"Comfortable" Evangelism
I found myself once again standing before a room full of people keen to learn how the share the gospel. Over the years, I have had the joy of training many people in gospel work via either my own teaching or leading them through a curriculum. This time I wasn’t the one teaching, I was merely leading the group through the “Way of the Master: Basic Training Course.”
I have lost count how many times I have watched these DVDs; in fact, I joked with the congregation about how I could almost quote verbatim the words which Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron would share. As the DVD started, I made my way to the back of the chapel to listen. While the film played on the screen, I was struck once again by just how good the Way of the Master training really is. As I sat listening, I found I began to reflect on my years in evangelism, and as I did so, I realised that I cannot think of any preacher who has impacted me more than Ray Comfort.
It was in February 2004 when I first heard the name of Ray Comfort. I remember the date, because for my 18th birthday, the Bible College where I was studying allowed me to preach in the chapel. My message for that day was on the theme of evangelism from Matthew 5:13-16. At this stage, I had only been converted for just over a year, but I already had a passion to reach out to the lost; the problem was that I didn’t know how to do it! My method was simply a “turn or burn” approach, so it was this method I presented in the chapel.
After the service as we made our way to class, one of the new students approached me. He was older than me, but since I was a second-year student, I didn’t really pay much attention to him (this was wrong!). He asked me, “Have you ever heard of a New Zealand evangelist named Ray Comfort?” I replied that I hadn’t heard of him, and I thought to myself that the mere fact he is a Kiwi may be a turn off. The conversation ended abruptly as we made our way into class.
The next day, the new student was waiting for me with a Mp3 CD containing sixteen sermons from Ray Comfort. He handed the disc to me while saying, “You need to listen to ‘Hell’s Best Kept Secret, then ‘True and False Conversion.’ Once you have done that, listen to the rest.” To be honest I had no intention of listening to the CD, but a few days later I found myself intrigued, so I started to listen to ‘Hell’s Best Kept Secret’.
I cannot adequately describe how I felt after listening, as I was completely blown away! I sat in silence listening to Ray explain how to share the gospel in a biblical manner. As the Scriptures were opened up, I saw a very clear path of how to effectively share the gospel.
Soon I had listened to all sixteen messages, but I wanted more. These were the days of dial-up internet, so nothing could be done quickly. As I looked online, I discovered three videos from Ray, so I set my snail-paced internet to download. I stayed up throughout the night and into the early hours of the next day waiting for those videos to download; then as the sun was rising, I was finally able to watch.
My evangelistic direction changed all because of the Lord using Ray Comfort. About eighteen months after hearing ‘Hell’s Best Kept Secret’, I was able to meet Ray in Los Angeles where I had been invited to assist with an outreach. Then (and I’m not sure how), I was approached to be a “phone fisherman” for Way of the Master Radio / Wretched Radio, which allowed me to learn more from Ray.
Over the years I have read Ray’s books, listened to his sermons and watched his films (no longer with dial-up!). Whenever I have emailed Ray, he has always responded to my questions with love and gentleness, even though at times I have disagreed with him. I will forever be thankful for his gospel example. When I grow up, I would like to be an evangelist like Ray. I still have a long way to go, and I am still making many mistakes, but I am forever grateful that the Lord has put men like Ray across my path.
Seventeen years after I was first introduced to Ray Comfort, I am still recommending people listen to ‘Hells Best Kept Secret’ and to use the Way of the Master material. I have used many evangelistic training tools, but I am yet to find anything that beats it. Let me encourage you to take the time to listen to the following message, ‘Hell’s Best Kept Secret’ – it may just change your life, as it did for me.