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Issue about Soulwinning at night time.

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by chickenlady, Oct 28, 2005.

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  1. chickenlady

    chickenlady New Member

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    I'm a 24 year old woman in Central Jersey. Every Wednesday night my church goes soulwinning. We have a very small church, so the only people that go are some of the women, some of the boys from the school there (like 11 or 12 yr olds) and my pastor goes alone but the group of women go together, and then split up in 2's. Now at this time of year when we go (6:30PM) it's pitch black outside. We go in rather dangerous neighborhoods. Lately, I've been feeling really insecure. When I hand most men tracts, especially middle aged type guys, they feel like I'm coming onto them or something. Some guys try touching me, or talking dirty to me, and I don't like it one bit! My point is, if women are supposed to be protected, treated as gems; precious and gentle...why are we being sent out on visitation without a man there to protect us? I brought the issue up but it's like nobody gets it.

    And not saying this to be vain, but I think the majority of them don't get it because guys are more likely to hit on a woman that's attractive. And my pastor says people are more likely to sin at night time. I just don't feel safe, but I want to participate in my soulwinning activities at church. I'm already somewhat uneasy because I have a disease that makes me more vulnerable to injury.

    Just last week they were telling us to be careful cause a guy soulwinner at our friend church got hit over the head by a wooden board and another soulwinner got chased with a knife.

    While I was visiting a friend in TX she told me that her husband A. perfered she not witness to men (but give them a tract) without him or another man there. And that B. Her church has the women specifically go soulwinning during the day when there's less crime and it's the daylight. Her church really seems to be good at the whole point of protecting the women, which I like. What should I say to my pastor ya think? I'd like to present this to him so he can understand my conviction about the matter.
     
    #1 chickenlady, Oct 28, 2005
  2. Brother James

    Brother James New Member

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    Having women out at night in bad neighborhoods is just plain stupid. There are other ways you can take part in evangelistic activities without risking your life. If you feel unsafe you shouldn't go. I have pastored for 20 years and would never think of sending ladies or children in to such a situation.
     
    #2 Brother James, Oct 28, 2005
  3. Petrel

    Petrel New Member

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    I completely agree.
     
    #3 Petrel, Oct 28, 2005
  4. Scarlett O.

    Scarlett O. Moderator
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    OK, Chickenlady you are 24. I am 44. The Bible says to let the older women teach the younger women. Have a seat, dear.

    If you are uncomfortable, that is not your church's fault, but your fault. Don't go soulwinning in the pitch black in dangerous neighborhoods and approach strange men that you don't know and who are "seedy" and making you feel unsafe.

    It's not rocket science, sweetie.

    And it has nothing to do with whether you are attractive or not. Men who are going to do harm to women or to make comments or touch them inappropriately will do so to any woman that they feel like. It's not about a pretty face. It's about power and the abuse of it.

    If you are 24 and alone or in the company of another younger woman, then go during the day and approach families or children or other women.

    If you take a "lost" man in a dangerous neighborhood and have a young 24 year old girl come up to him in the dark, smiling, and offering out her hand with something in it, then, good grief, what do you think he may possibly think???

    Nighttime is NOT the only time to go soulwinning. My church has night groups who ONLY visit people who have visited our church or who are in the hospital. We have daytime groups who visit anyone and daytime groups who approach total strangers, but approach them in the safety of crowds.

    It's simple. You do NOT have to be with your pastor's visitation group to go soulwinning.

    Pick a day time or weekend session.

    Don't go alone.

    And being a 24 year old girl, do NOT under any circumstances approach a man that you do not know unless you are in the company of someone, beit man or woman, who could knock his lights out if necessary.

    We are to take the gospel to the four corners of the globe and to all people, but we are also to be wary of danger and sensitive to how the lost world percieves us as we go.

    This is not your church's fault nor the men of your church's fault.

    Yes, the men should be supporting the pastor's visitation, but their lack of attendance is not what is making you uncomfortable.

    What is making you uncomfortable is the fact that YOU have decided to ignore the dangers of strange men in strange and dangerous neighborhoods and you are putting your own self in danger, not your pastor, not your church, and not the men.

    Speak up, sister. Stop attending visitation after dark in dangerous neighborhoods and tell you pastor with respect, but FIRMLY why you are choosing a day time or weekend session. If he doesn't understand, then explain it to him again.

    Don't try to "make" him understand and don't try to "make" the men of the church understand.

    Keep on soulwinning, sister. Keep on. Just do it in a common sense manner.

    You see, your own common sense and well being far outways any other person's refusal to attend soulwinning.

    Peace and be safe-
    Scarlett O.
    <><
     
    #4 Scarlett O., Oct 28, 2005
  5. Gershom

    Gershom Active Member

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    There is no way that you should be out at night approaching anyone you don't know, especially men. Too many bad things could happen. There are other ways of spreading the Gospel.
     
    #5 Gershom, Oct 28, 2005
  6. bapmom

    bapmom New Member

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    I agree, ChickenLady.

    Did you say that this is the only time your church has an organized visitation time? Perhaps you should suggest that you start a Lady's Soulwinning time for the church ladies to go out together.....during daylight hours. We have ours every Tuesday morning, we call it our Acts 20:20 club, and we have a lady who takes the little ones too young to be in school and she has a "Busy Buzzy Bees" time with them.

    We sometimes only have 5 or 6 ladies attend, especially during the school year when our teacher ladies are working, but it is a valuable time for those of us who get to go.
     
