"I heartily commend this seminar." 
Rev. Dr. Mark A. Pearson, Author of “Christian Healing, A Practical And Comprehensive Guide”
Trinity Church, Plaistow, NH

How do I get this started?
Jason attended a 1-2-3 Witness Seminar, in Malverne, NY on Saturday, November 6, 2005.
     First: for me, the beginning of the encounter is the hardest part. “How do I get this started?” I say to myself.
    But I’ve found that if I just take courage and step out and just get it started (however that may be) the Lord gives me the thoughts, the path and then the words to carry on. It’s almost instantaneous. The way I see it, He honors the stepping out by providing the grace.
     Second is honesty. So much happens when we are honest with people. So much. I’m talking about being honest about our weaknesses or about the things we are ashamed of. It sometimes makes them think, “Hey, I wish I were that honest. I wish I could so freely talk about the things which I keep bottled up inside that I’m dying to tell somebody but can’t because of my pride or shame.” Our honesty in some way empowers them to do the same. Their guard comes down because they respect the courage it took for you to let them in on something that most people hide for a lifetime.
     And most important you gain their confidence. Then it makes it easier for you to talk to them about Jesus because they trust you and feel closer to you by virtue of you sharing inner aspects of your life.
     Third is the “leaving them hangin’ part”. I’ve found this to be very effective. The Lord uses it. I remember someone saying, “Our job as Christians is to make people thirsty.” Being quick and in a way vague drums up their curiosity and they become “thirsty” and desire to hear more. It happened with me. And why wouldn’t they be since we know the Lord is the most attractive One in the universe! In the time when you’re away from that person the Lord begins to move in his or her heart.
     But here’s something I have a hard time remembering. The teamwork part of it. Sometimes out of arrogance I get it stuck in my head that I’m the only one in the world that this person is going to hear the name Jesus from. What I’m doing in a way is putting a limit on God as if he can’t send somebody else into that person’s life tomorrow to use as a servant to save him or continue His work in that life. And when I adopt that attitude I naturally put a pressure on myself that’s bad for me and contrary to what you taught me, that witnessing should be easy and normal and natural and not full of pressure. I’m trying to be conscious of that one.
     Thanks for directing me in the true way. The way the Lord wants. God, I believe, is sending people my way and it’s exciting and humbling. 
     The Lord bless you, your wife and your family.
Jason



Jason also shared one witnessing experience since the seminar, as follows:
    I had the opportunity to witness to at my job about two months ago. It’s amazing what can happen when you ask the Lord to send people your way, to use you as an ambassador for His mercy, His forgiveness and most of all His love. 
     I was at work one day minding my own business, reading my Bible, when a guy came by to have me sign off on some paperwork that had to be processed. His name is John. Something in John stood out to me on this day. In his face I could see hurt mixed with anger mixed with despair. As I signed off I took a few seconds and didn’t say anything to him. Then within that silence I felt the Lord prodding me to go ahead and speak. And to not be afraid. 
     I said, “You seem like something is wrong today John. What’s going on? What’s up?”
     He paused for a second as if deciding what he should do and then to my surprise he started to share. He said it was the job. He said that as time went he began to see that he was having more and more work put on him by the supervisors and the position that he was presently in had him doing the work of three people and it wasn’t fair.
     I told him how I could relate. I told him how I knew of the feeling of dreading coming to work in the morning, the feeling of hopelessness that went along with that, the monotony of the routine of it all and how it could consume your mind. Then I told him that I found that the job wasn’t the problem. The problem was there was something missing in my life. A void. I noticed that John was listening! He was still and quiet and listening and I knew then that the Holy Spirit was at work. I had his attention and I purposed that there was no way he was going to leave here without hearing about God and what He has done in me. After I spoke a little about my former life, my former ways, I felt it was time for the transition.
     I said, “… but then around a year ago there was something I started to see. I started to see that the things about myself and about my life that I wanted so badly to change neither I nor any other person was going to be able to make happen. I remember holding up my hands one day and saying, ‘O.K. That’s it! I give up! I need help!’ And what I did right after that was I said a little prayer with a friend of mine accepting Jesus Christ into my life and I could say as I stand here before you today that it’s under a year later and the truth of it is my life is completely changed.”
     Then I decided to take a chance and cut it off. To leave him hangin’, so to speak. I said something like, “so anyway, let me get back to work. You have a good day John.”
     And then he said something that perplexed me.
     John said, “I’m uh, I’m, I’m gonna go home and try that. Thanks.”
     I remember the first thing that came to my mind was, “Well, we could try it right here! Just say this prayer with me and you’ll be on your way!” But I didn’t. I held my peace.
     Then I thought, “What is he gonna go home and call on the Lord and get saved?”
     In my nighttime prayer I would include him with those whom I would ask the Lord to give His gift of salvation.
     Fast forward now to two months later and John shows up on my floor and is right in front of me again. I look up at him and he looks at me and I notice that his whole countenance has changed. He looks more at peace, less edgy and I sensed he was eager to see me. I couldn’t believe it! It’s just the recognition of the Lord’s power and how He could come into somebody’s heart and begin to change them when it is pleasing to Him. But it’s a good shock.
     I play it cool. I don’t say anything. I’m just cordial and helpful and nice and trying to be mindful to not jump on him with the Gospel out of fear that he may feel pressured and bolt and I may possibly squander a future opportunity. Then suddenly he starts it off.
     He began, “”You know, I’m doing better now.”
     Nonchalantly I say, “Oh yeah? That’s good.”
     “Yeah, things are going better”, he says.
     On my desk in front of me is my Bible. I believe it was opened to Ephesians 1. 
     John looked down, saw it and said, “Does that have the Old Testament and the New?”
     “Yeah”, I said. “All Bibles do.”
     “I saw some that didn’t”, John said.
     “Oh, that’s probably a New Testament-Psalms you see people reading on the train. They’re pocket size”, I said.
     Then he says, “No I, I don’t want that one.”
     I picked up right away what he was doing. I said, “Let me ask you something John. You want a Bible? Is that what you want?”
     And no exaggeration, he started nodding his head fast like a kid being offered a candy bar.
     I said, “I have some Bibles at home. You gonna be here tomorrow? I could bring one in with me.”
     “Yes”, he says, excitedly.
     So the following morning I get to work, wait a little and then call his phone around 10 A.M. I got his voicemail.
     I said, “John, this is Jason. I’ve got something for you. You could come by and get it whenever you’re free. Take care.”
    Three hours passed before he could come by. To my surprise there was someone with him. I showed him the Bible, put an envelope in as a bookmark separating Old Testament from New, and gave it to him.

“1-2-3 WITNESS is a very comprehensive, detailed exploration of how to be a more effective Christian witness… it is my hope that Richard’s book will help people throughout the world become better witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Dr. Ted Baehr
Chairman
The Christian Film & Television Commission

Learn more about the work of Dr. Ted Baehr and The Christian Film & Television Commission

Sam attended a 1-2-3 Witness Seminar, in Plaistow, NH on Saturday, August 27, 2005 and comments in his letter on how witnessing can be easy, natural and normal in our relationships.
     "Rick I want to thank you for your seminar last Saturday.  I met my neighbors at Wal-Mart yesterday and was able to witness to them twice in about a 12 minute conservation.  As you taught us, the door opened, I said what was needed and then we simply returned to our conservation.  I believe my role was to give them water and so I gave them water.
In Jesus Name I give thanks.  Sam"

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” 1 Peter 3:15