I had the privilege of working with 3 men from 2 churches over the last 3 1/2 weeks. The emphasis of the time here was evangelism training so we had them out on the streets working with people every day. They were busy!

April-May Mentoring Group

Steven Lessa, Frank Paternoster and Michael Hill joined us for the training and WORK. They boarded their plane this morning for a return home and the training here should help them move forward in evangelism in the months ahead. Pray for these men as they take what they have learned and put it into practice.

“I would say that the most important concept I have learned is the need to make men think. Using questions to force people to genuinely contemplate thier standing before God.” Steven Lessa

“I have learned the need of patiently assessing the spiritual condition of a man, even his needs; that I might appropriately share with him the Word of God.” Frank Paternoster

“The most important thing I learned while here in Botswana was about how to ask questions. It will help in finding truth in the Scriptures, making sure the person understands the truth, keeping the persons attention and giving them something to think about afterward.” Michael Hill

These men were refreshed, yet tired after this training time. How tired you ask?…well take a look at what the dogs are now doing since the men left…

Dog Tired

Check out this video below…

The Sermon Illustration presents this video of Billy Sunday Quotes. Billy Sunday was a baseball player for the Chicago White Stockings who was converted to Christ and his life was transformed. He gave the rest of his life to preaching the gospel. Check out what he has to say on Billy Sunday Quotes: Is Conversion Necessary?

Interested in Sermon Illustrations? Check out The Sermon Illustration System.

How do you infuse a passion for souls into a new work? Well, let me give you a glimpse of one day…

It really was quite a time in Palapye on Tuesday. My wife and I had gone and taken 2 of the men with us.

My wife had a number of ladies to meet with during the day, I had several meetings I had set up for myself, and then others for the men coming with me to teach.

I dropped the men and my wife off at different locations to start all of their studies and then I went to my first study.

By the time we rejoined each other late in the afternoon we were all jumping with excitement although our bodies were weary.

Both of the African men told story after story of men they had met with and lives affected. I could give many details, but will refrain in this post. (More to come though)

1. Never let grass grow!

These men are relatively new Christians but I put them out giving the gospel as soon as they are ready to teach the first lesson.

2. Insist on a Soul Conscious Atmosphere

These men were from the Francistown Bible Baptist Church and they have been active weekly in outreach for many months. This is not new to them.

Before I organize a work into a Mission church, they must exhibit an active pursuit of souls in OTHER locations. Not just in their town or village. These men show this passion in their lives.

3. Design them into the work!

Taking these men does take planning and time on my side to do. However, if I do the work alone I will never have men following behind that can do the work. So I plan to always take men with me when taking trips to villages so they can be mentored on the way there and back.

4. Refuse to take the opportunities for myself!

It really is tempting when I get opportunities to work with the lost or newly saved to just do the teaching myself. But I have to forcefully make myself step back and thrust these men into the work. They enjoy it and grow, and I get to enjoy their enthusiasm. Now we are starting to see these men grow to a place that I can just give them a contact and let them go on their own. That is a great advancement that is now happening.

In truth, if you want to see a passion for souls developed in a mission work, this is the only way to make it happen! Telling people will never work. And the truth also is, if you have a work in the US and want to see it develop a passion, the same formula is necessary. Jesus did this well and we must follow in His footsteps if we want to see His kind of results!

Look closely, you will see Michael, Steven and Frank amongst about 18 Africans at the market place in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

3 White Guys, 18 Africans and the Gospel in Victoria Falls

They had quite a day as they visited the Falls for a short while, then for the real FUN…they gave the gospel to numbers of men who were hungry for truth!

Pray for these men as they finish out their last days here in Botswana.

I will have some updates on my day in Palapye. Pretty incredible stuff! Wish someone would invent another word for me to use…seems like incredible is almost overused…but can’t find another word to replace it.

Check out this video below…

Billy Sunday Quotes: Is church enough?

Billy Sunday was used greatly of God in the US in days long gone…but his message is still as relevant as tomorrows newspaper!

