Today we will consider the matter of distributing tracts. First, we have to know the importance of distributing tracts. During the past two or three hundred years, God has used tracts very much to save men. Whether they have been distributed by mail or by hand, tracts have played a very crucial role. In China the practice of tract distribution still is not being carried out properly. In other countries many people have been saved through tracts. But in China many people are still not too clear about the matter of tract distribution. Some realize the importance of this work, but the tracts they use are short of "hooks"; they are not effective. We hope that tract distribution would become a common practice in the church. We have to prepare some effective tracts. We have to charge the new ones with this work so that tract distribution will become a lesson and a training for everyone in the next generation in the church.
God has used tracts very much to save men. There is something special about tract distribution. We can enumerate the following benefits:
The first advantage of distributing tracts is that they are not limited by man's ability to speak. Many people cannot speak well. They do not have the eloquence or the gift. Others are naturally shy. However, even if a person is slow or shy, he has to open his mouth to testify for the Lord as soon as he is saved. He cannot remain silent just because he says he is not eloquent. The church should encourage the believers and should provide them many opportunities to speak. They have to learn to speak for the Lord. Even those who do not have the gift of speaking should speak for the Lord. Having said this, the truth is that speaking is still a hard task for some people. Either they are short of truth or they are short in experience. Some sinners need to be told the vanity of the world. Some need to be told of how the evil and power of sin robs a person of all peace. Some people need to be told about repentance. Many people do not know what to say when faced with such needs. At these times they can pass out tracts. When a person finds it hard to open his mouth to preach the gospel, tracts become an important tool. A tract distributor must first know about the persons to whom he is giving the tracts. If the receivers are his relatives or friends, he will understand their needs and be able to find the right tract to give to them. If, in addition to the tract, he presents his own testimony, he will have a very good presentation of the gospel. In preaching, it is easy to be affected and restricted by one's own condition. But tract distribution is independent of a man's own personal condition. In fact, many times the tracts speak more clearly and accurately than a man can speak. This is the first advantage of tract distribution. It makes up for a person's lack.
The second advantage of tracts is that they are not limited by the age or status of the receiver. One basic principle in leading men to Christ is for workers to work on the same kind of person as they are. It is unsuitable for a child to work on an old man or for a manual laborer to work on a doctor. One should send an old man to work on an old man, a young man to work on a young man, and a nurse to work on a nurse. Under normal circumstances, one should work within the sphere of his own social rank, sex, and age. For example, it is better, and indeed more appropriate, for sisters to work on ladies. Of course, there are exceptions to this. I am a man, and it would be harder for me to preach to a young lady one-on-one. It is equally embarrassing for a young sister to testify to an old man. Of course, with enough power one can sometimes overcome such barriers. But under normal circumstances, it is difficult to preach to people of different social standing, status, or background. At such times, tracts come in very handy. When you visit a person, you must first pray earnestly. After that you can present a tract to him politely and testify to him. Perhaps you are a new believer. You do not know how or what to say. You only need to give him a tract. This does not mean that you let the tract do all the work. The tract only makes up for your lack; you still have to open your mouth to testify. When there is a gap between the preacher and his listener in rank, age, or sex, and there is some hesitation because of this gap, tracts fill the gap nicely.
The third advantage of tracts is that they are not intimidated by human factors or the surrounding atmosphere. In large and well-prepared gospel meetings, a preacher can stand on the podium to speak solemnly of such serious subjects as sin and judgment. But when he has to preach to a person one-on-one, politeness, face, and other human factors pose limitations to what can be said. He cannot speak a serious word of warning forthrightly. It is hard to preach under such circumstances. If he points out sin and judgment too bluntly, he may lose a chance to see that person again. In conducting private evangelism, there are certain restrictions and difficulties in speaking what one really wants to speak. But if he gives out a tract which says, "We are all sinners, and we have all sinned before God; we all need Jesus," the other party can more easily receive it. The preacher may not be able to say many things, but he can pray for the other party as he reads the tract and then ask, "Do you feel that you have sinned?" This will not be very offensive. We do not want to offend others when we preach. However, we have to speak directly and honestly. Therefore, when considerations such as status, rank, face, or other human factors stand in the way, we can give tracts and pray. The advantage of a tract is that it is not intimidated by human factors. It is not influenced by the listener, and it speaks only the words of the truth.
