Motivations to witness

How Billy Graham's Ministry Began

It all started with a visit -- a Sunday School teacher named Mr. Kimball in 1858 led a Boston shoe clerk to give his life to Jesus Christ.

The clerk, Dwight L. Moody, became an evangelist. 

In England in 1879, he awakened evangelistic zeal in the heart of F.B. Meyer, pastor of a small church.

F.B. Meyer, preaching to an American college campus, brought to Christ a student named J. Wilbur Chapman.

Chapman engaged in YMCA work. He employed a former baseball player, Billy Sunday, to do evangelistic work.

Billy Sunday held a revival in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

A group of local men were so enthusiastic afterward 

that they planned another evangelistic campaign bringing Mordecai Hamm to town to preach.

During Hamm's revival a young man named Billy Graham heard the Gospel and yielded his life to Christ.

Only eternity will reveal the tremendous impact of that one Sunday School teacher who invested his life in the lives of others.

Will you invest your life in the lives of others? 

My Friend

My Friend, I stand in the judgement now, 

And feel you're the blame somehow; 

On earth I walked with you day by day, 

And never did you point the way.

You knew the Lord in Truth and Glory, 

But never did you tell the story. 

My knowledge then was very dim, 

You could have led me safe to Him.

Though we lived together on the earth, 

You never told me of the Second Birth. 

And now I stand this day condemned, 

Because you failed to mention Him.

You taught me many things, that's true. 

I called you 'friend' and trusted you. 

But I learn, now that it's too late, 

You could have kept me from this fate.

We walked by day and talked by night, 

And yet you showed me not the light. 

You let me live, and love, and die, 

You knew I'd never live on High.

Yes, I called you 'friend' in life, 

And trusted you through joy and strife, 

And yet, on coming to this end, 

I cannot now call you 'MY FRIEND! 

ALEXANDER the Great, was a great fearless and courageous leader. None could stand before him. One thing he could not abide was cowardice. In court he was exacting and merciless, none could deliver out of his hand. A 17 year old handsome youth was brought before him. Alexander looked at him.

'What is his crime?', Alexander asked. 

'He was caught running from the enemy, hiding in a cave. He is a coward!'- the official answered."

Alexander's face hardened but he looked at the boy again. Then he said: 'what's your name?' 

The people knew that the boy had won his heart. 

With a sigh of relief he answered, 'Alexander, sir.' 

Suddenly Alexander's face hardened: 'W H A T!' 

'Alexander, s....ir' - the boy said again. 

Growing red with anger Alexander the Great repeated his question in disbelief: 'Soldier, WHAT IS YOUR NAME?' 

'Alexander, sir' came the reply.

Grabbing him by the throat Alexander the Great threw him to the ground and shouted, 

'SOLDIER, change your conduct, or change your name!'

'What is your name?' 'Christian, sir' 

'What is your name?' 'Christian, my Lord' 

'WHAT IS YOUR NAME?' 'Christian, my God'

Dare you who have maintained a craven silence when commanded to proclaim the Gospel to every creature. 

Dare you who through all of these decades have refused to bear witness to the name of Him who set his face as flint toward Jerusalem. 

Dare you take upon your lips that sacred name? 

Change your conduct or change your name! 

THE VALUE OF A SMILE 

It costs nothing, but creates much. 

It enriches those who receive, without impoverishing those who give. 

It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. 

None are so rich they can get along without it, 

and none so poor but are richer for its benefits. 

It creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in a business, and is the countersign of friends. 

It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and Nature's best antidote for trouble. 

Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, 

for it is something that is no earthly good to anybody until it is given away. 

For nobody needs a smile so much as those who have none left to give!'

DO IT ANYWAY

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; 

Love them anyway. Forgive them anyway. 

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway. 

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies 

Succeed anyway. 

If you are honest and frank; people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway. 

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; 

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; 

Be happy anyway. 

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; 

Do good anyway. 

The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down 

by the smallest people with the smallest minds. 

Think big anyway! 

People really need help, but may attack you if you help them. 

Help people anyway! 

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; 

Give the world the best you've got anyway. 

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God 

It was never between you and them anyway.

Four steps to achievement:

1. Plan purposefully.

2. Prepare prayerfully.

3. Proceed positively.

4. Pursue persistently. - William A. Ward.