ishers

arlen
A Handbook
For Soulwinners
Unless otherwise indicated,
all Scripture quotations are taken from
the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN 0-937580-39-2
Third printing 1984 (Revised)
Published by LeSEA Publishing Company
P.O. Box 12
South Bend, Indiana 46624

Printed in the United Stales of America.

All rights reserved under international
Copyright Law. Contents and/or cover may
not be reproduced in whole or in part in any
form without the express written consent of
the Publisher.
 CONTENTS

1. Fishers of Men ................ 9

2. Fishing With Hooks ............ 21
3. Fisherman Facts .............. 27
4. Fisherman Tact ............... 35
5. Fisherman Fortune ............ 41
6. Fisherman Democracy .......... 47
7. Fisherman Endurance .......... 53
8. Hooks For Fishermen ........... 57
 1

FISHERS OF MEN
There were three men standing together
beside a hot, dusty Palestinian road-possibly
near the intersection of a crossroad.
The outstanding person of the group was a
unique figure with an athletic physique, clad
simply in a coat of camel hair with a leather
girdle around his waist. His commanding
posture and flashing eyes bespoke the reason
multitudes came from the cities and
towns to hear him speak in the great cathedral
of God under the expansive canopy of
heaven. This striking personality was John
the Baptist, the unconventional, non-
ritualistic prophet-evangelist whom the com-
mon people greatly admired. But his scathing
rebukes drew the ire of the leading religionists
and those of high political authority.
John the Baptist had awakened Israel to the
10 Fishers Of Men

consciousness that the long awaited Messiah

was soon to appear. He declared himself to
be the harbinger and forerunner of the world
Messiah. John designated himself as a voice
heralding the imminent manifestation of
Christ. With a voice like thunder and a heart
aflame he persuaded men to "prepare the
way of the Lord, make His paths straight."

FINDING ANDREW
The two men standing with John the Bap-
tist on that occasion were Andrew the son of
Jonas, and probably John the son of
Zebedee. Andrew and John had heard the
prophet denounce wickedness and pro-
nounce the nearness of the Kingdom of God.
They had personally repented, were baptized,
and had become devoted disciples of John.
By trade the young men were fishermen.
However, when the moon or weather condi-
tions were not favorable for fishing, they
followed their spiritual leader into the
wilderness to hear his gracious teachings.
As the three men paused by the side of the
road a lone person approached; he seemingly
passed them without salutation. John, closely
observing the passerby, exclaimed with a feel-
ing of exultation, "Behold the Lamb of God!"
The very atmosphere became super-charged
Fishers Of Men 11

with excitement. Significant decisions were

made. Instantly the two disciples forsook
John, never to return, and pursued Christ
down the dusty road.
John the Baptist did not attempt to restrain
his own converts, or beg them to remain loyal
to their "first love." He was fully aware that
his function, in the religious drama of Israel,
was to instigate a new regime of religion and
then turn his credentials over to another, who,
by his own testimony was greater than he.
The desert prophet realized he was the morn-
ing star of the gospel dawn, and that his light
would be quickly dimmed by the boundless
light of the flaming luminary of the Son of
righteousness.
Andrew and his companion, overtaking
Christ on the road, engaged Him in conversa-
tion by questioning, "Master, where do you
live?" Christ, with His royal gaze fixed upon
His followers replied, "Come and see!" "It
was about the tenth hour," said John the
Beloved in describing those precious in-
troductory moments of acquaintanceship with
Christ. It is not known whether John was us-
ing Roman or Jewish time; if Roman, he was
counting from midnight and it was ten o'clock
in the morning, and if Jewish, it was two
hours before sunset. I think he was speaking
12 Fishers Of Men

of Jewish time and the sun was setting and

painting the sky with the glowing colors of the
rainbow.
The two humble fishermen of Galilee ac-
companied Christ to His abode and dwelt
with Him that day. What throbbing in their
breasts! They were actually in the presence of
the prophesied Messiah who had been prom-
ised for four thousand years! Gracious and
divine words must have proceeded from the
mouth of the Messiah as He acquainted His
first inquirers with God's eternal plan of
redemption.
-That first interview with Christ is screened
from us. We do not know what transpired, but
we do know that from that hour these devoted
followers never doubted His Kingship or Son-
ship; they had beheld "the only begotten of
the Father, full of grace and truth."

ANDREW, THE FIRST DISCIPLE

A fisherman of Bethsaida (Bethsaida means
the House of Fish) on the shores of Galilee
Lake was the first disciple of Jesus Christ: not
a doctor of law, a master of science or a pro-
fessor of theology, but a sturdy, muscular
son-of-the-nets. From boyhood Andrew had
watched the boats come and go and had dan-
Fishers Of Men 13

gled his feet off the docks waiting for the

"catch" to be unloaded. Early in youth he
showed his skill in fishing, accepting it as his
vocation. But after meeting the Messiah his
entire life underwent a remarkable change.
He became a fisher of men. As a result of ac-
cepting Christ, his name has been praised for
centuries. Mothers two thousand years hence
affectionately call their sons Andrew.
Andrew is to be commended. He was will-
ing to forsake his first spiritual leader whom
he greatly loved, to follow a greater spiritual
leader. He abandoned a good religion for a
better one. He left a dim light for a brighter
one. Ordinarily human nature is so bigoted
that once a spark of life is found, it will not
leave it for a flame of life. Andrew was dif-
ferent; he avoided a religious rut, which is a
grave with the ends removed. He was ready
to lay his reputation, religious and social con-
nections on the altar of sacrifice to gain
Christ. It was a great gamble, for no doubt he
was aware that other "messiahs" had risen
and waned. But Andrew was certain. The
evidence of true divinity was overwhelming in
Jesus of Nazareth.