The fourth advantage of tracts is that they avoid much debate. Many times in preaching to others, we fall into debates and arguments. Sometimes we meet a person who likes to argue. He does not have a heart for the gospel; his whole intention is to test us and embarrass us. When we try to testify to him, he tries to argue. We should not debate with him. Instead, we should present a tract to him in a sincere and calm way. This is a very good way of handling the situation. An argumentative person can do nothing to a silent and objective tract. For example, we may meet one of our relatives. He knows that we are Christians, and he may try to argue with us. At such times we should not say too much to him. We should only politely present a tract to him. No matter how much a person likes to argue, he can do nothing with a tract. The best thing to do with such a person is to give him a tract. The next day you can ask, "Have you read the tract I gave you? Do you want another one?" This will avoid any direct confrontational arguments. Of course, we have to pray much for him privately.
The fifth advantage of tracts is that they are not limited by time and persons. Tracts save men without the limitation of time. In order for a man to preach in person, there is the limitation of time and space as well as audience. A man cannot be in the same place twenty-four hours a day, but a tract is not limited by these factors. Tracts can testify for us beyond any limitation in time. It also is hard for us to testify to total strangers, but tracts can testify anywhere at anytime to anyone. Whether or not we know a person, tracts can testify to him. They are not limited by the kind of person who receives the tract. A man can read a tract at any time. Any time he is free, he can read a tract. If we give a man a tract, it can go where the man goes; it can testify to him anywhere at anytime. This is what makes tracts so convenient.
The sixth advantage of tracts is that we can sow them anywhere. In Ecclesiastes 11:1 and 6, Solomon said, "Cast your bread upon the surface of the waters....In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not hold back your hands." It is all right to sow randomly, because we do not know which of the seeds we sow will prosper. The apostle Paul said that he who sows with blessings shall reap with blessings (2 Cor. 9:6). In order to sow en mass, there is no better way than tract distribution. Anyone can sow with tracts anywhere. If we have to preach to three, five, or ten persons today, we have to spend much time with them. But it is not a problem to distribute one thousand to two thousand tracts a day. Some brothers have distributed more than one thousand tracts a day for over three years. This is mass sowing. No other method can be as easy as tract distribution when it comes to mass sowing of gospel seeds. No other method is as convenient. Many servants of God love to distribute tracts. They do not even waste their walking time; they seize this opportunity to pass out tracts everywhere. If one person is saved through the tracts that we pass out in one day, we have done a great job already. A new believer has to learn to pass out tracts in bulk. It is a pity if we do not take advantage of tracts effectively.
The seventh advantage of tracts is that they enable all believers to function. God has given to the church apostles, prophets, evangelists, and shepherds and teachers. Although not everyone can be an apostle, everyone should do the work of an evangelist. Under normal circumstances, everyone in the church should preach the gospel; everyone should function. Some may say that they do not have the eloquence or the gift. They may say that they cannot sing or preach the gospel. But thank the Lord that everyone can pass out tracts. There is no distinction between tract distributors; a person who receives a tract does not care who he received it from. In preaching the gospel and in giving a testimony, some are more gifted and powerful; their preaching brings more people to the knowledge of salvation. Others are not as gifted and powerful; they bring fewer people to salvation. But tract distribution does not work this way. Whether or not one is gifted or powerful, he can pass out tracts. Whether he is a child or an adult, an educated man or illiterate, he can pass out tracts. The sphere becomes much larger. Anyone can do this as long as he is godly and dedicated. A businessman can invest a few dollars to print some tracts, round up some children, and go out with them to pass out these tracts. His work is different from the work of those preaching from the podium. The work of preaching is limited to a few brothers and sisters, but tract distribution is not restricted by this distinction. Everyone can do it. We have to help the distributors to realize that they have a share in God's service. Their work is a great blessing to the church. In this way their hearts will be drawn to the church, and they will be burdened for the souls of men. No work can be as widespread as the work of tract distribution.
