(Last week, due to technical difficulties beyond our control, the article was cut off in our paper bulletin. Here is the rest of that article and a few more reflections.)

Beginning on August 23 (a Thursday evening) the South Cobb church will once again host the Fishers of Men Training Course. This will be a thirteen week series of lessons on Thursday evenings, with each evening session lasting about two hours. The purpose is to train members of the church in becoming soul winners. This will help you become more at ease in teaching others the gospel, and will help you develop courage in inviting your friends and neighbors to study. Further, it will help you know what to say when certain questions come up about the church. In 1996 Tim Wilkes taught this course here at South Cobb, and we had 35 baptisms that year. It can happen again. We are excited about the training that this presents, and hope that you will participate and challenge yourself to grow in the Lord!

I was impressed, and continued to be impressed with the involvement in the meeting here at South Cobb. When we make a commitment to the Lord (or to anything else for that matter), we will get involved in that commitment and do all that we can to see to its final success. You did this in this meeting, and I commend you. But the enthusiasm and excitement cannot stop here. We cannot rest on our laurels of two weeks ago, we must continue to be involved and excited about the opportunities for preaching the gospel and advancing the kingdom here at South Cobb. Please get involved in the work of the church—you will be glad you did. Many are getting more involved than ever in various aspects of the work here.

I want to ask YOU to get involved in this Fishers of Men course. You will grow, you will be challenged, and you will be taught how to teach others.

Some have expressed concerns about the fact that we will be learning how to teach only one way—but having gone through the course, many things are taught that will help in teaching the gospel in various ways.

Some also may feel that they are not capable of teaching someone else the gospel. Let me assure you that you are. If the New Testament Christians could go into the world to teach, so can we (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 8:4). Many feel they are unable to teach, because they are afraid that they will teach someone wrongly, and perhaps cause them to lose their souls. But we cannot allow Satan to hinder us in doing the Lord’s work. It may be that we come across wrong, but if our friends and neighbors know that we truly love and care about them and their souls, they will overlook that and listen to what we have to say. The purpose of this course is to train us to “teach the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). We all need some training (and more training) in this. Many times it boils down to the desire to do it. I hope you have the desire, and will be a part of this.

Pray about it, and be ready to learn more beginning August 23.