Gospel tracts: plant those seeds! (by Steve Brannon)
I grabbed a handful of tracts just before I slid out of my car and head into a local office supply store.
I always carry tracts in my car. I try to keep two or three types, and I prefer to keep stiff tracts, like the ones sold by customtractsource.com. They are easier to slip into the seam between the driver-side window and the weather stripping then the normal paper or slick paper tracts. However, I also like to carry a few other types for handing out.
As the Fourth of July approaches, I've been using a number of the holiday-themed tracts. You can find some at customtractsource.com and livingwaters.com.
People readily take most of these, especially the million-dollar bill types.
On this bright afternoon, I decided to walk part of the parking lot before heading inside to look for my supplies. I finished distributing the tracts in only a few minutes, then did my shopping. When I came back out, I noticed a woman and two young children about to enter a van that I had visited. I decided to sit and watch.
One of the girls saw the tract first. It was an Eagle Million Dollar Bill. She reached up and grasped it, looked at it, broke into a big smile, then held it up for her mother. I could only imagine this brief conversation, as the other girl looked on. "Mommy, what's this?" ran through my head.
The woman took the tract and looked at it. I could imagine her thoughts as she looked at it for a few seconds, then urged her two girls to get inside their van, then looked back at the tract for several seconds. The two girls kept looking up curiously, and had to be asked again to step into the van.
As they boarded, and I slowly pulled away, I recalled conversations with my own children at about the same age as these young girls. I recall all the "What is that?" questions, and the numerous times I heard "Why?" frequently followed up with "But, why?" I clearly remember that children are both inquisitive and persistent.
I prayed that these two young girls were just as inquisitive, talkative, and persistent as my own children. I wondered if the woman was a Christian, and what she would say.
I realized that the tract was likely to cause a conversation in that van.
The mother might not be a Christian. That might make for a difficult conversation. If so, praise the Lord!
The mother might be a Christian. That might make for an interesting conversation about tracts and sharing the gospel. If so, praise the Lord!
Tracts can spark conversations about Christ. Please use tracts every day!