Susan: Riviving the Altar Call
Susan Talking to young man in Wales.
Editor’s Note: Altar calls have come into disuse and in some cases disparagement in some circles, but we know that altar calls have been an effective tool for reaching people for Christ for centuries. Ministers from the prophet Isaiah to Jesus to Peter and Paul, to Charles Finney, D.L. Moody, and Billy Graham have called men and women to repentance and a public surrender to the will of God. Susan Shanklin has written a passionate argument for the rivival of the altar call. Be encouraged by it and think about how some form of a call to Christ might be used in your church or ministry. Tom
Hello Dear Friend,
Tom loves to teach on evangelizing and sharing your faith in our monthly newsletters. He is an excellent teacher and writer, and I asked if I could share my thoughts.
I love it when a call is given for people to come to Christ in churches, Walmart parking lots, in a living room, or overseas.
There is joy in the house of the Lord when a child or adult repents and says “Yes” to making Jesus their Lord and Savior. I love to whoop it up when people do that. Goodness, I can’t just sit on my hands and be quiet!
Don’t you just love it when someone gets saved? Aren’t you moved by the joy of the multitude of heavenly hosts blowing their horns or strumming their harps … or at least that’s what I think.
I love to read from missionaries of great harvest in Benin, Venuzala, or Mankato through Gentle Shepard Ministries, which is ministering to people who are in nursing homes with one foot in the grave who receive eternal life forever as a result of an invitation!
When was the last time you witnessed a call for salvation at church?
Oh, we don’t do that in my church. We don’t want to embarrass them. Well, maybe you should be embarrassed to see them go to hell.
Oh, people can do that in the quietness of their own homes. True, but if they don’t know how to confess their sins and receive the gift of forgiveness. How about if they’re coming to your church week after week and don’t hear how to get saved? All is lost for them until someone with some guts and boldness to say, “Would you like to pray for the greatest gift on earth?” LIFE free from sin and DEATH?
Oh, don’t get me stirred up, now.
There is such a failure in many churches to give a simple call to become born again. If people in your congregation don’t hear how to repeat the salvation prayer, how will they learn to do it on their own with others? Let’s not forget why Jesus came to earth—to die on the cross for our sins, to be buried, and to rise again, people. He died for Susan and her family and your grandchild.
If your church gives an invitation for salvation, invite your co-worker, friend, or grandchildren. Pray for good preaching and an effective call for salvation. Don’t let another minute go by without asking God for souls among your family, friends, and co-workers.
Let God tug at our hearts for the lost. Let us know that with God, nothing is impossible. What is impossible is for people to get saved if they are never given the gift of life to unwrap.
Let’s whoop it up, people!
Susan
Comment on this Article…
21 people said yes to Jesus during the 3 Sunday services at our church. Yay! A very typical Sunday. Prompted to forward the email below based on your last newsletter. They always have an invitation for salvation at the end of each service. It is exciting to pray for the person next to and then they raise their hand for salvation. Has happened several times. We attend a Spirit-filled Free Methodist church here in Murrieta. Many times the pastor will have a word of knowledge for different ailments and people will stand up and be healed! (California)
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