ANDREW, THE FIRST

CHRISTIAN PERSONAL WORKER
Andrew left the presence of Christ a disciple.
14 Fishers Of Men

However, to be a follower of Jesus was not

sufficient for him. Others must know the
Messiah, too. He felt impelled to tell the glad
news. Where would he go first? The easiest
place to testify would have been on the street
corner or to some stranger. The difficult place
would be to his family; the most difficult per-
son his own brother, who knew him better
than any other: his own brother who could
criticize him freely and effectively. Andrew, a
man of positive convictions and courageous
heart, went first to Simon to win him to
Christ.
What strategy would Andrew use? Were his
arguments notated and chronologically ar-
ranged? Did he memorize Scriptures to
quote? No, Andrew set a precedent in soul-
winning; his approach to Simon cannot be
improved. He gave his personal testimony!
No argument, no proving; simply, "We have
found the Messiah." A personal testimony is
irrefutable. It is the most convincing approach
to unbelievers.
Andrew immediately sought Simon to con-
vince him that Jesus was the Saviour. When
he arrived, breathless and without salutation,
he rushed into the presence of his brother and
cried, "Simon, I have found the Messiah!"
Hard-boiled Simon, without looking up,
Fishers Of Men 15

probably ironically replied, "Yes, you are

always finding something!"
"But Simon," urged Andrew, "I have been
with Him today and He is actually the long
awaited Saviour. He has changed my life and
I shall always serve Him!"
Something in Andrew's voice compelled
Simon to look up. He saw the new expression
on Andrew's face, saw the eagerness in his
eyes.
"Come, I will introduce you to the real
Messiah," Andrew said. Andrew was irresist-
ible. The Word of God states, "He first findeth
his own brother Simon ... and brought him
to Jesus."

ANDREW'S MINISTRY
Andrew found his rightful place of ministry.
He won souls one by one. While his big
brother Simon Peter pulled in the multitudes
with a net, he with hooks caught fish one by
one! (Won by one.) Andrew won Peter, and
Peter won thousands. Who could be greater
than Peter?-Andrew who led him to Christ!
John the apostle gives us an interesting pic-
ture of this. In fact, had it not been for the
observing and considerate John, we would
know little of Andrew.
16 Fishers Of Men

Five thousand men followed Christ into a

desert to hear Him preach and teach. They
listened, enthralled with His gracious words.
Dinner time had long passed. Christ asked
His disciples to feed five thousand ravenous
men. The colossal task overwhelmed the
disciples. They all agreed that it was impossi-
ble.
While the other disciples were disturbed
about providing food for five thousand
restless men, Andrew was calmly talking to
one little boy! Can't you hear him say, "Son-
ny, see that man over there? Yes, the one in
the center. He is the long awaited Messiah;
the world's Saviour. If you believe upon Him
you shall be saved. Will you believe?"
About the time that lad said, "Yes, I believe
Jesus is the son of God," someone asked if
anyone had some food. The little boy produc-
ed a small lunch which his mother prepared
for him. It consisted of only two small fishes
and five tiny loaves of bread. Andrew took the
boy and the lunch to Christ. Taking the food,
Christ breathed His divine life upon it, then
with holy hands He broke it and His disciples
handed it to the five thousand famished men.
Andrew found a boy, and the boy had a
lunch which, through Christ's miraculous
power, became food for the multitude of men.
Fishers Of Men 17

Had Andrew not found the boy, there would

have been no food.

EXPANDING MINISTRY
By analyzing Andrew's ministry we find
that he first •~caught" his own brother and
brought him to Christ. He brought a member -
of his family to the Saviour.
Secondly, Andrew "caught" a boy and
brought him to Jesus. The youth was an
Israelite, a neighbor, who needed to know the
Messiah.
Thirdly, Andrew "caught" foreigners and
brought them to the Redeemer. His ministry
now expanded to missionary enterprise. An-
drew was interested in bringing everyone he
met to the Lord.

ANDREW REPRESENTS
THEAVERAGECHR5TTAN
Andrew, as a disciple of Christ, forcibly
represents the average Christian. He had no
fanfare, no glamour, no praise from the
multitudes. Andrew was simply an average
follower of Christ, willing to do his part in bring-
ing the kingdom of God to earth. Many Chris-
tians remorsefully admit that they cannot
preach, are not gifted to sing, have no ability
18 Fishers Of Men

to write; therefore are not qualified to work for

Christ. These friends often say, "We feel
useless and worthless!"
This is a wrong attitude, and the devil is the
originator of such feelings. The devil knows
that Christ's greatest and most effective
workers have not been "limelight" idols, but
"lighthouse" souls who have consistently
shone in all kinds of weather.
If you cannot preach like Apollos, sing like
David, win souls like Peter and write like
Paul, you can give your personal testimony of
the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ like
Andrew! Ard in "fishing" for one at a time
like Andrew, you may "catch a big fish" like
Peter who will "catch" the multitudes.

