Simply Shared The Gospel

June 2019 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Simply Shared The Gospel

From time to time news stories tell about a heroic act by an individual saving others or helping in some special way. We can easily name examples. Generally, I think we consider these people as being of a type that we are not. “There is no way,” the thought goes, “that I can have a significant impact on others for God’s glory.”

A well-known story comes to mind about a dry goods salesman, Edward Kimball, who taught a Sunday School class for teenage boys. This teacher had a burden for their salvation. Led of the Spirit, Kimball visited one student at the shoe store where he worked, telling him what the Lord Jesus had done for him on the cross, His love and the love He sought in return. Through this short conversation, the teenager, Dwight L. Moody, was saved. D. L. Moody went on to become a leading evangelist in the 1800’s and the founder of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. But the story does not stop there.

Among the thousands who professed salvation having heard the Word of God spoken by Moody was one Wilbur Chapman. Among the thousands that heard Chapman preach was Billy Sunday. In time, many accepted God’s offer of salvation and were converted during the crusades Billy Sunday held, including Mordecai Ham.

Ham preached the gospel in many places. While in Charlotte, North Carolina, a group of high school boys tried to disrupt his meetings; instead they heard the gospel and at least one returned another night and was saved. He, who would become known as Billy Graham, shared the gospel with two billion people around the world. We may not agree with some views held by these speakers, but we thank the Lord for what He accomplished through them. We especially note that this story began with one humble man who simply shared the gospel, according to God’s Word, with another person. Obviously, one individual can do great things for God’s glory through simple faith and obedience. Read Hebrews 11 and you will see many wonderful examples.

By Paul Alberts