Throughout our marriage I have been privileged to watch firsthand the workings of personal evangelism due to David’s facility. It first became apparent when we were newly married and involved in the work of Youth for Christ. It seemed as though every week some teen was led to a new relationship with Jesus. In fact many of those people became a part of our Circle Church ministry in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.
It’s a thrill to have someone say, “Don’t you remember? You led me to the Lord when I was in high school.”
As this pattern continued, I concluded that David obviously had something I didn’t have. I knew all the words, could explain all the terms, could find the Scripture references—I even memorized my husband’s pattern—but it was he who led people to Christ, not me. This is not to say that I was inarticulate about my faith. People who know me will testify to the fact that it is impossible for me to be nonverbal about anything! In fact my neighbors have been known to accuse me of steering conversation.
“We’re talking about religion again. Karen must be here!”
Yet I seemed to lack some instinct, some comprehension of timing endowed to David whereby he sensed the inner longing of the heart. He knows when to draw the net and when to cast it out and when not to take the trouble to go fishing at all.
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For decades, Karen Mains and her husband, David, have served God through religious communications—radio, television, and print publication. The are the co-authors of the Kingdom Tales Trilogy: Tales of the Kingdom, Tales of the Resistance, and Tales of the Restoration. To find many valuable resources for pastors and churches at the Mainstay Ministries main website, please click here.
Karen has long had an interest in Christian hospitality and is the author of the best-selling book, Open Heart, Open Home.
An award-winning author of several other books, Karen continues to write content for her Christian blog, “Thoughts-by-Karen-Mains.” In so doing, she desires to touch the lives of Christian women and men and help them find ways to walk closer with the Lord Jesus Christ. In addition, through silent retreats, spiritual teaching, women’s retreats, Christian vacation opportunities, and other ministry activities, Karen helps each Christian woman and man receive vital spiritual food.
Through her Hungry Souls ministry, Karen serves as a spiritual coach to many Christian women and men, and teaches a mentor-writing class. And, through the Global Bag Project, she is working to develop a network of African women who sew exquisite cloth reusable shopping bags. This micro-finance women opportunity helps provide a much-needed sustainable income for struggling African families. For more information on this critically important project, please click here.
In addition, pastors will find special resources to help them create effective, life-transforming Sunday sermons by visiting David Mains’ website by clicking here.