BE A TUGBOAT
Do you feel you cannot do great things for
God? If so, I offer to you the following. If you
cannot be a powerful battleship with bristling
guns to fight God's battles, you can be a tug-
boat and push the mighty battle wagons out
of the harbor into the fight. I have never heard
a sailor despise the noble work of a little,
faithful tugboat. You can be one of the Lord's
tugboats.
There is nothing despicable about being
Fishers Of Men 19

average. The great backbone of society and

of the Christian Church is made up of
average people. Abraham Lincoln said, "God
must love the common people, He made so
many of us!"

TO WHOM SHALL WE WITNESS?

Some Christians have wondered to whom
they should witness. The answer is: Everyone!
To your baker, your banker, your doctor,
your carpenter, your mechanic, your
newsboy, to down and outs and up and
outs-testify to anyone and everyone that
God brings into your orbit of life.
Christ said, "From henceforth ye shall
catch men."
The speaker: Christ.
The addressed: Ye. All His disciples.
The certainty: Shall. There is no doubt.
The time: Henceforth. From now until
death.
The results: Catch men.
 2

FISHING WITH HOOKS

" ... Go thou to the sea, and cast an hook
and take up the fish ... " (Matthew 17:27).
Go to the sea.
" ... The waters ... are peoples, and multi-
tudes, and the nations and tongues ... "
(Revelation 17:15). The world is the sea.
"Cast an hook." This refers to the gospel
message, a text.
"Take up the fish." "Follow me, and I will
make you fishers of men." Christians are the
fishers. Christ is the Saviour.
I am personally convinced that the greatest
Christian work to be done in the world is that
of personal soulwinning. Individuals must tell
individuals that Christ is the Saviour. The im-
pact of personality against personality, seek-
ing to enthrone Christ as Lord in the heart of
22 Fishers Of Men

a fellow man. This is real fishing!

Net fishing (pulpit preaching) brings
numerical results. It is a spiritual mass pro-
duction and usually results in quantity rather
than quality. The finest and biggest fish are
caught with hooks, one by one.

ALASKA FISHING
While traveling in southeastern Alaska I
went fishing with a professional fisherman. At
the fishing grounds he lowered a tremendous
drag net from the stern of the vessel and
swept the bottom of the bay. When he pulled
it up-what a sight! There were flat fish, fat
fish, long fish, short fish, crawfish, good fish
and worthless fish. It reminded me of a mass
revival meeting with everything in the
evangelist's net! It was most interesting to
watch the veteran fisherman look over his
catch and throw the unprofitable fish back in-
to the water.
The angler does not fish with a net. He
fishes with a hook. He has a hook of a certain
size; he baits it for a certain specie of fish. So
in personal evangelism, the hook is baited for
a certain kind of "fish." To catch a big fish,
one needs a big hook! To catch a fighting
fish, one needs a long pronged hook to hold
him fast.
Fishing With Hooks 23

It is thrilling to angle. As a youth I lived in

Panama City, Florida, where we fished for red
fish in the Gulf of Mexico. Heavy cord and
strong hooks were necessary. When a fine
eight or ten pounder "hit the line" and started
to fight it was exciting. Sometimes we were
obliged to give the red fish some line, but
slowly he weakened and we pulled him
aboard.
On the other hand, we boys often went net
fishing for mullet. We would locate a school
of mullet and cast the net. Sometimes ten to
twenty mullet were caught in the net. They
were all about the same size and color; there
was no individualism, and little thrill in that
type of fishing. As a minister and an evangelist,
I say that catching souls for Christ, one by
one in personal evangelism, is the greatest
thrill in life.

A DOUBLE-DECK BUS EXPERIENCE

One night in London, England, I spoke in
Zion College on the Thames embankment.
The results were gratifying, souls responded
to the appeal and went into the prayer room
to seek God. However, on a double-deck bus
traveling back to Hampstead Heath some-
thing happened that was even more pleasing.
I was sitting in the front of the bus on the top
24 Fishers Of Men

deck. A Christain who was on the same bus

and had attended the meeting, informed me
that there was a young lady on the bus who
had also attended the service and was con-
victed of her sins. I went to the rear of the bus
and sat beside her and asked her if she would
accept Christ immediately. She said she
would. We bowed our heads and I prayed for
God to save her. A few minutes later she raised
her head, and with a smile on her tear-washed
face said, "I am saved; my sins are gone!"
With great joy in my heart I got off the bus. I
had personally "caught a fish" for Christ.
The last command which Christ delivered
to His disciples was, "Go ye into all the world
and preach the gospel to every creature."
The greatest decree in the Christian's warfare
is GO! GO! GO! Go into the highways and
the byways, alleys and tenements, offices and
factories, cottages and mansions. Wherever
you meet a man or woman, boy or girl, to try
to "catch" them for Christ.
The world will never be converted in
church buildings. If the world finds Christ, it
will be because individuals meet individuals
and testify for Christ. This means the entire
Church of Jesus Christ must be aroused to
accept its responsibility and every person
become a fisher of men.
Fishing With Hooks 25

Christ did not confine His ministry to the

synagogues. He revealed Himself as the
master personal worker. Is it not remarkable
that the Golden Text of the Bible (John 3: 16)
was given to only one man-Nicodemus.
However, Christ must have caught that
aristocratic "fish" for we find him expressing
his devotion to Christ, even when his own life
was in jeopardy, to bring one hundred
pounds of spice to Christ's burial.

Christ took the opportunity to speak to one

woman at the well of Samaria though she was
an adulteress. He offered her Living Water.
Through this woman Christ was able to move
the whole city.

