We would very much like to continue sharing some of the many witness encounters that we have experienced over recent times, to try and encourage those that are strong and mature in the faith, to also take up the Great Commission and try and reach lost souls for the Lord Jesus Christ, because an estimated 150,000 people die EVERYDAY, that's 7,000 an hour!
VOLUME 6
Witnessing in the street to the cults is not something I do well. Retention and recall has never been my strong point, but I do recall two occasions when there were 'God given' opportunities to witness to JW's. Two young women came to the door one day whilst I was on the phone to James. They were Jehovah Witnesses (JW’s) so I suggested James talk with one of them. She listened to James for a good 20 minutes or so whilst writing down scriptural references. I will leave (James) to fill in the gap here because memory does not serve me well.
(This is the first time I have had the good pleasure of witnessing to a complete stranger/cult member over the phone. This is difficult because one is unable to see the persons face and therefore cannot decipher whether or not the gospel is being articulated correctly or how it is even being received. This lady was polite and I think she was sincerely listening to me. I started by telling her about my upbringing in a totalitarian system, much like the Watchtower she belonged to. I was keen to find out how she had become a JW (most are recruited by door-knockers) and she told me how she had been working in a petrol station (she had no religious affiliation beforehand), when a member of the Witnesses took the initiative to witness to her (something too few Bible believers do.) Over a period of time she was initiated into their sect and had been a happy member as of speaking to me, for 10 years, if I recall correctly. Before she rung off, I requested she purchases The Kingdom of the Cults, by the late Walter Martin. She insisted she would not. That was the last I heard from her.)
In the meantime I witnessed to her 'assistant,’ who had only been in the JW's for around six months and knew very little about this cult. As I too knew very little I read out points from my 'fact file.’ She spoke of Jesus being firstborn and I enlightened her that this word means 'rank' or 'position.’ I said Israel is not a person nor was she the first nation but is called the firstborn of God (Ex. 4:22 & Jer. 31:9.) I mentioned that He is the Alpha & the Omega (Is. 44:6; Rev 1:8.) He could not claim this if He was a created Person. After showing her a few pages and reading out some material she went very quiet and we ended the discussion. I felt both women went away with a lot to think about, for they were very quiet, especially the younger one who had listened intently to what James was saying on the phone. They were in constant 'chatter' walking down my driveway! We prayed that these women would come out from the dark depths of deceit.
The second encounter was months later, whilst walking my dog Lizzie. A pair of JW's were doing 'house calls.’ I thought, “Oh no, not JW's, I shan't engage in conversation with them.” But God had other ideas! One of the pair, a young woman, called Sue stopped me in the street. Her 'assistant,‘ a tall quiet young man, stood behind her and listened as she tried to witness to me. We covered the 'firstborn,’ (as previous encounter) and the Westcott and Hort perverted bible which they use (NWT), with its 300 or so verses to support their perverted doctrines and I also gave them John 1-14 from the AV.
Then I remembered they didn't believe in the Trinity. I had only just found some Scripture in the past week that really made an impact with me and I shared this with them. I mentioned Psalm 110:1 where God the Father invites God the Son the place of honour. At this point her assistant pulled Sue's arm and said, "Oh, come on Sue, we're wasting our time here, let's go.” I could tell she had not heard this before and she shrugged off his arm and said, "No, just a minute.” I then went on to quote Hebrews 1:8-10 where God is calling the Son of God...God!
Because I found these passages so remarkable I was able to pass on chapter and verse with great enthusiasm. I found the tall young man very patronising for he said, "Oh, I suppose you believe in Hell too,” which took me by surprise as, once again, I was ignorant of JW's doctrine of annihilation. He sniggered at my belief in Hell and finally succeeded in pulling Sue away from me and off they went. Fortunately I was going in the same direction! I felt Sue left reluctantly, so I trotted behind with Lizzie in tow and continued to witness to Sue who kept looking back at me listening. As we went our separate ways I told them I would pray for them and that God would bring them into the light. Sue's eyes were still on mine.
Vivien