God has used tracts to save many people. Many people are saved through reading tracts. We can find many such testimonies, and many of them are quite miraculous. I know that some people push tracts into others' homes through the front doors. Some put them in the mail boxes. Some pass out tracts to pedestrians while walking on the street. A pedestrian once took a tract and tore it apart. Another person picked up one of the torn pieces. The torn part spoke of escaping the wrath of the coming judgment. He did not understand what he had read, but he felt uneasy about it. Later he found the way to believe in the Lord, and he was saved. A man once picked up a tract and immediately threw it away. Another person came along the same road. He was hurt by a nail which stuck into his shoe. To relieve his pain, he took the rejected tract, folded it, and put it inside his shoe as a cushion against the nail. When he reached home, he took off his shoes and began to read the tract. His reading brought him to salvation. This is what is meant by casting bread upon the waters. In time it will bear fruit. Such an experience of salvation through tracts is extremely common and even amazing.
In the last century there was a preacher in England called Tusoney (?). He only had one lung, but he was very powerful in preaching the gospel, and many people were saved through him. He preached the gospel for thirty-seven years. It was a common thing for him to speak to three or four thousand people in open air. He prepared over a hundred different tracts for use in all the villages and towns of England. Some of them were for bigger cities, while others were for smaller villages. Some he used on a train or on a boat. The result of these tracts was quite phenomenal. The tracts for trains alone totaled twenty-two. For example, one tract was entitled: "You Have a Ticket for the Train, but Do You Have Your Tract?" It was used exclusively on trains. Once while he was on a train, as the train was pulling away from the station the conductor asked the passengers, "Do you have a ticket? If you do not have a ticket you cannot get on board." This tract distributor went behind the conductor and said, "Do you have a tract? If you do not have a tract you cannot get on board." On that day, seven people believed in the Lord. He printed the tracts, distributed them himself, and preached with them.
Mr. George Cutting, the author of the book Safety, Certainty, and Enjoyment, was very clear about the grace of salvation. His little book ranks second in worldwide circulation, next only to the Bible. In his youth he was also a tract distributor. The Lord used him to write many tracts. He traveled all over England and did his best to save many people. We have to tell the new ones these stories, and we have to encourage them to do the same.
Another person who belongs in this category is the author of the book A Christian's Rest. His salvation was the result of four people receiving and passing on tracts consecutively. The first one passed a tract to the second, who after being saved, passed another tract to the third. When the third was saved, he passed another tract to the fourth. All four were greatly used by the Lord in England. They were all saved through another one giving them a tract. These tracts resulted in four great servants of the Lord. These examples show us the effectiveness of tracts.
After realizing the importance of tract distribution, we have to consider the methods of passing out tracts.
The most common way to pass out tracts is by ordinary day-to-day sowing. In passing out tracts this way, we have to note the following points. First, the tracts must be powerful before God. They must have words that clinch. Tracts that are effective in saving souls should be used again and again. Tracts that are ineffective should be discarded. Tracts that are effective should be reprinted again and again. In passing out tracts on the streets, we should not break local laws. Second, we should pray for God's blessing before setting out so that every tract will carry saving grace with it. Third, when we pass out tracts, we have to pay attention to our attire and expressions. Our dress has to be proper; it must match our status. We should neither be too modern nor too modest; our clothes must be proper. Moreover, we have to be very polite. If we are reaching middle-class people, we should dress like a middle-class person. Fourth, in passing out tracts, we should be sincere and sober in our attitude. Do not be flippant or light. Do not act like the street hawkers, and do not behave rashly. In giving out a tract, hold it out with your left hand, bow or nod at others, and then present it to them. If they accept it, give them another acknowledging bow or nod.
If a person refuses a tract, we should not become angry. If he throws it away, we can pick it up again. If he turns around and reviles us, we should not argue with him. We can do the following: 1) let him go; 2) send him away politely; 3) try to convince him with a few words; or 4) pick up the tract again and pray for the tract.