The Apostle Paul did not wait for people to

come to church. He went from house to
house and taught the story of Jesus Christ
(Acts 20:20). He proclaimed the Gospel in
the market places, streets, and by the river-
side.

The story of Nathan's approach to David

after the king had sinned is an example of per-
sonal work. This fearless prophet said to
David, "Thou art the man!" He did not
hesitate. He had no fear. He was face-to-face
with a man who had sinned. We, too, must be
able to meet men face-to-face, and where there
26 Fishers Of Men

can be no evasion we must be able to say,

"Thou art the man!"
America's great soulwinner, Dwight L.
Moody said that he had personally prayed
with 750,000 souls in his meetings. He was
a preacher who dealt with men-one by one.
Men are born one by one.
Men die one by one.
Men are converted one by one.
Let's get them one by one.
Let's go fishfng for men!
 3

FISHERMAN FACTS
Facts cause men to act. May these fisher-
man facts stir your heart to action.
1 . Four and one-half billion people are liv-
ing today. Almost half of all the people who
have ever lived, are now living. What a
challenge for Christians to tell them that
Christ is the Redeemer! What a rebuke to
know four out of seven do not know that
Christ lived, died and rose again!
2. One hundred forty-two thousand peo-
ple die every twenty-four hours! A great
percentage of them have never heard the true
way of salvation.
3. If you were the sole witness of a death at
midnight, and you told two people within
twelve minutes, requesting that they tell two
others in twelve minutes, and for those eigh-
28 Fishers Of Men

teen to tell two others in twelve minutes, and

for those fifty-four to tell two others in twelve
minutes-how long would it take to tell the
entire world about a man who died in your
presence at midnight? Would it take years,
months, weeks? No, if your mathematics are
accurate you will find that 162 will hear the
news the first hour; 39,366 are informed by
the end of the second hour. By the third, the
news is traveling fast; now 9, 565, 578 know
the story. And by four o'clock in the morning,
2,344,435,454 (two billion, three hundred
forty-four million, four hundred thirty-five
thousand, four hundred and fifty-four) would
know! If each of these tells one more person,
the entire world would be informed. How
wonderful to know that if every Christian
labored as a constant witness, the whole
world could know the way of salvation in the
time between midnight and dawn. Does it not
challenge you to realize that Christ died on
Calvary over 1900 years ago and yet billions
of living persons have never heard that Christ
died for them?

4. In Africa, the news of the death of the

late King George the V was carried to the
bushmen and tribesmen by chosen runners.
They raced through the great interior crying
"The King is dead. The King is dead." Oh, to
Fisherman Fads 29

have millions of "runners" to go and tell the

world, "King Jesus died to save all
mankind!"
5. The word "preach" occurs 112 times
in the New Testament. 106 times it is used in
relation to a personal witness for Christ. "Ye
are My witnesses."
6. "Witness" is the key word of the New
Testament. It occurs 175 times. Every disci-
ple of Christ is a witness. A witness is under
obligation to tell what he knows.
7. One can't preach any place, but one
can witness any place.
8. One can't preach any time, but one can
witness any time.
9. Not sermons, but individual witnesses
will win the world to Christ.
10. Preachers cannot save the whole
world. Preachers are not the whole life-saving
crew of the church. The editor does not
deliver the newspaper; the grocer does not
deliver the groceries. Cooperation is
necessary: every member is needed to win
souls for the Master.
11 . God does not want proxy but persons.
Many young fellows are willing to be a King
Saul and give armor (their money) to some
30 Fishers Of Men

David who is willing to fight the battle for

God. No! God wants YOU!
12. The Holy Spirit is the motivating
power of personal evangelism.
13. Not human mechanics but divine
dynamics are necessary in soulwinning.
Christ does not want organization but
organism.
14. The genius of the Gospel is a passion
for souls.
15. A passion for Christ creates a passion
for winning men to Christ.
16. A soulwinning victory is a moral im-
possibility without a sincere compassion for
the lost, least, and last of the world.
17. Every adherent to a false faith is a prop-
agandist. Let us witness for the truth.

18. The church that ceases to be evan-

gelistic will ultimately cease to be evangelical.

19. Evangelism is the warp and woof of

Christian progress. The churches or
denominations with no evangelists, or ag-
gressive evangelistic program, are perishing
spiritually and numerically. The churches
which maintain evangelists and an aggressive
Fisherman Facts 31

spiritual program, are advancing and grow-

ing.
20. Until the beginning of the twentieth
century the Christian Church was growing
faster than the world population. From World
War I there has been a marked decline. It is
the lack of evangelism.
21. In this hour of apostasy in which
"isms," "osophies" and "ologies" are grow-
ing like foul weeds bringing chaos and confu-
sion to millions, God help us to step above
the picayunish and selfish ideas of sec-
tarianism and win souls to Christ. The great
preacher Dr. Lyman Beecher died saying, "It
is not theology. It is not controversy; it is to
save souls!"
22. Be a fisherman, not a recruiting
sergeant. Demand an altar of penitence
where hot tears of sorrow for sin can fall. Do
not resort to the feeble methods of member-
ship and handshaking.
23. Modern churches are seeking to at-
tract the natural man, and appeal to the carnal
man. They sell cheap dinners, put on
amateur shows and turn the church into a
second-rate Monte Carlo for raffles and card
playing. This will never save a sin-sodden, dy-
ing world. It is a humiliation to Christ. Car-
32 Fishers Of Men

nality is a barrier, not a channel.

