God Uses Tracts, Do You?

by Sumner Wemp

God Uses Tracts, Do You? is the title of a tract I wrote 50 years ago. It has been reproduced, copied, modified and published in 10 Christian publications. Here it is:

A sailor told how he was saved while reading a tract thrown to him from a passing car as he was hitch hiking. Alone in her room a girl who was a carhop received Christ after reading a tract left with a tip for her. A tract sent in the mail was used of God to lead a grandmother to the Savior. God uses tracts! Do you?

"Preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). Do you? You may not have enough time to witness personally to each person you meet, but you can witness through tracts. Here are some practical pointers on how to pass out tracts. Pass them out:

1. PRAYERFULLY. Of course everything should be done prayerfully. This is especially true when giving out tracts. Pray for the Holy Spirit to speak to hearts and to open the eyes of the recipient's understanding so that he may receive Christ.

2. POLITELY. Never be rude or crude. If our gospel is an offense, that is one matter. But if we are offensive, that is sin. Be very courteous.

3. PLEASANTLY. It costs so little to smile, but a smile goes so far. With love in your heart and a smile on your face, ask kindly, "May I give you something special to read?" If a person refuses or wants to argue, remain pleasant. Don't argue.

4. PLENTIFULLY. "Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully" (2 Cor. 9:6). Tracts cost so little that you can afford to give them freely. Certainly some people will throw them away. Many turn off the radio, yet we still broadcast the gospel. Many see little fruit because they give out so little.

5. PERSISTENTLY. "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary" (Gal. 6:9). Let's walk by faith and not by sight. Many have seen great results because they keep at it.


6. PRACTICALLY. Don't expect God to stop you suddenly on the street and say, "Here, give this man a tract" or "Wait, don't give him one." Would you even have a tract with you if He did? God expects us to be practical and buy up our opportunities. We don't wait for the Spirit to move us before we pray or read our Bible. Neither should we wait for a feeling to give out tracts.

Put tracts in letters, Christmas cards, and bills. Give them to clerks, waitresses, salesmen; and all who come to your door. Leave them in places where people will likely see them and pick them up. Go in teams for mass distribution to bus and train stations, airports, shopping centers, and sporting arenas. Send teams from the church, door to door, until you reach every home.

Doctors have put them in statements, businessmen in letters, and store owners in packages. Tract racks maybe profitably placed in stores, stations, hospitals, etc. Be sure the tracts are attractive and printed on good paper. Don't cheapen your witness. Watch and pray for some new way to distribute tracts.

7. PERSONALLY. One of the unique aspects of tracts is that anyone can use them, young or old, educated or uneducated, rich or poor. People who would not come to your church will read a tract in privacy. Be sure it contains the gospel -- the death, burial and resurrection of Christ for our sins!

8. PROSPECTIVELY. One of the greatest values of tract is their ease in opening the door to witness. Use them as a tool to witness but never as an excuse for not witnessing. After a person has read the tract try to engage him in conversation, and witness further to him.

9. PRESENTLY. Don't delay; start today. Remember you can never be led to give out a tract if you have none with you. Again, be like Peter, "I will do as you say" Lk 5:5. Try to get the gospel to EVERY person without being pushy or offensive.

10. PURPOSEFULLY. Stamp your address on the back of the tract for a follow-up.

Let's preach the gospel to every creature we meet through the use of tracts.

O dear people, the first time you went bowling you did not feel comfortable but became at ease as you bowled again and again. So it is with anything we do. Pray as Peter prayed, "Grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence (they may give out tracts) Acts 4:29. God gave them boldness and a great multitude were saved! May it be so with you, I love you, all because of Calvary, Sumner