell of how God has used his tract ministry to lead people to faith in Christ. 

Brian not only uses tracts to witness to others, but he also writes and publishes his own tracts, and he makes them available to others for a free will offering.

Included with his tracts was the following note: "Please join me in praying that these tracts end up in the hands of those that need Jesus, or into the hands of those that will use them in the same way. Today, just over 100,000 of my tracts have been published and distributed. May we be a faithful link in the chain of helping others to trust in Jesus."

If you have never had the joy of seeing others come to Christ through your witness, or if for some reason you never felt comfortable sharing your faith, let me encourage you to become  a tract distributer. It is an easy way to introduce people to the saving faith of Jesus Christ.

In the tract he sent me, Brian shares  Five Unbreakable Promises That God Makes to You.

Promise 1: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."-  John 3:16. 

"You probably have seen this Bible reference before- on signs at football games, posters, or bumper stickers. People do this because they care about you and want you to know this wonderful truth."

Promise 2: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."- 1 John 1: 9. 

"From our first sin up to this very moment, our wrongdoings separate us from God- unless we accept His forgiveness through Jesus Christ."

Promise 3: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; The old has gone, the new has come!"- 2 Corinthians 5:17. 

"What a promise! If you're anything like me, there are things in your past you're not proud of. But in Christ, the slate is wiped clean!"

Promise 4: "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God"- John 1:12. 

"When you and I receive Jesus, it's not because of anything we've done- but because of what Jesus has done for us. We have to come to him empty and let him fill us."

Promise 5: "In the same way, I tell you there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."- Luke 15:10.

"I love this promise! I can imagine a party in heaven- complete with singing, dancing, and a huge banner with your name on it. The angels will celebrate your decision to follow Christ!"

If you think you might like to begin your own tract ministry, please let me know, and I will be glad to  forward Brian's contact information to you. Who knows how many people might come to Christ because of the tract you leave that waiter or waitress, that car attendant, or salesman or that stranger God might put in your path.

May God bless that lady standing outside that restaurant this summer, for her witness not only encouraged me to continue using tracts to witness to others, but hopefully this message might encourage you to do likewise.

Yours in faith and friendship.

Tom