24.' In spite of "Barnum and Bailey"
advertising in Saturday newspapers with over-
advertised speakers, misleading sermon
topics, super-trained choirs, organ recitals,
book reviews with no Gospel, the surging
masses of the unchurched world pay no
heed. A large percentage of the churches are
merely existing. Millions are dying without
God. Only personal evangelism can save
them!
25. The world does not believe the
testimony of the modern Church because the
Church has failed to effectively demonstrate
its faith.
26. The world does not believe a man is a
Christian until it has crucified him and finds
that he still lives! Christians must take abuse
and give love, thereby demonstrating regen-
eration.
27. You must lose your bait to catch a
fish. The late Billy Sunday used to say that
some people will not cast bread upon the
waters unless they are sure a layer cake will
wash back to them. That is not the way to win
souls. Catching souls for Christ will cost you
something; every time the fish bites you lose
the bait.
Fisherman Facts 33

28. Too little bait reveals the hook.

29. Too much bait-the fish lunches, then
swims away.
30. Fishermen are made, not born! Profes-
sional angler Izaak Walton said, "As no man
is born an artist, so no man is born an
angler."
It is an irrefutable fact that you can be a suc-
cessful fisher of men for Christ.
God spoke this through Ezekiel, "When I
say unto the wicked, 0 wicked man, thou
shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn
the wicked from his way, that wicked man
shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I re-
quire at thine hand." Ezekiel 33:8.
God help us!
Let's go fishing for men!
 4

FISHERMAN TACT
Give the fish more line!
Hold him tight!
Pull in the fish!
The experienced angler knows there are
times when it is wise to give the fish more line
in order to avoid losing him. He also realizes
that there is the strategic moment to firmly,
but cautiously, pull the fish from the water.
This could be termed fisherman tact. Tact is
the right touch.
One of the greatest tragedies among fishers
of men is tactless fishing. Successful fishers of
men learn the right approach. They know that
all kinds of bait and hooks can be used to
catch fish and they adjust themselves to every
situation. They become instinctively aware of
when to go easy on the hook, give the fish
36 Fishers Of Men

more line, or tenaciously pull in the fish. We

should pray for tact in personal soulwinning.
The following are suggestions on fisher-
man tact:
1. The clever angler keeps his instruments
clean. He is careful with them. He is proud of
them. The fisher of men must keep clean in-
struments to win souls. Holy hands and a
guiltless heart are absolutely imperative for
successful soulwinning. The angler for Christ
must live above reproach or receive a rebuke
from the sinner and from God.
2. More than in any other business the
fisher of men must be sincere. The immortal
soul is no plaything and should not be lightly
esteemed. Frivolity has no place in soulwin-
ning. Not only be sincere, but be intense. A
slovenly person cannot win souls for the
Master. In all my acquaintance with fishing {in
the natural sense as well as in the spiritual) I
have seen that the wide-awake person wins.
3. Keep a cool head and a warm heart.
Never lower your invitation to an argument.
Never be antagonistic even in retaliation.
Keep love in your heart and common sense
in your head.
4. Do not use too many points to convince
or your invitation will become pointless. Keep
Fisherman Tact 37

to the point. Do not permit the conversation

to get out-of-bounds. "Accept Christ now" is
your message.
5. Avoid unnecessary familiarities.
Remember refined persons are often sensitive
and do not appreciate a stranger putting their
hands on them or patting them on the shoulder.
A down-and-out person may accept it as a
token of friendship, but in most instances
familiarity is a distraction rather than a help.
6. Do not be a gusher. It is an insult to in-
telligent people to say, "Now, dearie, please
come to sweet Jesus. Darling, come right
now." Remember, you are on the King's
business-act like an ambassador! I know a
young minister who, after preaching, ap-
proached a charming young lady and said,
"Won't you give your heart to Christ
tonight?" The woman replied: "No, not
tonight." The persuasive young minister took
the lady by her arm and pleadingly said, "Just
for me, won't you come tonight?" The woman
turned and remonstrated, "Keep your hands
to yourself. When I seek God it will be for my
soul and not your pleasure!" She was right.
7. Deal with a person in terms he can
understand. Be simple. One time in Argentina
a baker was delivering bread to the home
where I was staying. As he passed I smilingly
38 Fishers Of Men

commented, "Mr. Baker, do you know the

Bread of Life?" "Pan de Vida? No, senor,"
Therefore, quickly, so as not to keep him too
long from his delivery, I explained that Jesus
Christ was the Bread of Life. He will never
forget that brief interview with a foreigner,
because he was holding a large basket of
brown loaves when I directed him to Eternal
Bread. When seeking to lead someone to the
Lord, try to use terms familiar to his everyday
life.
8. Unless God specifically directs, do not
speak harshly to the person with whom you
are dealing. In a meeting where I was present
an enthusiastic young lady asked another
young woman to be a Christian. The sinner
declined. The Christian girl rather indignantly
retorted, "You had better be converted or
you will be a woman of disrepute like your
sister!" Needless to say there was no soul
won for Christ. "He that winneth souls is
. "
wise.
9. Do not be a pessimist. Only the
lighthearted optimist can effectively win souls
for the Lord. You must be a product of
Christianity. You must be an example of what
Christianity will do. If you are in low spirits
and having a terrible time, others will not want
to join you.
Fisherman Tact 39

