Contact: Don Beehler, 615-566-0776, don@abcdcommunications.com
NASHVILLE, August 13 /Christian Newswire/ -- Five simple questions forever changed Steven Neill's life. After years of hatred and violence landed him in prison, he set out to do everything he could to stamp out Christianity, which he considered to be responsible for the world's ills.
Yet when someone walked him through the questions in LifeWay Christian Resources' "Share Jesus Without Fear Personal Evangelism New Testament," which includes a section with three steps for sharing the gospel, Neill the neo-Nazi was stopped in his tracks, refusing to answer the question, "according to what you've read, are you a sinner?"
The question haunted Neill, and the next day he gave his life to Christ. After 17 years in prison and a journey of spiritual growth, Neill was paroled and today is in full-time ministry, serving as pastor of a church in Texas. He believes the "Share Jesus Without Fear" method was greatly used to help him confront truth and lead him to a personal relationship with Christ.
"Instead of arguing, I was sitting there reading the scripture," Neill recalls.
"Share Jesus Without Fear" emphasizes a relational witnessing style using open-ended questions and having the other party read Bible verses out loud, based on Luke 10:26 "How do you read it?" The method was created by Bill Fay, once a money-driven businessman with Mafia ties. Faced with jail time, he turned to Jesus for redemption and immediately began sharing his new-found faith with others.
The resource offers three simple steps for sharing the gospel: Five questions to determine where God is working, seven verses to let the Bible speak for itself and five questions that lead to the point of decision. The method teaches Christians how to navigate a witnessing conversation in everyday situations and eliminate pressure, argument and fear of rejection.
For the past 20 years, Fay has been doing "Share Jesus Without Fear" seminars around the nation, teaching scores of church members an effective, non-confrontational way of sharing their faith. "It is simple to teach, easy to understand and instant to apply," he said.
Don Boone, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Vancleave, Miss., had Fay lead a seminar in Feb. and now is planning a larger training event with him in March 2009.
"Our entire church has gotten over fear of rejection," Boone said. "We have seen so many people saved it's unbelievable. His plan works--it's radically awesome."
Fay captured the method in the book "Share Jesus Without Fear." The "Share Jesus Without Fear Leadership Kit," which includes his book, has been revised and updated to make it even easier to teach and implement.
The re-launched kit has a new DVD format, video introductions by Fay for each section, leader helps on CD-ROM, a workbook for groups and suggestions for implementing "Share Jesus Without Fear" into a church evangelism strategy. The workbook is available in 37 languages.
The kit may be purchased for $79.95. Copies of the revised "Share Jesus Without Fear" book, which is designed for general readership, may be purchased for $7.95 each. For more information, visit www.lifeway.com/sharejesus.
Also new is a special "Share Jesus Without Fear New Testament" paperback edition, which was created as a give-away for non-Christians when sharing the gospel. It includes all of the content to learn the "Share Jesus Without Fear" concepts in the first three pages, along with a toll-free number to the North American Mission Board's Evangelism Response Center for those seeking spiritual help.
The back lists the 36 most common objections of coming to Christ and how to answer them. The "Share Jesus Without Fear New Testament" costs $2 each when bought by the case and may be purchased at LifeWay Christian Stores; online at www.holmanbibleoutreach.org/products.asp#sjwf; or by calling toll-free at (866) 627-7796.
"What better way to conclude a conversation than to hand the other person a New Testament that contains some of the most common questions about the Christian faith with practical, biblical answers?" Burgess said. "At just $2 a piece, the "Share Jesus Without Fear New Testaments" are an affordable way to continue the conversation and provide a natural opportunity for follow-up visits."
According to Fay, 97% of members of the largest evangelical denominations will die without ever sharing their faith. The main reason is fear of rejection and failure. Yet, ironically, "This is the one area of life in which you cannot fail," he said.
"The greatest lesson I've learned is that I'm only part of the process. I've never led one person to Christ. The Holy Spirit convicts--I just turn pages and get out of the way."
While Fay has been jumpstarting the evangelistic batteries of churches and individuals for two decades, he knows there still is a lot of work to be done.
"Much of today's church growth comes from people transferring from other churches. We can't continue the sheep-swapping business," Fay said. "Churches are fighting over complete and total nonsense while people in the community are dying and going to hell."
Having members sharing their faith not only results in a more unified body, but has the added benefit of eliminating a dull Christian life, he believes. "When you are active in sharing your faith, you experience Philemon verse 6, 'I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ.'"
For pastors and their congregations living in a maintenance mode, Fay has good news -- they can break out of that mode, be powerfully used for the sake of God's kingdom and experience kingdom growth.
"Christians can either be an obedient to Jesus' command of the Great Commission or they can choose to remain active in the 'Sin of Silence,'" he said. "Which one are you choosing?"
