Probably one of the greatest tools for the advancement of the Gospel ever invented is the printing press. With the printing press, copies of the Word of God have multiplied and been spread throughout the world in thousands of languages. The number of books, newspapers, and magazines printed promoting the cause of Christ are beyond number. Yes, the Devil has used the press to his service also, yet millions have come to know the Lord and His salvation through the printed page.

 

Probably our greatest tool in the spread of the gospel is the simple Gospel Tract! This handy “Little Preacher” is able to do what many of us often fail or are unable to do.  

 

The following are some often given examples of the advantages the Gospel Tract has:

• The Gospel Tract never stumbles over words or forgets important Scriptures.
• The Gospel Tract can be given even during extremely brief encounters (when making a purchase, passing someone in the street, etc.).
• The Gospel Tract never gets sidetracked or caught up in an argument, it just gives the message of salvation, plainly and clearly.
• The Gospel Tract is never intimidated or fearful.
• The Gospel Tract never is tempted to compromise the message of Christ.
• The Gospel Tract can wait on some one’s door until they get home.
• The Gospel Tract can be left in public places and wait until some one’s curiosity causes them to pick it up and read it.
• The Gospel Tract never gets tired and gives up.
• The Gospel Tract never gets discouraged or disheartened.
• The Gospel Tract is very inexpensive and travels very easily (letters, purse, shirt pocket).
• The Gospel Tract will often speak over and over when read and reread, whereas our verbal witness is usually only heard one time.
• The Gospel Tract can and will travel to communities we could never personally reach.
• The Gospel Tract is very inexpensive to purchase and distribute.

We could go on and on as to the benefits and uses of the “Little Preacher”.  Only eternity will reveal the number of souls saved and lives impacted by this “Little Preacher”!  

 

I read recently how that Adolph Hitler’s personal body guard, Kurt Wagner was won to Christ through reading Dr. Ford Porter’s famous tract, GOD’S SIMPLE PLAN OF SALVATION. The story goes that after Hitler’s death and Germany’s defeat at the end of W.W.II, Mr. Wagner’s life was in shambles. Everything he had owned was gone, everything he had believed in was destroyed. With his life ruined and his future bleak, he wandered the streets of Frankfort penniless, hungry, discouraged and downcast. With thoughts of ending his life ringing in his mind, he turned into a YMCA for a free meal. He sat down in a chair and happened to pick up Dr. Porter's tract printed in the German language. As he read the tract over and over, deep conviction began to set in. He sought out a godly pastor who then led him to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. His life was transformed and we are told that he eventually became a Pastor doing a great work among the Nazi children, winning them and their families to Jesus Christ!

 

No doubt stories like this are more than we could ever document. The communist and cults are aware of the power of the printed page and use them to advance their poisonous doctrine.

 

It seems like such a simple thing to hand out a tract, or to leave a tract on a table, in a restroom, a waiting room or in a phone booth, but we will never know how God can and will use our efforts to get His Word to lost sinners. We have declared March to be  TRACT MONTH.  Set a goal to give out a certain amount of tracts a week. This is something we all can do.  Nearly all of us, from the children up through the senior citizens could give 5, 10, 15, 20 or even more tracts out a week.

 

The “Little Preacher” will be faithful and true and will travel beyond the borders of our community if we but give him out and make him available!

 

We're excited about our annual "Tract Month" starting this Sunday, March 30th. Our goal is to distribute 25,000 Gospel tracts throughout the month of April. Please participate and pray for this great evangelistic endeavor. If you're not in the Oakland area, and would like more information about having a "Tract Month" at your church, please contact us and we'll get you our "Tract Month" manual.

 

April 5th is our Teacher Training Seminar with The Howard Caldwell family. They will be presenting 5 workshops: Leading a Child to Christ, Using Mystery in your Children’s Ministry, An Effective Junior Church Program, Variety of Visuals, and Getting Started with Puppets. Registration starts at 9am, and the workshops will start at 9:30.  We will break for lunch at 11:30, and be dismissed by 4pm. Notes will be provided for each workshop. Please join us for this very helpful day. Please RSVP as soon as possible, no later than March 28. The cost will be $5 per person attending for training materials.  To RSVP, or if you have any questions, please call 301-334-3234.

 

This Sunday I am preaching a message from Acts 2 entitled, "A Growing Church" then the evening message will the second part of the message "Triumphing Over Trials" from James 1:2-3.

 

Join us for Sunday School this Sunday at 10:45 a.m. Bring your Bible and a friend.