10. Above all things, reveal Christ and not

yourself. Set forth the virtues of Christ and not
yours. Remember, if the trout sees the angler,
the angler will not catch the trout!
Let's go fishing for men!
 5

FISHERMAN FORTUNE
"We have toiled all night, and have taken
nothing."
Some anglers grumble when they fail to
catch fish. They declare fishing to be useless.
They say the fish get away with the bait.
Fishers of men are often discouraged because
they seemingly toil in vain.
Here are a few rules for fisherman fortune.
1 . The law of averages guarantees an
average person average success. The big
house-to-house companies who sell only to
housewives at their front doors assure their
salesmen that if they knock at enough doors
they will make a livelihood. Paralleling this
thought: if you ask enough people to come to
Christ you will win souls for the Master. Fur-
ther, you have something an ordinary sales-
42 Fishers Of Men

man does not have-the anointing of the Holy

Spirit to convince sinners of truth.
2. Always have bait on hand. Never go
without prayer for guidance concerning what
to say and to whom to speak. Always have the
Scriptures ready to use. Christ always had a
parable ready to illustrate His truths.
3. Be an individualist. Most of the failures
in personal work are caused by imitating
others. Act natural, talk natural, and be
natural. I heard an interesting story in Poland.
An American missionary went fishing with a
Polish Christian. The American was telling
the Pole how to fish the modern way explain-
ing how to use the rod, reel and artificial bait.
The Pole was fishing with a native worm, us-
ing a limb from a tree as a rod. While the
American was telling the Pole how to fish, the
Polish angler was pulling in the fish one by
one, and the American caught nothing! The
simplest, native way of dealing with souls is
the best.
4. No fisherman's luck? Maybe you have
been using the wrong kind of bait. I have seen
many signs around the world stating, "Bait
for local fishing." In one place they use a fly,
another a worm, another a crawfish, another a
shrimp, another a piece of butcher's meat. In
Paraguay while traveling on the Upper
Fisherman Fortune 43

Paraguay River I saw the natives fishing with

fruit. They would bait a piece of orange on the
hook, cast it overboard and pull out a fish. If
you use the wrong bait you will catch no fish.
Always use local bait. Do not try to con-
vince a farmer the same way you would a
doctor. You need a different approach. I
remember preaching in a church where a
blacksmith came to hear me every night. He
looked sullen, as if his wife had compelled
him to come. One night I spoke of tempered
steel, the forge, the anvil and the hammers.
The old smithy came to me after the meeting
and said, "That was a wonderful sermon,
Reverend, the best you have preached yet!"
Why was it wonderful? Only because it was
baited to suit his taste.
5. Are you impatient? Have you ever seen
a salesman hang on? Have you seen them
make repeated trips to a prospective
customer? Fishing for Christ demands pa-
tience. Try and try again, you cannot lose! Sr.
Perez, a Venezuelan friend of mine was in-
terested in winning a Roman priest to Christ.
He visited him, loaned him books, discussed
the Bible with him, prayed for him. After four
years the floodlights of heaven shined on the
padre and transformed his soul. I have met
the converted priest and prayed with him.
44 Fishers Of Men

God accomplished a great work in his heart.

Sr. Perez had no thought of stopping, though
it took ten years.
6. Are you inventive? Can you match
every situation? Do you have a word for any
emergency? Are you ready to fish at any mo-
ment? A missionary in Central America was
visiting a volcano crater with a friend. His
friend accidentally fell into the crater and landed
on a ledge just out of reach. How could he be
saved? They had no ropes or sticks. The
enterprising young American slipped his
trousers off, made a rope of them and handed
them down to his friend. In a few moments he
was safe, and no harm was done to the
trousers. He saved a life-not having conven-
tional methods at hand, he created his own.
Be inventive. Meet every obstacle with a solu-
tion.
7. Do you have courage? You may be
challenged, "Canst thou draw out Leviathan
with a hook?" Reply, "Yes, by the all suffi-
cient grace of the Lord Jesus we can pull out
the biggest fish in the sea of iniquity." The
Lord said in Isaiah 37:29, "I will put my hook
in thy nose." With the hook of God's Word
we can pull out any fish for the Master! They
are never too wicked for God to save.
8. Did you lose a hook? Some feel like
Fisherman Fortune 45

quitting because of losing a hook. Don't quit

if you get one hook in a jaw and the line
breaks, give him another one! Never give up.
My mother prayed many years for God to
save my father.
God has promised results if we faint not,
and are not weary in well doing.
Let's go fishing for men!
 6

FISHERMAN
DEMOCRACY
Personal evangelism leaves the realm of
dignitaries, bosses and leaders, and places the
worker on his own honor and initiative. This
makes personal evangelism a democracy.
Every personal worker for Christ must meet
everyone on the Christian standard; the
witness for Christ looks down upon none and
looks up to none. His message is "All have
sinned and come short of the glory of God."
He speaks as the very mouthpiece of
Jehovah, and with divine authority to whom-
soever the Spirit leads him to witness.