His words are still relevant and reflect the message of our timeless Bible.

Consider!

Enjoy!

His messages were sprinkled generously with illustrations that hit the heart. Interested in Sermon Illustrations? Check out The Sermon Illustration System.

Our 1^st Sunday as a mission church took place this week.

Francistown Bible Baptist Church met and what a high time we had, studying the Word of God and passing out certificates of baptism. (Click below to play the video.)

Then in the afternoon we went to Makobo Bible Baptist Church and had another great service. When I arrived I saw they had made a pulpit for the preaching of God’s Word!

Download the video of Francistown Bible Baptist Church –> HERE <–
and Makobo Bible Baptist Church –> HERE <–

I was in the right place at the right time to help catch a thief.

We were driving the middle of town to begin the Gospel outreach for the day with the Missions Mentoring Module Men.

One of the men happened to be taking a video at the time, so we got a short clip of it all going down.

We hit the ground running today…took the 3 men along with 2 Africans and my wife and I to Palapye. About a 2 hour drive to the south.

We ended up putting out about 1000 personal testimony tracts. The folks there were very hungry to get the stories of other Africans that have come to Christ.

Then we had a number of good Bible studies today. 4 in all. Among them were…

Beverly with Janet…

Janet studies the Scriptures in Palapye

By the end of the day Beverly had 4 ladies in all wanting to sit down and study the Scriptures. Looks like she will be busy.

Then Michael had the opportunity to teach a Bible Diagram to Moloki who is saved and desires to teach others the Word of God.

Michael discipling Moloki in Palapye

What a great day this turned out to be for all of the men.

But one of the best parts of the day had to be Muzuva in the village. We met up with Felix and as only the Lord could plan it, they both speak Shona. The Lord brought these 2 men together in Palapye and Muzuva had a great time giving the gospel to one of his tribe from Zimbabwe. He did a great job of showing Felix the Scripture Diagrams and speaking about the Lord. Watch this video clip and you can see the excitement on his face.

You can download a copy of this video –> HERE <–

Today is the beginning of another Missions Mentoring Module. The men arrived a little tired this afternoon.

Frank from Victory Baptist Church in Frederick, Md arrived this afternoon looking for a friendly face.

Frank from Victory Baptist Church, Frederick, Md

Michael from Victory Baptist Church, Frederick, Md arrived…as did…

Steven from New Testament Baptist Church, Columbus, NJ arrived today. Tomorrow is his birthday.

So we celebrated Steven’s birthday today because tomorrow we will be out and gone bright and early. He will turn 21 tomorrow!

We celebrated with carrot cake.

Michael and Steven Arrive

This last week I wrote a note to Bible Baptist Church of Grand Forks to say “Thank you!” for purchasing the paper to print the testimony tracts. 

Personal Stories of Transformed Lives

This is chapter 1 and part of what I wrote them…

I made a trip to the north part of the country and we went into Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. I have a group of men I have contact with in an out of the way marketplace there.

We stopped there with the tracts and by the time we were finished we had given out about 400 in the marketplace alone. I had an impromptu Bible study with 2 women and 10 men. And we signed up 42 people for correspondence Bible studies all in the space of about 2 hours at the market.

The folks there went wild asking for the testimony tracts when they saw they were stories of Africans.

But that is only the tip of the iceberg…chapter 2 being written right now…on Friday I got a text message from a man in Kasane who we had given one of the personal stories to. He was requesting a Bible study so he could know the Word of God.

Then this morning I received a phone call from a lady in a far off village who had gotten one of the testimony tracts. She expressed that she wanted to follow Christ and needed help. Unfortunately she is so far away she cannot come to where we are. BUT….

She told me where she is and I told her we have a man in that VERY village who is preaching the gospel and has a small group of believers gathered. He called her 30 minutes later and set up an appointment with her tomorrow.

Please pray for Kato and others who are excited to receive these personal stories of Africans who have been transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.