Be the Delivery Person In the Name of Jesus

by Cheryle M. Touchton

I confess that what I call "Service Evangelism" is harder for me. It takes more time and sometimes years to see the fruit - if ever. However, sometimes our only job is to be the delivery person. Recently,God told me to take a meal and money to someone. It seemed random. I am not usually the person to cook or take food anywhere - that just isn't my calling. I love and support several ministries and my church and in order to be a good steward, I'm careful with what and who else I give money too. While I deeply love the woman God laid on my heart and have shared my faith with her, she wasn't someone I spend much time with. I knew money was probably tight for her and that she was having a medical issue but my responding to that wasn't something she would have expected. With regards to spiritual issues, I know she doesn't have the joy of being alive in Christ but also know to respect clear boundaries and not be pushy.



When God first put the idea into my head, I argued. I felt self-conscious about showing up with food and money – was it presumptuous? I had a busy schedule and a short window of time when it was even possible. Scheduling complications made it even more inconvenient. God’s leading was urgent – even forceful. I knew to listen.



I went shopping and began the 30 minute drive across town. When I was almost at her house, a  friend called to say that the woman I headed towards was distraught over a sudden severe financial crisis and too upset to even answer the door. I finally understood why God was sending me to her and why the food and money were so urgent. I also understood not wanting to see someone while distraught so I worked it out that I would knock and leave the gifts on the porch. I confess that I hoped to have a larger role than just being the "delivery person." My fantasy was that she would open the door, I'd put my arms around her, she'd cry on my shoulder, and finally surrender to the sweet comforting love of Jesus. That didn't happen. As planned, I knocked, put the bags on the porch, and left.



A few minutes later I received a sweet text thanking me and insisting I didn’t “have to do it.” I texted back confessing that I didn’t get the credit and that God had urged me to do it days before I knew how urgent her situation was. It was all God’s idea and I did indeed “have to do it” because God insisted. She thanked me again via text. She also thanked me for my prayers.



I prefer using the cookbook formula for evangelism. It's quicker and I'm more comfortable with it.

Cookbook Evangelism

1. Pray for and respond the the assignments God sends.
2. Ask questions about where people will spend eternity.
3. Listen.
4. Give good news Gospel scriptures.
5. Invite people to meet Jesus.
6. Pray with them if they wish but don't push.

With many and possibly most people, cookbook evangelism is the best approach but not with everyone. Service evangelism requires us to hear the creative voice of the Holy Spirit, trust that we've heard it, and do the required work without have the reassurance of ever seeing the results.

Service Evangelism Is Only Evangelism If:

1. God sends the assignment.
2. The people know the Gospel (if they don't, we have to make sure they hear it.)
3. We make it clear that we are doing it in the name of Jesus and not because we are "good people."
4. We follow up with prayer.

As with all evangelism, it must be driven by love and a pure desire to share the Good News of Jesus. This week, my job was to deliver food and money in the name of Jesus. I didn’t give the Gospel – she already knew it. I didn't even see her. I heard God, acted, and made sure she knew it was God's idea. As always, I continue to pray for her.

2014 Freedom Fest Event Report

Bob Touchton Leading Someone to Jesus

Heard From New Christians

When people accept Jesus they have an experience like they have never had.  Here are some things that were heard at Freedom Fest...

"I feel tingly all over."

"I almost fainted when I felt the Holy Spirit."

"Thank you thank you thank you for leading my daughters to Christ."

"I need to tell the rest of my family."

3 New Christians on Right - With Melinda Saaman

Report

The Christian event Freedom Fest is held in Washington DC over the week of July 4 and is sponsored by Santos Ministries. Churches and ministries come from all over the US to give Gospel CD's in dozens of languages, give Bibles, paint faces in the name of Jesus, and to make sure visitors to the DC mall in front of the Capital hear live Christian music all day on the 4th. Pocket Full of Change Ministries and Inside Out Ministries join forces to evangelize at this event each year. We set up our tent, gave out free Liberty Bracelets - which give the Gospel via colored beads, and lead people to Jesus. The event is always exciting but we all agreed that we have never seen anything like what happened this year. We felt like it was Pentecost. The wind was blowing so hard that we had to take turns holding down the tent to keep it from blowing away. People crowded around the tent to hear the Gospel. There were so many people that none of us wanted to take breaks. We prayed before and during the event. The Holy Spirit went before us, prepared hearts, and sent people willing to meet Jesus. We used the words directly from the scripture to give the Gospel and over 350 people met Jesus. We know there were many more but we were leading so many people to Christ that at 350, we simply lost countThank you for your support of this amazing event. 

2014 Pocket Full of Quarters Journey

Cheryle is leaving July 21 and plans to be on the road evangelizing for 3-4 months - if the funding holds out. She wanders and stops where the Holy Spirit leads. She goes where invited. This year, she also plans to deliberately visit and evangelize at summer festivals. Yes, she is taking Shiloh. Shiloh has had a year since last year's fiasco of traveling with an impish puppy so we have much better expectations. As always, Cheryle will blog and put pictures and videos out. You can follow the journey. Be sure to check the map to see where she is, She will also post the same materials in other blogs, on Facebook, and on Twitter but the easiest way to see everything is at the Pocket Full of Quarters website. She'll include a weekly update in the Monday Ministry Moment. Support the Journey through prayer, invitations to Cheryle, suggestions for events along her route to attend, and donations at Donate. We send out special prayer requests to the prayer team. Click Prayer Team and fill out the info if you want to be included on that.

Evangelism Tip: The Worst Thing You Can Do

If you want to lead someone to Jesus, preaching a sermon about morals or debating religious beliefs and practices is the WORST thing you can do. The Bible says your words are foolishness to non-believers. Seemingly foolish words never leads anyone to Christ - even if they are true.   