Elijah was called upon to severely rebuke an

apostate monarch, which he did; yet Christ
was willing to speak respectfully and kindly to
an unchaste woman who had fallen into the
48 Fishers Of Men

quagmire of iniquity. This is the democracy of

soulwinning.
Some very lowly people have won persons
of high estate for the Master, and some per-
sons of high authority have graciously and
joyfully won lowly souls to Christ.
A humble slave girl was used of God to
witness to the honorable, distinguished
General Naaman. The Bible says he was " ... a
mighty man of valor, great with the king ... but
he was a leper." With all his natural greatness
he was doomed. The mighty warrior was being
devoured by the rebellious cells of cancerous
leprosy. The godly slave girl, always alert to
let her light shine, gave Naaman the right
prescription for his leprosy ... there is a God
in Israel! Not was, but is. He lives! That was
the vital message Naaman needed.
The unfortunate slave girl could not
preach, and had she possessed the ability, the
opportunity would have been denied her be-
cause she was a slave. However she could
witness for her God. In this manner she was
free even though she was a slave. In the
darkness of a paganistic home her light
shone. She lived an exemplary life in which
Naaman and his wife had confidence.
The Old Testament abounds with examples
 Fisherman Democracy 49

of spiritual democracy and the New Testa-

ment contains even more. In first century
evangelism the unlettered fisherman, Simon
Peter, testified before the learned rulers that
Jesus was the Christ. His listeners were so
amazed at his inspired delivery of words that
they took counsel that he had been with
Jesus! No greater compliment could be paid
a follower of Christ. On the other hand, Peter
was just as willing to look tenderly upon the
poor beggar at the Beautiful Gate and give
him "such as I have." Christianity is a
democracy.
Paul, the religious gladiator who fought
with "the beasts of Ephesus" and fearlessly
defended Christianity in every society, was as
ready to witness to haughty, position-crazed
rulers as he was to humble women by a
Philippian stream. In the midst of a
devastating storm and shipwreck, or standing
before the imperial throne of Caesar, he gave
testimony of a living God and His power to
save.
In the first century not only the leaders of
the apostolic Church were active in soulwin-
ning, but also the laymen. The believers went
everywhere preaching the Gospel. The
church grew amazingly fast because every
member was a witness. By the end of the

I -
50 Fishers Of Men

apostolic period the Christian disciples

numbered half a million!

BRAZILIAN REVIVAL
This same phenomenon of revival can be
witnessed in Brazil today. I heard of stories
like this. A family accepted Christ; their
relatives lived in another city where there was
no Protestant church. They quit their local
work, moved to that town, obtained a job to
earn a livelihood and laid plans to start a
church. The family began prayer meetings in
their home and invited neighbors. They
testified of Christ's power to transform lives,
and gave out portions of the Word of God.
Souls were saved by this simple ministry. It
finally became . necessary to send for a
minister to baptize believers and to organize a
church. This first century method is working
successfully in the twentieth century. I main-
tain that if every member of our Christian
churches witnessed for Christ the whole
world would hear the glad news in this
generation.

WITNESSING TO A CONSUL
In Danzig Free State I was invited to dinner
by the American Consul. He offered me an al-
coholic cocktail; I refused explaining that the
Fisherman Democracy 51

capon was delicious, but I did not care for

cocktails.
The after-dinner talk centered around our
travels, our mutual homeland and birthplace.
After describing my travels for Christ, I asked
the consul to accept the Lord as his Saviour.
He had many questions; therefore we discuss-
ed Christianity until the morning hours. Final-
ly he asked if I valued his conversion more
than a beggar on the street. Being uncertain
of the motive behind the question I explained
that he and the beggar were equal in their
mutual need of the Saviour, but, that no
doubt he with his talents and education would
be of greater value to the Kingdom of God.
When I saw that he was satisfied with the
answer I clinched the point by saying, "Chris-
tianity is a democracy, all are equal in rights,
but all are not equal in value."
We knelt and enjoyed a precious time of
prayer. The consul confessed his sins and
asked forgiveness.

SHOE COBBLER WINS A PROFESSOR

Dean Culley arranged for me to give some
talks at Wheaton College. One of the talks
was to Professor Gregolia's anthropology
class. Afterward. the three of us dined in the
school dining room. As we chatted about
52 Fishers Of Men

various Christian experiences, Professor

Gregolia told us how he was won to Christ by
a poor unlearned shoe cobbler. The brilliant
Georgian professor received words of eternal
life from the untrained mind and stammering
lips of a shoe cobbler.
That shoe cobbler knew the democracy of
soulwinning and was not ashamed to talk
with the professor about soles and souls!
Saving immortal souls makes life a
democracy! Testify to high and low, rich and
poor with the same message of Christ and His
salvation.
Let's go fishing for men!
 7

FISHERMAN
ENDURANCE
lived near the Gulf of Mexico during a
good part of my youth and discovered that
fishermen are hard workers. They have to
struggle with tides, storms and price controls
to bring food home to their children. Fisher-
men must be patient and persevering in their
toil. If they fail to catch fish today, they return
another day.

To be a good fisherman for Christ you

must possess endurance. You must be willing
to fight the storms of opposition, stem the
floods of criticism, and labor in the face of
seemingly fruitless endeavor. Tenacity and
doggedness must be your constant equip·
ment.
54 Fishers Of Men

DR. CHALMERS AND THE INFIDEL

From all visible evidence you might as well
talk to an Alaskan totem pole as to ask some
people to accept Christ. There seems to be
absolutely no soul response toward God.
However, the fisher of men does not work ac-
cording to outward evidence, but by the prin-
ciple of being faithful to God. In too many in-
stances the fisherman gives up too soon. It is
a challenge to read the account of Dr.
Chalmers of Glasgow, Scotland, who visited
an infidel twenty-two times, seeking admis-
sion to witness for Christ. The infidel was
known to the minister, who, when he heard
that the infidel was seriously ill, resolved to
speak to him about eternity. Twenty-one
times Dr. Chalmers knocked on the door and
asked for an interview with the dying in-
fidel-but twenty-one times he was refused.
The twenty-second time, the infidel found no
power to resist. Upon permitting Dr.
Chalmers to enter his sick room he com-
mented, "I want to see the man who could be
refused twenty-one times!"

