The office in the bank where I worked gave an excellent view of St George’s Street in Cape Town’s city centre. Its proximity to this busy pedestrian mall also supplied, whether desired or not, a hearing of the street’s more lively events! Whilst sitting at my desk, I would hear lunchtime musicians earning their keep or open-air preachers hoping to gain an audience. From time to time I would hear the peace broken by a fracas that inevitably drew a crowd and sometimes the police.
Over three years’ ago, as I looked out of this office window, my eyes focused on one particular man. He was an orange-robed Hare Krishna, who was diligently promoting his sect’s literature, soliciting donations and, no doubt, urging inquirers to embrace his beliefs. I watched this devotee many times over a period of several weeks. I observed the way he offered his books, his overt persistence and non-retaliatory response to periodic abuse and jesting. I walked past him to observe his manner more closely, and then towards him to hear his opening words. On another occasion, I was able to share with him something of my own faith in the Lord Jesus. His activities initiated what was to become a powerful yearning within my own heart
I began asking God to enable me to go into the streets of the city to share the Gospel of his dear Son. I would need to be bold, yet non-offensive in manner. As my conviction increased, I felt compelled to take a first step in dependence upon God’s enabling. After purchasing a black zip-up bag and a number of English Ultimate Questions (written by John Blanchard), I went to the basement (from where I controlled the branch’s stationery) to pray, ‘Lord, I am unworthy, inadequate and unable! But you are worthy, adequate and able! Please would you give me the courage and the ability to point precious souls to you.’
Reading
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 gave me strength and increased motivation: ‘we
constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and
that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act
prompted by your faith.’ In May 1996, on Ascension Day, I walked out of the
bank and into St George’s Street to share God’s glorious Gospel during my
lunch break.
On that special Thursday, I stopped opposite a coffee shop, took out a copy of Ultimate Questions and began to offer the Gospel message to people as they passed by. My method was simple: whilst holding out a copy of Ultimate Questions, I would say something like, ‘Excuse me Sir/Ma’am, could I offer you an excellent summary of the precious Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ?’ There were many rejections that first day, but eventually a person stopped to see what I was offering. With pounding heart and a noticeably shaking hand, I asked the inquirer to page through the booklet, and I shared with him something of its contents and the hope that one could have in Christ.
From that humbling beginning I went to my little spot every available lunch break to hand out the booklet. After a few weeks, I was inadvertently offering it to some people more than once. They were recognizing me, although I wasn’t remembering them among the many hundreds of people. So I varied the time of my lunch, starting some days at noon and other days later, but it soon became necessary to find a second site to meet different people.
Little by little, more places to share the Gospel were established. I began to undertake walks through different parts of the city centre. As I met people of different cultures and from various countries, it was important that I acquired Ultimate Questions in a variety of languages. There was also a need for Bibles in different languages. Later I started going into the city on Saturday mornings for several hours, sometimes standing at a certain site for a period; at other times walking variable circuits within the city bowl.
As
the months came and went, sowing the seed of the Gospel became more of a way of
life. There were opportunities to give Ultimate Questions to garage
attendants, to security guards and, when possible, to nurses and sisters when
visiting friends in hospital. Also to students delivering pizzas to our home. On
suitable occasions I could give a booklet to someone on the train, or whilst
waiting in a public area. Street walks in the city led to walks along beachfront
roads, and then to walks in the streets of suburbs. Gradually, I realised that
shop owners could be approached, and that even residents in certain buildings
could be visited. In fact, there was a plethora of places and circumstances in
which it was possible and appropriate to give out a booklet.
For over
three years, I have had the inordinate joy and privilege of sharing the Gospel
of God with numerous people. Here are examples of people to whom the booklet,
and in some cases a Bible, was given:
· French-speaking blacks from Zaire, Congo, Cameroon and Gabon
· Portuguese-speaking blacks from Angola and Mozambique
· English-speaking blacks from Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe
· British, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish, and other, visitors to Cape Town
· Arabic-speaking Muslims from various countries
·
South Africans — speaking a variety of
languages
There
is little doubt that under the expansive umbrella of Literature Evangelism
there is untold opportunity for this modus operandi. However, it is important
that I explain a few details:
· The distribution of Ultimate Questions, due to cost and efficiency, is not undertaken in the same manner as the distribution of tracts, where large quantities are normally handed out without discussion. I endeavour to establish a one-to-one conversation with each person.
·
Ultimate Questions
is used because I have confidence in its presentation of the Gospel. Its
simplicity reduces the amount of time (and knowledge) needed by an inquirer to
obtain a good grasp of the critical issues.
·
The booklet is available in a large and
increasing number of languages. This allows consistency in presentation, and,
very importantly, ensures that I am familiar with its exact contents whatever
language it is in.
There are many more ways in which this work can be expanded and improved. There are remarkable opportunities to approach people in a myriad of places as well as unimagined opportunities to reach people in their homes by going systematically from
door to door. It has, however, been invaluable to learn that often the Lord
only shows us his will one step at a time in his work.
Encouragements
These are some of the encouragements
that God has been graciously pleased to give to this work:
· From a letter: ‘Yes, I've trusted Christ. Give me this copy [Read, Mark, Learn]. I want reading and more information.’
· The words of a lady who begs in the city bowl and who received a copy of Ultimate Questions some months ago: ‘My husband and I gave our lives to the Lord. Please can I have two Afrikaans booklets to take to friends in the church that I am attending.’
· A refugee, previously involved in heinously sinful activity, mentioned last week that the Lord had brought me into his life to lead him to Christ and to save him from the road to destruction.
· During the last few weeks two Arabic Bibles and a couple of Gospels in Arabic were given to Muslims (one a specialist medical doctor); over twenty Lingala Bibles were distributed to refugees from the Congo; several French and Portuguese Bibles, together with Ultimate Questions, were given to refugees from various countries in Africa.
Challenge
Our merciful and loving Lord has
already blessed, beyond all expectation, my small efforts to reach the lost.
Nevertheless, it is clear that I have only touched the tip of the iceberg. In
Cape Town alone, there are multitudes of precious souls who need to hear the
glorious Gospel of Christ Jesus. Few people will come to me, but, as God
enables, I can continue to go to them. In a personal way, albeit inadequately, I
identify with the Apostle Paul’s words expressed in 1 Corinthians 9: 16, ‘I
am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.’ It is my
sincere prayer that our gracious God would use even me, and many others, to
saturate the city of Cape Town — and then other cities, and villages in rural
areas — with the Good News.
An essential statement
It is with mixed feelings that I have written this testimony, for I am acutely aware of my own feet of clay. I also realise my deep indebtedness to the help and encouragement of others, especially my wife. But the Gospel of our God is powerful to save sinners. I worship his blessed Son, the author and perfector of our faith.
Doug Crutchley