    #6 bapmom, Oct 28, 2005
  7. Gib

    Gib Active Member

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    I'm 6'5" and quite capable of taking care of myself. There are many places I will NOT go after 5pm. There are plenty of strange women in strange places to make me not want ot go there.
     
    #7 Gib, Oct 28, 2005
  8. Thankful

    Thankful <img src=/BettyE.gif>

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    Please read Scarlett's post carefully and follow her advice AND I am old enough to be her mother ;)
     
    #8 Thankful, Oct 28, 2005
  9. baptistteacher

    baptistteacher Member
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    Scarlett O. --&gt;&gt; AMEN!!!!
     
    #9 baptistteacher, Oct 28, 2005
  10. gb93433

    gb93433 Active Member
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    When I lived in the city I would not open the door after dark for someone I did not know. Sunday is the day most people are home anyway. So go Sunday during the daylight hours.
     
    #10 gb93433, Oct 29, 2005
  11. Rachel

    Rachel New Member

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    Amazing! You know, it's suprising one of y'all haven't been raped or killed.
    I really can't fathom why the Pastor would allow this! It's insane.
     
    #11 Rachel, Oct 29, 2005
  12. Plain Old Bill

    Plain Old Bill New Member

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    ScarlettO, right on. I'm a guy who has been around and I would'nt go into a dangerous area after dark to buy a soda.Follow Scarletts advise it is VERY sound.
    The only type of evangelistic work that should take place after dark is visitation of someone who has been to the church,the sick,or to members of a SS class, along those lines.Where you have a specific address to go to.
     
    #12 Plain Old Bill, Oct 29, 2005
  13. blackbird

    blackbird Active Member

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    Ditto, here!

    If you are under conviction to soul-win---knock on doors---things like that----ask the preacher to give you a "handful" of names and then tell him that you and "Miss so & so" will be going during the daytime hours----like on a Saturday afternoon or Sunday between morning and evening worship---but I definately will say that Scarlett "has been there and done that" and I have too

    Bro. David
     
    #13 blackbird, Oct 29, 2005
  14. chickenlady

    chickenlady New Member

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    Scarlett- You make it seem like I run up to strange dudes in the parking lot handing them tracts. When we go on visitation, we knock door to door. How can I know if a woman is going to open the door or a man? That's what I'm talking about here.

    A regular guy that likes to hit on women is going to go after a more attractive woman. Putting his hands on her, etc. It's happened to me through and through, even in the day light while witnessing to people. I do agree that guys who are out to hurt women will do it to any woman.

    I'm going to ask my pastor about having a day soulwinning group for the women, if not... I'm no longer attending their scheduled visitation. Thanks for the advice everybody.
     
    #14 chickenlady, Oct 29, 2005
  15. Brother Ian

    Brother Ian Active Member

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    Let your pastor know how you feel. Its just not smart to do what you're doing. Soulwinning is great, but you shouldn't fear for your safety.
     
    #15 Brother Ian, Oct 29, 2005
  16. fatbacker

    fatbacker New Member

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    I would have to agree that women witnessing at night without a man present is unneccesarily dangerous.

    I would like to point out however that being faced with danger for our faith is something that we as christians are going to have to face. I know in many other countries christians are killed for what they believe and this country is not far behind them. Many in our country are trying to pretty much outlaw God and the more time passes the less the young people of this country are likely to hear about Jesus and therefore when approached with the gospel may resort to fury and rage when being confronted with the truth.

    I would in no ways put a woman in an area where it is pitch black and known violence. That is like the devil tempting Jesus to jump off the cliff knowing God would send His Angles to save Him and we know Jesus did not tempt God.
     
    #16 fatbacker, Oct 29, 2005
  17. TexasSky

    TexasSky Guest

    I'm old enough to be your mother also, and agree with those who say don't go. We live in a very strange age, and the fact is, in certain neighborhoods the mere fact that you are a Christian puts you at higher risk.

    I don't know what part of Jersey you are in, but I can't think of any part of Jersey where it would be safe for two people to go door to door in the evening, much less two women.
     
    #17 TexasSky, Oct 29, 2005
  18. Soulman

    Soulman New Member

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    Chickenlady,
    I have a 24 yr old daughter and I have been a christian for over 35 yrs. No way I would want her out in neighborhoods like that day or night.

    You have to realize that soulwinning doesn't always mean door knocking and talking to folks in the street. You could have a ministry to the elderly. Go where others don't like to. I run 2 nursing home ministries and see people saved all the time. That is soulwinning. Tell people you come in contact with. Visit shut-ins. Many Many options. Stay out of the neighborhoods and leave that for the men.

    Soulman
     
    #18 Soulman, Oct 30, 2005
  19. chickenlady

    chickenlady New Member

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    I'm going to do that tomorrow during our soulwinning class and will let you all know what he says. Hopefully he'll like the idea and will help me out with it. If not I'll no longer go wednesday nights. I go soulwinning every day, everywhere I go. I don't have to go to the church organized soulwinning to let people there know I do God's work.
     
    #19 chickenlady, Nov 1, 2005
  20. Soulman

    Soulman New Member

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    Thats right chickenlady! It's between you and God. It's not up to someone else to tell you where and how to soul win as long as you are doing it and doing it safely as the Lord leads.

    Some pastors have illusions of seeing a multitude of their flock hitting the streets to knock doors. That isn't a bad thing. I have found that when a bus drops off 60 soulwinners, the neighborhood feels it is under seige.

    I am an advocate of door knocking. But as I stated before, there are other ways and as long as you are doing it, don't be intimidated into something you don't feel safe about doing.

    God bless!
    Soulman
     
    #20 Soulman, Nov 2, 2005
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