Contact

by R. Darke, Victoria, B.C. | Category: Fingerpost | Oct 1972

Two sisters were distributing leaflets on a main busy street of a large Canadian city. They experienced scorn, friendly acceptance, and curt refusal from those they encountered. But they were not discouraged. Then one man, who proved to be a Christian, happily received a leaflet, accepted an invitation to the assembly meetings, later embraced the Truth, and is now in the Fellowship.

Here is proof indeed of the value of making contact on the street, and of not being weary in well-doing (Gal. 6:9).

A Catholic lady attended special weekday meetings for mothers as the result of door to door work in the neighbourhood of an assembly hall. There were times when she was argumentative, disinterested, critical, and unsympathetic to the message. For four years the workers showed patience and love, those twin virtues which God always honours. Combined with prayer, they paved the way to a memorable occasion when the Holy Spirit used a word from a Lord's servant to lead her to Christ. The transformation in this dear woman was a joy to behold. She has since been baptized and added to a Church of God. It is evident, too, that the Spirit is now working in her family circle. Here is another example of the importance of contact in a neighbourhood, and in letting patience have its perfect work (James 1:4).

A Christian businessman from England travelled 6,000 miles across Canada, little knowing that at the farthest point of his trip he would meet unexpectedly a former college student, and learn for the first time his part in the student's conversion. He was having fellowship in a home, and the name was mentioned of a local man who was interested in spiritual things. He recognized the name, for more than 10 years before they had studied together in England, and had since lost touch with each other. A hasty phone call, and a visit to the home, resulted in a renewed acquaintance which revealed the simple circumstances which brought the student to Christ. What a joy this information was to the businessman!

This is yet another telling example of the value of contact in our personal lives, and the importance of casting "thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days" (Ecc. 11:1).

There are at least two striking illustrations the Lord uses to encourage us to make contacts. The one concerns the way that Andrew brought his brother Simon to the Lord Jesus. Please read the sequence of events in John 1:35-51. The other reveals vividly the Lord's desire to bring a ready and willing disciple into contact with a seeking soul to show him the Saviour. This story of the Ethiopian and Philip is found in Acts 8:26-40.

Let us then make contacts, and do not underestimate the word spoken or the tract given. Sow and pray, and leave the results to the Lord of the harvest. "And they went forth ... the Lord working with them" (Mark 16:20).

R. Darke, Victoria, B.C. | Oct 1972
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