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We do not "hard sell" the Gospel to others, but we, by our godly lifestyle and wholesome conversation witness to the change that has occurred in us since conversion. We are to be firm in our stance on the Gospel and at the same time be pleasant and genuine in our approach to others, knowing that we, like them, once walked in error or were unregenerated. We must be humble and sincere, showing care and concern for the one we are witnessing to. If we are harsh, likely the person we are wishing to come to Christ will harden their heart and resist submitting to the Lord because of our behavior towards them.
In regard to prayer; it is good to find one or two people as I have been able to do who focus on other residents as well as desire them to be saved. I have seen staff who are believers and/or are open to the Gospel. Flexibility is needed as well as tolerance for stinky odors and unseemly things. There have been cases where people have cursed or been loud and obnoxious-wisdom is needed in such instances. Finally I have found that there may be more oppenness in places that are run down. One has to be careful not to say anything negative about the facility at risk of being kicked out at least when involving discussion with residents that can be subjective. Also those who want legal help in such cases can be given a phone number but we shouldn't personally take sides or be involved. Obviously if some egregious thing happens we should report it. Usually; we need to be available to help but need to ask if someone can have a drink or snack; but if so we should be willing to help. We should NOT move patients at all without permission unless we are doing other work there and certainly NOT help people move from wheelchair to a bed for instance. Patience helps in such cases.
Prison ministry. The Lord removed that opportunity after training in Feb 2020 and then leaving Pittsburgh in my case. A number of my friends and church members are still doing that ministry which is a good thing. One thing to remember is it is best to work in groups and not easily be intimidated. Also in the case above there were Muslims and all other kinds of religions represented; and there were certain parameters as to where and when we could preach Christ as the only way. That may have been a reason the Lord removed me from that opportunity; it is a word of warning that we need to find out particulars and pray the Lord's will in such instances.
Getting a foot in the door is often the most difficult initial obstacle for such ministries. Usually a place wants to know what church you represent. Sometimes I have found (as with someone in Pittsburgh who started something in 1999) that going into a facility and just asking if there is a need for a study pays off; that is how I am getting a second one started near Philly in August. Previously before I moved here there was a small group in a home church and study that would regularly visit a Rehab facility; the same one I mentioned as being started in 1999. The Lord has seen fit for it to be reestablished once the COVID restrictions ended by one of the brothers who had been in that group previously.
People on the street often enjoy regular conversations; this is accentuated in Nursing Home facilities. Having the boldness to challenge the faith and to confront (lovingly) facts such as mortality need to be addressed. Mercy; service and teaching spiritual gifts are good as a group as well.
It has been hard for me to find consistant attendance from the church members I had in Pittsburgh. Here in Philly a lady from church got me in the door after I inquired about the need; and she has time to sit in on the study and gather people together. The activities director is also saved and apparently recently ministered to a dying man at night. I have found that rather substandard places tend to have better opportunities as there is a less controlling mindset. Usually you have a Jewish service as well as Catholic "rosary" activities. I recently established a second study just doing a walk in and asking in a new facility with the Social Director. Apparently they have a "psychic" hour there and I avoided having my study at the same time so I wouldn't have a spiritual war in the facility at least the first week.
Prayer is key to deal with out of control people; as well as for request for the residents.
As you imply, we are not "salesmen for Christ". The task of the True Believer is to be a witness for the True Gospel in our life and in the Gospel that we proclaim.
But it must be the True Gospel as circumscribed by the Bible Alone and in its Entirety. It must be the Whole Counsel of God. And that starts with the fact that by nature we are sinners under the Judgment of God for every sin that we have or will ever commit as God describes us in
Romans 3:10-18 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.
And so we are under the Wrath of God for our sins, Eternal Death. But God has provided a way of escape by paying the full penalty required for the sins of those whom He has chosen to save. So we can come to God like the Publican in Luke 18:13, striped of any self righteousness, pleading for Mercy with a broken and contrite heart. There is then the very real hope that God might save us.
Joel 2:12-14 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God.
We, by nature, do not want this kind of a Gospel. God saves us by His Grace Alone. We are not in control.
I am not familiar with Laredo. Tell me about this.
I guess we will just have to disagree on the compromising part as I have explained that I do not believe in compromising the truth of the Gospel and Scripture. A Spirit led interaction with such a person will bring forth the fruit of repentance and faith designed by the Holy Spirit who works in these interactions. I firmly believe that in such interactions I am an instrument that the Spirit uses to bring those people to the truth, but the result is always a work of the Holy Spirit, not a work of me being forceful to another person. We can certainly urge those we are witnessing to turn away from their false beliefs and also warn them of the judgment to come of all.
I would certainly urge them to follow the Spirit's lead in seeking a place to fellowship that teaches rightly from Scripture. But I would not be demanding, as you seem to imply. I trust the Holy Spirit to accomplish all spiritual work within a person. I would pray that what I say has an effect on the person to seek the Lord more and learn from the Holy Spirit. Both are much stronger in influencing a person than I am and can speak straight to the heart of a person and also make the changes within a person to be born again and/or to follow God more truly.
There are different ways to strike up a conversation on the street. I have seen role playing: i.e. discussing among believers
on whether anyone can be good in order to direct attention to bystanders. I prefer genuine discourse on scripture waiting for witnessing opportunities.
Prayer: I stated in another post that a friend of mine spent an hour in prayer for every hour witnessing. Prayer is needed to soften our own hearts as well as working on others; preparing them to hear the Gospel and bringing them into our paths. Spiritual opposition needs to be dealt with proactively as well; much as the O.T. saints prayed before going to battle against the giants.
