10/19/24 GO A-FISHING FOR MEN

10/19/24 GO A-FISHING FOR MEN

(An overview of my approach to, "fishing for men." This is a little long, but I hope it is a blessing to those who take the time to read it.)

I went "afishing" for a couple of hours Friday. I fish for fish, and as a Christian, I am a fisher of men.

Fishing for people is evangelism. Sometimes I go afishing for men and for fish at the same time; sometimes I go afishing in parking lots, stores, public gatherings, while exercise walking, while dining out, while kayaking, wherever I have the opportunity to witness for Christ. When I go afishing I turn my attention towards the person to whom I am witnessing. My other activities are put on hold while they are listening to me share God's good news.

Evangelism is telling people about Jesus and His Salvation.
Fishing is not the same as catching, and evangelism is not the same as soul winning.
We fish in order to catch fish, and we evangelize (fish for men) in order to win souls. On those occasions our witnessing is an exercise in sowing seed (to mix metaphors), hoping that they will encounter another Christian who will win them to Christ.

I did not catch any fish Friday, and I did not win any souls. However I did share soul saving and life changing truths with eight people while fishing for fish.

I care about people and I am genuinely interested in their personal lives (where they are from, where they live, their education and career, their families, their hobbies, if they attend church services, and where. This last piece of information helps me know how to share with them.

When I meet people who have a Christian connection or background, I ask if they are following Jesus. If they say, "yes," I then ask if they are following Him fully. In either case this usually determines the direction I will take in my witnessing. I try to encourage them to believe and follow Christ. Remember, Jesus said if any man would be His disciple, they must deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow Him. Obviously I want to invite people to salvation, but if they profess faith, then I want them to see the need to walk closely to Christ in their daily lives.

Some of my fishing experience from yesterday (Friday).

I met one old gentleman carrying his fishing gear, while slowly pushing his walker from the parking lot to the Strait's fishing bridge. I slowed my pace and then spent time talking about the possibility and joy of victorious living through Christ. I later met and talked with his son about basic salvation. They were from the middle part of the State (Oxford I think). I explained the importance of focusing on Christ in these difficult and changing days, and the need to have a living relationship with Jesus.

Farther on the bridge I met a 30ish black man from Pittsboro. It was unusual because most black folks I meet have at least a connection to the gospel message and church life. In our conversation he said he was not interested in Jesus, but rather had his own path. I pointed out that Jesus died for our sins and rose again from the dead, so that we might have eternal life. We talked a little more and I moved on. As I fished from the adjacent fishing dock, I watched him catch a lot of very small fish, which he threw back. I planned on talking to him again. When I did, we talked about fishing, his home etc. I also asked him if he would tell me why he had no interest in Jesus. He said he didn't want to talk about it: he only wanted to fish. I told him I was not asking for a conversation; I just wanted to know why anyone would not want to talk about Jesus. We continued to talk about other things. I hope he looks back and remembers that I cared about him and that Jesus died and rose again for him. I did think later, the next time someone tells me they don't want to talk about Jesus, that I will point out that Jesus cared about them, all the way to the empty tomb. (sometime ago I talked to a man in Straits about Jesus and the man said he was not interested in Jesus. I responded with, Jesus loves you and died and rose again for you.)

Last week as I talked to a man and his grandson (from Pfafftown) about the importance of knowing Jesus, he told me that he was more interested in character. In fact, I meet a lot of people who are convinced that they don't want to know anything about Jesus. They have made up their mind about life and eternity and they do not want to hear the message of salvation. WOW. Talk about, "I have made up my mind and don't want to be confused by the facts."

Yesterday I also talked to a young man (from Otway). He was on the fishing bridge and I was on the fishing dock. He was wearing a stocking cap, and I did not recognize him. He said, I think you talked to me before. I asked where we had met and he said, "at Williston Creek." That was a pleasant surprise. Occasionally I meet people I have witnessed to previously. We had a short but good conversation before he had to leave. I told him that I hope to see him again. I am sure God will use those two encounters.

I also met and talked to two brothers, in their early 20s. I asked where they were from. People from small communities do not expect you to know where it is located. I have traveled a lot across the country, therefore I am often familiar, even with obscure towns, or at least with the area. These two boys (young men) told me they were from Bogue (which is only about 35 miles away from Straits). I was surprised and asked them again. They probably thought I did not know where Bogue is located. I told them I use to be pastor of a church in Bogue (Bethlehem Methodist Church). They lit up in a smile and said they live near that church. I asked them if they know any "Dunns" in the area. Again they brightened up and said, "yes." One had been a student of "Miss Dunn." I told them I had been the pastor of Mr. Dunn when he was a little boy. I asked them where they go to church. It was an evangelical church in the community. I asked them about their relationship with Jesus and encouraged them to lift Jesus up so that others would hear and believe. I know they know about salvation, so I hoped to be an encourager to them in their walk with Christ.

There were other folks I met and talked to, but you get the idea.
I try to reach the unreached.
I try to encourage the believer.
I try to challenge the weak.
I try to call the backslider to return.
I try to enlighten the skeptic.

I love to go afishing, and sometimes I even love to go afishing for fish.