Good News Travels Fast

By Cheryle M. Touchton

The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." Mark 5:19

They were from Bolivia – a mother and 2 lovely teenage daughters. I gave them Liberty Bracelets. Spanish was their first language but they spoke English well enough to understand. “The Gold is for heaven,” I explained. “God created it for us and wants us to go there. There is problem. We’ve all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and the wages of sin is death. The dark bead represents sin. God knew we would sin and provided a way for us by sending his son as the blood sacrifice for our sins. Red is for blood. The heart represents how much God loves you. The gift of God is eternal life and all who call on the name of Jesus will be saved. If you confess with your mouth and believe with your heart, you will be forgiven. The white bead represents that purity. The green bead represents growing in grace and love for the rest of your life.”

This family recognized good news when they heard it. They eagerly prayed to confess belief in Jesus, ask for forgiveness of sin, and invite Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. Their faces lit up with what I call the Holy Spirit Glow. They hugged each other and me.

“Wait.” The mother said excitedly. “I must tell my husband. He doesn’t speak English. Can I have another bracelet?”

“Of course,” I said. I gave her a brief course on leading someone to Jesus. “Here is a Spanish tract. Walk him through it and have him pray this prayer.” She took the bracelet and ran across the street to her husband. I watched as she pointed to the colors and looked at the tract. In bare minutes, he bowed his head and prayed.

A few minutes later, this happy new Christian ran up again. “I need more bracelets!” she said breathlessly. “I need more! I have 3 more relatives in town. I must tell them about Jesus before they leave town tomorrow.”

I gave her three Spanish tracts and three additional Liberty Bracelets. Good news travels fast!

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Cheryle M. Touchton, the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady, is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries.  She and Shiloh the Shepherd’s Sheltie travel the country as evangelists and handing out quarters that represent the free grace of God. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to Pocket Full of Change Ministries

This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep Shiloh and Cheryle on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at Donate Now

Copyright: Pocket Full of Change Ministries

I'm Trouble

By Cheryle M. Touchton

The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved. Eph 2:4-5

They All Met Jesus

You couldn’t miss her lying on the ground wearing coconuts connected by a string and little boy shirts. I liked her immediately. She had no idea where she was going in the next life but was pretty sure it was no where good.

“Why?” I asked.

“I’m told I’m trouble.”

“Are you?”

“Probably,” she grinned and answered dryly.

She was Catholic but not going to church. While she believed in the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and had confessed sin, she had never met Him personally. She believed 100% that all had sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and that it applied to her. When she heard about grace, her eyes lit up with hope. I didn’t have to ask her twice about accepting that grace and praying to receive Jesus.

As she finished praying, her entire face lit up with the Holy Spirit Glow. After taking a minute to enjoy it, she looked down at her outfit self-consciously.

“I didn’t really mean to come out like this. It is possible I was inebriated.”

I enjoyed her humor and honesty. “Now that you’ve met Jesus, you are going to move from being described as trouble to being described as interesting. I suspect you are never boring and that will only get better with Jesus.”

She liked that. She had many questions so we talked for about an hour. One issue was boyfriend. He had wanted to discuss marriage but her parent’s divorce made her hesitant. She had told him that she would be “with” him but not marry him. I gave her my 5-question relationship test and he passed. He sounded like a great guy. In an effort to teach her about the hope of Christian marriage, I told her my parent’s love story and how they had recently died just 29 days apart.

“Awe,” she said. “That is so sweet.”

I surprised myself by agreeing. Somewhere in the time since my parent’s death, I had moved past the surprise and grief. I now saw their deaths being so close together as a sweet ending to an amazing Christian love story that would become a part of helping people follow Jesus.

I’m blessed to be a small of God’s amazing plans for this interesting young woman who is loved by God, made whole by grace, and will one day be meeting my parents in heaven.

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Cheryle M. Touchton, the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady, is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries.  She and the Missionary Dog Shiloh travel the country as evangelists. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go Pocket Full of Change

This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep Shiloh the Missionary Dog and the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, Click to Donate. 

Copyright: Pocket Full of Change Ministries

Quick Tip - Don't Defend God

Many of the souls to whom I evangelize complain about things that happen on this earth and use them as reasons to reject God. They may think life is unfair, that too many bad that happen, that Christians are mean, that God has lost control of the world, or whatever. When you hear it, resist the urge to defend God. He doesn't need it. God reminds us that they can't possibly understand His ways until they know Jesus. Instead of defending God, listen, imagine God loving them and seeking them out. Respond with some love and compassion. Speak the tender scriptures of the Gospel and invite them to meet the loving Savior whose mercy is everlasting.

Quick Tip - Trust the Gospel

Many family members who have prayed for the salvation of their loved ones for years, express doubt when their prayers are finally answered. Invariably, they badger the newly saved spiritual neophyte in an attempt to relieve their fears. They notice mistakes and use it as ammunition to prove the experience wasn't "real." Often, they try to make their loved one repeat the prayer of salvation, just to make sure. At best, this discounts the turning point in someone's life. At worst, it causes fear, which stunts future spiritual development. 

Here's the thing - your loved one won't understand what happened to him or her. When they accept Jesus, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are a package deal. The Holy Spirit is a new resident in their life and they hardly recognize the voice yet. Old rants and sins may and probably will resurface. The person is saved - not perfect. It make take years for the Holy Spirit to get through on all the issues that need resolution. All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved - trust those words. Be patient. Don't quiz or challenge. Sit back and watch in amazement as your loved one gradually changes.  

For an example of what I'm talking about, read He Really Got Saved.