If possible, the church should pray often for the work of tract distribution. We should pray that the Lord would give us more fruit. In order to get more fruit, we have to persevere in prayer. We have to pray 1) that God would bless those who receive the tracts; 2) that God would not allow the tracts to be destroyed; 3) that God would allow the tracts to be passed along; 4) that God would save everyone whose hand has touched the tract; and 5) that God would extend the days of the tracts.
The second way to pass out tracts is more special. The ordinary way is non-systematic; this distribution is done anywhere and everywhere. Special distribution is distribution according to a plan. We can group our people by teams and distribute tracts door to door along each street. In order to carry out this way of distribution, we must first divide ourselves into teams. We can put two brothers in a team or two sisters in a team. We can assign a street or highway to them. After the team assignment, we can tell them to give one tract to each household. Next we pray for the tracts. We should seek for an opening word with which to speak to others. We should also seek to know how long we should wait before visiting the same neighborhood again. Tract distributors should commit themselves to go out once every other day or once every three days or four days. At least they should go out once a week. At the assigned time, they should divide up the tracts according to the questions the tracts address and distribute them to each person according to need. Finally, they have to pray for blessing.
In passing out tracts, there are a few things to remember. First, we should find the name of each household from the telephone book. We should write the name of each household on an envelope and send out the tracts in the envelope. Second, we should deliver tracts to some people in person. Third, in mailing tracts, we should write the names and addresses legibly and drop the mail in the mailbox. In passing out tracts, others may ask what we are doing. We can tell them that we are delivering the glorious gospel of the Son of God to them. Some methods have been used in other parts of the world with great success. Many times entire households have been saved. Fourth, we can take a street or a district as a unit and ask some brothers and sisters to be responsible for distribution along that street or in that district. This is also a very good way.
Another way of distribution is the personal way. The personal way targets our relatives and friends. Sometimes it is hard to preach the gospel to our relatives and friends. But it is easier to give them a tract. We have to be careful in choosing the tracts we give. We must consider the condition of every case. We can show some people how sin has damaged them. We can show others how money and vainglory cannot satisfy. We have to pray for them and bless them. In presenting tracts to them, we have to be serious and polite. We have to say, "There are many things which I cannot say, and there are many things which I myself do not know. But I would like to give this tract to you. Please read it." After returning home, we should pray for them and ask God to bless them and to make the tract fruitful. In this way, it will be easy for us to spread the gospel to our friends and relatives.
If we are faithful in carrying out this burden, we will soon find that our tracts are very inadequate. Although some tracts are small, they are very effective in saving people. These tracts should be reprinted again and again. Our tracts should not be for looks only. They have to have words that catch men. These are the useful words. The language and content of the tract have to be clear and direct; there must not be any misspelled words. If there is a misspelled word in a tract, it may lose its effectiveness. In writing tracts, we have to be very careful. No one can be careless in the work of God.
In preaching the gospel, we have to learn to speak the right words to the right people. In distributing tracts, we have to do the same, giving the right people the right kind of tracts. For example, if you give a worldly person a tract about the vanity of the world, his chance of getting saved will be great. Some people have had contact with the church already; a tract explaining the depth of the Lord's grace may be very effective in bringing about their salvation. (One becomes conscious of sin only after he has believed. If we talk to an uninterested person about sin, we may offend him.) The most direct approach to ordinary worldly people is to speak to them about the vanity of the world. This will easily bring them to salvation.
We must carry tracts in our pocket all the time, like carrying our business cards. As soon as we meet a person, we should give him a tract. Sometimes it is hard to open our mouth. A tract can take the place of our speaking, and others will not feel too much imposition. Some people like to ramble about scurrilous things as soon as they sit down. A tract will shut their mouths and even give us a chance to open our mouth. When we present a tract to them, we can say a few words or we can say nothing at all. If we practice this faithfully, the Lord will save many people.
Finally, we have to remember that while we are the ones who are passing out the tracts, we cannot depend on ourselves. We should not think that we can save anyone. We have to trust in the Spirit of God. Whenever we pass out a tract, we have to pray that the Lord will bless the receiver of the tract. We have to ask God's Spirit to save men through these tracts.
