How to be a Successful Soul Winner

by C. S. Lovett

selected book excerpts

Buy How to be a Successful Soul Winner by C. S. Lovett online at the SOS Help Store.

Preface

The Success Of SOS

Since 1837, Samuel Morse's famous SOS signal of 3 dots, 3 dashes and 3 dots has been used to rescue lives physically … only to die again. Now SOS is used to rescue souls spiritually … never to die.

In 1992 the "crown jewel" of SOS found its spiritual application for Saving Of Souls and currently is in every corner of the United States as well as many foreign countries. "The history of every soul is a distress cry for help!" Now comes SOS with its Steps Of Success in witnessing and soul winning.

WHAT DOES SOS DO?

1. SOS says "I am here to HELP."

2. It indicates my Sign Of Surrender.

3. It draws attention because it is a signal (cry) for HELP.

4. It intercedes for others … Sharing Others Sorrows.

5. It brings particular (special) people and circumstances before God's throne and the Holy Spirit in us has a chance to intercede for them.

The three things necessary to be a successful soul-winner …

1. A willing heart.

2. The right tools.

3. Know how to use them.

SOS will teach the Soldiers Of Salvation:

1. The approach: How to make the contact and create a soul-winning climate.

2. How to move people emotionally to meet Jesus.

3. How to press the prospect for a decision.

The SOS challenge

"What would you attempt for God if you knew you could not fail?"

SUCCESSFUL Soul-Winning

"When it comes to excitement in the Christian life, nothing can match the thrill of moving in the power of the Holy Spirit. But the power of the Spirit is given for witnessing … "

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses …" (Acts 1:8). As a wagon cannot be led unless it is rolling, neither can a Christian be empowered unless he is moving. If you want to move in the Spirit's power, you'll be thrilled with the KNOW HOW offered in the SOS plan for becoming a SUCCESSFUL soul winner."

C.S. Lovett

SOS

Chapter Ten

Too Scared To Try

"… but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Not everyone reading this book will put it to use immediately. Some are going to be too scared to try. I understand that. We are not all made alike. Some of us are bold, others are timid and shy. Certainly those with salesman type personalities will have no trouble putting this skill into operation. Neither would those who are meeting the public in connection with their occupations. But there are brethren who are scared to death at the thought of a soul-winning encounter.

Some years ago the Lord made it plain to me that only certain percentage of believers would be able to learn this plan and put it to use. The others just wouldn't have the necessary personality strengths. After all, it is not the easiest thing in the world to approach a stranger and:

1. Involve him in a spiritual conversation when his mind is on other things.

2. Use God's Word so skillfully that it brings the conviction of sin.

3. Shift him to a different emotion as you explain how Christ is the answer to his need.

4. Escort his thinking to the place where he is aware of Christ knocking at his heart's door. This can be a shock.

5. Press him to do something with the Lord Jesus, one way or another.

The soul-winning plan I have presented in this book is easy to use if you have the social strengths necessary. If you don't, it could be a nightmare. To go from the Sin Of Silence (and most Christians are silent) to soul-winning-in one jump can be a terrifying experience for those who are shy. In fact, it is usually impossible.

So what should they do?

Consider witnessing

Those who cannot immediately use the plan of this book as soul-winners, should consider witnessing. They should serve the Lord as witnesses until they have gained the strength they need to be soul-winners. There are all kinds of ways to witness ranging from leaving a tract in secret to telling someone what Jesus means to you. A person can move gradually between those two extremes until he finally has the strength to lead to someone to Christ. Then it will be easy for him to use the plan in this book.

We're all called to be witnesses

For over forty-five years I've been in the business of teaching people how to witness. Never have I found a person who couldn't do it-once he learned how.

The first thing you need to know is this: witnessing and soul-winning are two different things.

When I speak of witnessing, I DO NOT mean confronting people with Christ and asking them to receive Him as Savior. Having read this book, you know that's soul-winning. The average Christian doesn't have the strength for that, at least not at first. But when it comes to letting others know ABOUT Jesus, that is another matter. Any believer can do that-with know-how.

It helps to see the difference

When I explain the difference between soul-winning and witnessing, you'll agree that witnessing is for you. The idea is not nearly so frightening when you know what is involved. To behold the difference clearly, come with me to a courtroom.

The judge calls the witness to the stand. After he's sworn in, he makes statements from his personal knowledge. He is not on trial. He simply tells what he knows. That's all. He doesn't have to convince anyone of anything. Once he's made his statement, he's all through and steps down. His task is to supply information only. He tells what he knows and that's it.

The prosecutor, on the other hand, behaves differently. He doesn't take the stand. He's a lawyer, skilled in handling people, obtaining from them what he wants. Then he uses that information to prove his point. With clever words and techniques he seeks to convince the judge or jury. Everything he does is aimed at getting a decision in his favor.

The soul-winner is like a prosecuting attorney. He employs a skillful approach to the prospect. Using calculated phrases, he extracts information from his prospect and then uses that information to bring him face to face with Christ. With careful timing he moves up to the crisis point and presses for a decision. Everything he does and says is geared to getting his man to DO SOMETHING with Jesus. If he does it right, there is no way for a prospect to avoid a face to face encounter with the Lord. You can see that it takes skill and confidence.

Witnessing, is not like that at all. Once a witness has passed on his information to a prospect, whether by words from his lips or by means of a tract, his work is done. When believers do not know this, they are inclined to think witnessing means soul-winning. No wonder they panic when someone suggests they witness for the Lord.

Have I said Christians should NOT win souls? No. If a believer has natural gifts that make it easy for him to approach people with persuasive charm, he should be a soul-winner. Such Christians are often salesman or public workers. Equip them with a systematic approach for presenting Christ and they're instant soul-winners. But for the rest, however, soul-winning is still in the future. They must first START OUT as witnesses to gain the necessary strength and boldness. Later, perhaps, when they have learned to move in the Holy Spirit, and enjoy approaching people for Christ, they could consider soul-winning. But for the moment they should relax in the Lord's words " … Ye shall be WITNESSES unto Me …" (Acts 1:8).

It helps to know this

I had just finished a soul-winning message in a fundamental church, when a tearful lady rushed forward to speak to me. She was nervous, perspiring. Her hands twisted a knotted handkerchief. She was visibly upset.

"Dr. Lovett, I'm ashamed to say this, but I can't witness for the Lord. I don't know how to win souls. And I'm sure I couldn't do it even if I knew how."

"Forget soul-winning," I said to her. "It has nothing to do with you right now. Why don't you consider becoming a witness. Perhaps later on you can think about winning souls."

At first she was puzzled by my words. Like so many, she thought she couldn't witness for Christ without being a soul-winner. When I explained the difference, her face brightened. Her shoulders dropped in relief. You could see the tension fade from her body. Those few words removed an awful burden from her soul. Then I gave her some easy steps for getting started. That lady went away rejoicing.

So if this kind of help sounds good to you, contact us. You'll be amazed at God's plan for transforming shy Christians into aggressive witnesses. You have nothing to lose but your fears!

Come join the most successful soul-winner of all times as He tells us how to Save One Soul in the story picture at the well with a Samaritan woman. He appeals to her Sympathies/Proceeds to awaken her Wonder/Stirs her conscience/Inspires her Hope and Wins her Faith. Jesus shows us How … Now it's your move. God has made His.

What would you attempt for God if you knew you could not fail?