Chapter Fifteen

Witnessing on the Telephone

Witnessing on the telephone presents an unique opportunity to lead someone to Christ. My favorite way to witness at home is talking to a telemarketer. Most people abruptly and rudely hang up on them. Ironically, I see many of these telemarketers that call are lost, hurting, or have fallen away from God. Oftentimes they pray with me and some make a commitment to serve Christ.

An Effective Witness Is a Good Listener

If you want to be an effective witness on the telephone you need to be a good listener and allow the caller to fully explain their message and make their presentation. Be sure and listen for their name so you can use it in your conversation. Don't be in a hurry to ask them about their relationship with the Lord. First, it is important to try to establish a two way conversation. If you use their name in the witness you will be more effective and appear to be more personal and caring. Be sure and ask them their name if they did not share it with you. Introduce yourself by sharing your name. However, most of the time the telemarketer asked for you by name. Once the introductions are over it is time to listen.

Make Friends by Making General Conversation

Be careful and don't make a commitment to any sales orders by staying on the phone with them unless you are really interested in what they are selling. Now that they are finished with their sales presentation, it is your chance to make general conversation and make friends. Sometimes I start off by saying, "I am always interested in where people are calling from." This seems to work for me to start a general conversation. You could ask them if they know of a good church there. Now ask them if this is where they attend. This will establish if they are going to church. Oftentimes, once I establish conversation, I ask the 'Question'. Now is the time to listen closely again.

Lead Them In Prayer

Their response is very important so listen carefully. If you hear any hesitation or slowness to their response try to help them with it. Say to them, "So are you not right with God right now?" Sometimes a slow response means the person doesn't know because of the condition of their life. They see all of the things in their mind that they have done wrong since they received Christ and they are wondering if they are saved. What an opportunity to lead them to salvation, rededication, or assurance! Now I say, "Let's do this, let's pray and ask God to help you and to lead you." When they acknowledge that they will pray with you I begin a prayer for them. I begin a general prayer then connect the sinners' prayer to it. Almost always they will go through the prayer with you. Be sure as you pray and have them repeat the part of your prayer with the sinners' prayer. Just allow the Holy Spirit to lead you. Remember you will never have an ideal circumstance to witness. Use the opportunity you have.

If the person does not want to pray or allow you to pray for them excuse yourself off the phone by saying, "May the Lord bless you and that you may find grace in Him." After you hang up from the telephone ask God to reach their heart. I have two telephone lines in my home and it is interesting when the same person calls again and they remember speaking to me a few minutes prior. Sometimes their second call to me results in a commitment to Christ. Oftentimes, this is how close the person is to Christ after your witness. Many times when our witness does not result in someone making an immediate decision, it does result in a seed being planted in their heart.

A Witnessing Example

One evening, a telemarketer named Nathan called from Iowa. He was selling life insurance and I used our conversation as an opportunity to witness to him. I hope that his story will give you an example of how a simple conversation can lead to a change in someone's life.

We need to be a consistent witness for Christ. Too many times we miss opportunities to share the gospel. In this witness, I learned something that was so interesting. First, I allowed Nathan to share with me about what he called about. Then, I told him that I had all the life insurance that I needed. Next, I asked him if he was a Christian and I used his name often in the conversation to make it personal. He said that he was saved but not as close to the Lord as he should be. Also, he shared about his life and an opportunity to go to Arizona for missions.

I prayed for Nathan and shared about what God is doing with hearts in the streets. The witness convicted him and he rededicated his life and decided to go on the missions trip. A few minutes with Nathan, a person that I have never met, resulted in him going further with the Lord. It is so important that we take time to witness to the hearts of those that we speak to. I praise the Lord for the opportunity to share the glorious gospel.

Nathan shared a story with me about another person he worked with that was a testimony to the power of the Word of God. He said that his friend called a lady in California who tried to share Christ with him. His friend mocked her to another coworker. The next day the coworker came to work and told the friend that she gave her heart to the Lord because of the words he had shared with her from the lady in California. The Word of God is so powerful. It was repeated by a sinner to someone not saved and they got saved. Yes, it is the Word that is the power of God that brings salvation.

Romans 1
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

We are simply the messenger. Let's begin to share this witness to all the telemarketers that call us and be patient with those that cross our lives. Even an interruption in your daily life could be an opportunity for a witness. The next time the phone rings, share Christ with someone.

Street University Lesson Fifteen

Group Discussion

1. Discuss opportunities that you had to witness on the telephone and explain the results of your witness.

2. Discuss different ways to create general conversation with someone on the telephone that you have never met.

Bible Study

1. Find scripture references that sometimes we are planting seed into someone's heart and a harvest will come from another witness.
John 4:37-38

Optional Assignment

1. Witness to the next telemarketer that calls you on the telephone.