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Evangelism: The Power of “THE ASK”

Orginally published on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 11:09 AM
by Todd Rhoades

Chris Elrod writes, "This is Pete. Pete has smoked since he was teenager. Pete struggled most of his life with alcohol. Pete used to shoot people when he’d get angry. Pete spent 15 years behind bars. Pete has cancer…a bunch of cancer. Pete has been given only a few months to live. Pete has a tattoo on his leg that says “Hell Bound”. Pete won’t be going there. Pete came to know Jesus two weeks ago. Pete was baptized today." But there's a story behind how this happened...

Perry Noble shares an email he received from Chris Elrod on Pete’s decision to accept Christ:

Perry:

First of all…thank you for the link on your blog about Pete…I’m having the single highest day of hits.

Secondly, I wanted to let you know that YOU played a HUGE part in Pete’s conversion. You remember the phone call we had about altar calls and invitations during the service? I took your advice…began to get a little more aggressive and frequent with them…and really trying to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Two weeks ago your words were running through my mind before the service…during the service I kept feeling the Holy Spirit leading me to speak more “confrontational” about sin. I gave a time of “invitation”…Pete accepted…it was his first Sunday at Compass Point. He told me later that many times he had felt that God was speaking to him…and that he needed to give his heart to Christ. The reason he had never done it before (in his 71 years)…is because no one had ever asked him to make that decision…or told him how to pray to do. Had you not talked with me…I probably would have never thought about doing “altar calls”…and Pete would still probably be “Hell Bound”. Thank you for your friendship…mentoring…and Godly example.

Finally, tell your staff that the impact of the ministry of Newspring reaches far beyond Anderson, South Carolina. If you don’t believe me…just ask Pete!!!

Grace and peace:

Chris Elrod

What stood out to me in this whole story? ‘The reason he had never done it before (in his 71 years)…is because no one had ever asked him to make that decision…or told him how to pray to do.’

The biggest reason Pete never accepted Christ? No one ever asked him to!

How many times are we too shy about “The Ask”?

Todd

PS—Two GREAT blogs, by the way: Perry and Chris. Check them out!

This post has been viewed 1748 times so far.

There are 59 Comments:

Posted by

Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 12:24 AM

Stevearino:

“CS, I’d love to hear about the 20 (literally) you’ve led to Jesus in the past 90 days and how that has gone for you according to your precise do’s and don’ts as laid out here. Oh, if you can’t provide that list of 20 - get humping until you something other than a dream world to chatter about…”

I don’t recall referring to 20 people that I’ve led to Jesus in the last 90 days, so I’m not sure where that came from. But I can recall many of the people with whom I have shared my faith in the past days, such as the tow truck driver who believed he would get to Heaven by keeping the Ten Commandments, or the woman at my work who believed in karma being a part of life, for example. This is not counting the many people for whom I told I would be praying for them who were going through rough times, like two people in a class I attend who were looking for new jobs. And not counting those to whom I gave Gospel tracts after having a friendly chat with them.

Believe me, I care for the souls of people and am trying to reach as many as I can during the day.

--
CS
Posted by

Friday, May 02, 2008 at 12:16 AM

So this couple wanting to get married enters my office a few months back. They attended my church a few times and asked if I would be willing to meet with them.

during our first session I discovered that even though he had given his heart to Christ as a young boy she had never made a decision to trust Christ. I asked her if from time to time we could address the issues of faith since there was no way for them to actually build what I was trying to help them build apart from a relationship with Christ.

Yesterday she gave her heart to Christ and when I asked her what she was waiting for she said. someone to ask. There is great power in asking someone to receive Christ. Hw awesome is our God!
Posted by Camey

Friday, May 02, 2008 at 6:22 AM

Great news Leonard! Dancing and shouting time! Thanks for sharing that with us....
Posted by

Friday, May 02, 2008 at 11:08 AM

Leonard:

“Yesterday she gave her heart to Christ and when I asked her what she was waiting for she said. someone to ask.”

Could you please describe how she gave her heart to Christ? Did she react with repentance, trust, belief, and confession? Was she convicted of her sins? Did it appear that she had a contrite spirit and asked God for mercy?

--
CS
Posted by

Friday, May 02, 2008 at 11:15 AM

Wow CS, angels rejoice and you question. You so remind me of the older brother in the parable of the prodigal.

If you must know, she prayed, Jesus will you forgive me of my sinfulness and wash away the guilt of my sin. I turn from my sin, my self and my past to you. I give myself to you completely. I believe you died for me, I believe you rose again and that you are God and my savior. I will follow you.

Hope this satisfies you. I am sure it satisfies God.
Posted by

Friday, May 02, 2008 at 12:00 PM

Leonard:

That sounds like a true conversion, and I rejoice as well.

--
CS
Posted by

Friday, May 02, 2008 at 12:02 PM

Glad you approve.
Posted by Camey

Friday, May 02, 2008 at 12:33 PM

Leonard,

The other part of this story not to go dancing and shouting about - you asking her if you could talk about… and you doing so… That as someone who was being asked to marry them that you cared more about them as individuals and whether or not they knew God/Jesus. You didn’t just take the money and say, “I know pronounce you husband and wife.” You cared enough to want the very best for their marriage - for them as individuals. For at the end of one’s moments - being married to one who knows God is not the same as knowing God personally.

Thank you for going to the distance with them!
Posted by Camey

Friday, May 02, 2008 at 12:36 PM

Clearly, I’m not multi-tasking that well today! lol Hope you understood that… I’m busy laughing at the email I just received about my being a “Church Planting Leader” and asking me to participate in a survey… Nope.. that was NOT a Friday joke!

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