It pays eternal dividends to resolve to labor

for Christ not by feeling, but by principle. We
have a duty to fulfill.

As a boy I noticed some traits which were

Fisherman Endurance 55

characteristic of successful fishermen.

Fishermen always get up early in the morn-
ing. Usually before the break of dawn the
fisherman is on his job, and he labors until
late before returning home. Those who stay
on the job win souls for Christ.
Fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico travel
several days journey out to sea to find the spot
where fish bite the best; there they pull out
specimen. Don't be afraid to go out of your
way to win a soul for the Lord Jesus. Don't
waste your time and energy fishing in fished-
out spots. The easily accessible spots are
usually "fished out." One time my little
nephew came to Florida to visit; and as our
home overlooked the gulf, he wanted to fish.
To pacify him I fixed a tub of water in the back
yard, got him a stick, tied a string on it and
put a bent pin on the string. The little fellow
sat for hours with his bent pin and string
dangling in the tub of water patiently waiting
for a bite, but he never got one for the simple
reason there were no fish there.
Christian angler, listen to the voice of
Christ. He knows where the fish are! When
Peter, the veteran fisherman of Galilee, weary
with an entire night of fruitless fishing, obeyed
the command of Christ and said, "Never-
theless at thy word I will let down the net ... "
56 Fishers Of Men

he caught more than he could handle. If you

are weary and discouraged, obey the voice of
Christ and try again.
Let's go fishing for men!
 8

HOOKS FOR
FISHERMEN
Know your hooks!
Arranged under "Hooks for Fishermen" are
portions of the Word of God especially help-
ful for winning souls. It is well to mark texts in
your Bible and often it is good to have the per-
son with whom you are dealing read portions
from the Bible aloud.
1. "For all have sinned, and come short of
the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23).
2. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we
have turned every one to his own way; and
the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us
all" (Isa. 53:6).
3. "For the wages of sin is death; but the
gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).
58 Fishers Of Men

4. "There is a way which seemeth right

unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of
death" (Prov. 14: 12).
5. "Whereas ye know not what shall be on
the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a
vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and
then vanisheth away" (James 4: 14).
6. "Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for
thou knowest not what a day may bring forth"
(Prov. 27: 1).
7. "For what is a man profited, if he shall
gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
or what shall a man give in exchange for his
soul?" (Matt. 16:26).
8. "And as it is appointed unto men once
to die, but after this the judgment" (Heb. 9:27).
9. "The wicked shall be turned into hell,
and all the nations that forget God" (Psa. 9: 17).
10. "And whosoever was not found written
in the book of life was cast into the lake of
fire" (Rev. 20:15).
11. "For God so loved the world, that he
gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life" (John 3: 16).
12. "For he hath made him to be sin for
us, who knew no sin; that we might be made
Hooks For Fishers 59

the righteousness of God in him" (II Cor. 5:21 ).

13. "But God commendeth His love
toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8).
14. "He that believeth on the Son hath
everlasting life: and he that believeth not the
Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God
abideth on him" (John 3:36).
15. "Neither is there salvation in any other:
for there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be sav-
ed" (Acts 4: 12).
16. "But these are written, that ye might
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of
God; and that believing ye might have life
through his name." (John 20:31 ).
17. "To him give all the prophets witness,
that through his name whosoever believeth in
him shall receive remission of sins" (Acts
10:43).
18. "But as many as received him, to them
gave he power to become the sons of God,
even to them that believe on his name."
(John 1: 12).
19. "He that believeth on him is not con-
demned; but he that believeth not is con-
demned already, because he hath not believ-
60 Fishers Of Men

ed in the name of the only begotten Son of

God. And this is the condemnation, that light
is come into the world, and men loved
darkness rather than light, because their
deeds were evil" (John 3: 18, 19).
20. "Come now, and let us reason
together, saith the LORD: though your sins be
as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they be red like crimson, they shall be
as wool" (Isa. 1: 18).
21 . "Wherefore he is able also to save
them to the uttermost that come unto God by
him, seeing he ever liveth to make interces-
sion for them" (Heb. 7:25).
22. "The Lord ... is longsuffering to us-
ward, not willing that any should perish, but
that all should come to repentance" (II Peter
3:9).
23. "Seek ye the LORD while he may be
found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let
the wicked forsake his way, and the
unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him
return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy
upon him; and to our God, for he will abun-
dantly pardon" (Isa. 55:6, 7).
24. "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth
the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine
heart that God hath raised him from the dead,
Hooks For Fishers 61

thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man

believeth unto righteousness; and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation"
(Rom. 10:9, 10).
25. "Whosoever therefore shall confess
me before men, him will I confess also before
my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 10:32).
26. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he
is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new" (II Cor.
5:17).
27. "A new heart also will I give you, and a
new spirit will I put within you: and I will take
away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I
will give you an heart of flesh" (Ezek. 36:26).
Let's go fishing for men!