Tracts: I personally prefer Chapel Library from Pensacola which has what is termed the Grace Gospel; i.e. a strong doctrine of election viewpoint related to scripture. The 5 points of Calvin is strongly followed by the group I hung out with in Pittsburgh although that wasn't used as far as I know as a Gospel tract per se. I have utilized other tracts. I would strongly suggest reading any tract before handing it out; as well as not relying too strongly on that alone to have the most impact. THere are times we only have a second to hand something out; but a conversation is always best especially when in groups.
Group Dynamics: Having men to talk with men; women with women is helpful for encounters on the street. Having someone to focus on prayer as well as someone focusing on discussing scripture isn't mutually exclusive but can be helpful when a group of individuals appears. It helps when someone has a gift card; as well as availability to walk a few blocks when someone is going someplace but open to conversation. Also; of course those who have been out there for a while may be aware of dangerous people to avoid who are not open to the Gospel at the time. Finally someone should be praying as their focus during an outing as situations arise.
If we examine the Old Testament; we see that prayers are often focused on the nation of Israel as a whole and repentance. We see this in Daniel; Jeremiah; Isaiah and Ezekiel. They are also often directed to specific battles that are about to be undertaken.
Personal prayers seem quite limited. We see more petitioning with Abraham over Sodom which was no doubt due to concerns of Lot being there. Lot and his immediate family's deliverance were already in the works although Abraham only would have heard of the investigation to see if the evil was as bad as reported if he heard the conversation. Clearly God knew that indeed there were less than 10 righteous there at that time but perhaps chose to delegate the investigation to others since He cannot look on sin Himself. Lot's son in laws COULD have escaped if they heeded the warnings; and his wife started to escape but was destroyed after looking back; therefore only Lot and his two daughters escaped in the end; 3 people.
In the New Testament we see Christ and the Apostle Paul near their deaths praying for the church to come and for doctrinal purity in the church; respectively. Other than Paul we don't have specific prayers mentioned that I am aware of. The focus on others means that the emphasis was not on reducing sufferings for either individual. This doesn't mean we can't pray for personal needs it just shows the focus should be on the Body of Christ and His will being done. The needs of others are things we often consider; jealousy for the truth may be somewhat lacking. Such prayers represent challenging the status quo; and perhaps asking God to ruffle a few feathers. We need to consider those kind of supplications as part of loving our brothers and sisters in the Lord as well as taking action. Boldly coming to the Throne ( Heb. 4:16) is something we can do; and much of that should be in order to pray for avenues to fulfill the Great Commission.
Since the subject of animals has come up; I thought I would tackle another subject: that of children and the Rapture/Resurrection.
Point One: The Rapture is for the church; therefore it doesn't necessarily prove unbelieving kids are part of that event. Matthew 18:10 makes it clear that children have an angel beholding the Father in heaven continually; that and other verses make it clear that kids all make it to heaven before the age of accountability. They would necessarily rise by the Great White Throne Judgment.
I have noted previously that those who physically survive the Tribulation and die before the end of the Millennium may be among those who are in the Book of Life; rather than assuming all are lost at that Resurrection. Even that is somewhat nebulous as the man who dies at 100 is considered accursed and that may show that only rebels and unbelievers die at that time; the rest living physically the whole Millennium and then standing before God along with the resurrected wicked at that time.
I would tend to think that kids would be Resurrected at the beginning of the Millennium after the Tribulation. Clearly those martyrs in Christ would arise at that time; perhaps a bit sooner actually before the vial judgments after the Trumpet judgments.
I will also say that kids can be prayed for as to being Raptured out and those families already in a Covenant with God may have some sway in regard to that issue with blessings spreading to their offspring. That would NOT go beyond a child's age of accountability however. I would surely expect many youth to come to Christ through the Tribulation who the enemy has not successfully destroyed before that time. Many older folks just won't have the strength to endure very long into that period and energy needed for widespread evangelism. Those kids below the age of accountability will also exist in the Tribulation; most I would expect will die but be saved by God's grace.
That could likely be when we see animals rise again.
The Millennial Kingdom is likely the creatures that survive the Tribulation. It is unclear what percent of them die in that time; although one of the vial judgments kills ALL the life in the sea (hence there IS no more sea in the new earth). As with the replenishing of the Dead Sea (see end of Ezekiel); I would surmise that there is a fresh water stock of fish that multiply; although God could do something else (it appears fresh water and some fish already are entering underground in that area but only in certain sections; scripture shows how the reeds along the edge remain salt water areas).
It also appears that horses at be present at the Second Coming; as they will come down with the saints and with Christ Himself; if that is to be taken literally. It is conceivable that Resurrected bodies of humans will be able to jump into the earth's gravity and not be destroyed; these creatures therefore would have to be either horses that live in heaven or perhaps resurrected for that event which is just speculative.
Of course there are the extinct prehistoric dinosaurs and other creatures as well as many living under the sea and in the earth we are probably not familiar with today. There are also angelic beings that look like creatures (Cherubim) but are spirit beings.
I would surmise also that whatever the original ancestors looked like will be seen as well; it would be likely that reproduction as with resurrected men would halt after animals are Resurrected. I would also hazard a guess that the animals would be in their original role as well as being docile enough for us to hang around; like an outdoor pet.
Not a subject to nix fellowship over differing views...