Write about 1500 words describing how you would go about presenting the Gospel to the following:- an elderly couple living alone in poverty.

This situation would be quite rewarding and challenging. As far as how I would introduce the Gospel to these people, I would at first take time to make friends with them. The best way to show the Gospel is to live it. Being only 29, most elderly people are touched when the "younger generation" takes interest in them.

One must have genuine interest and not have a mentality that converts are like notches on your belt. People will very quickly pick up if your not real. I would not make friends with them just to get them saved. To be friends with someone, one must like that person for who they are, not because they could be another "spiritual victory".

One of the first things that come up in conversation is the question of employment - "what do you do for a crust?" Having been a mechanic since starting my apprenticeship in 1985 and quitting in early 1995, there is opportunity to share how I have given up a nine-to-five job to go into full time study. I would tell them about the course and why I wanted to do it.

When people have responded to this, I have never had a negative reaction, especially from the elderly, who seem very enthusiastic. In this case of an elderly couple, they would probably ask how all this happened.

I would then share some of my life and testimony regarding why I started going to Church. I would tell them how my life seemed to go out of control, particularly in the financial realm, and how low I got emotionally. To top it all off, I lost my job (because of the areas economic crisis) and thought of ending it all.

After moving back to live with my parents, I visited an elderly couple whom I had known from years before. They introduced me, over a period of two months, to the Jesus and the Gospel. I would tell them how my hopelessness had started to be released and my life had worth again. It was not going to Church that made me feel better, although I had made friends there, it was knowing deep within that God loved me personally.

I believe that many of the older generation, especially in the fifty to eighty age bracket, have had Church, have had religion, but only a few know the personal love that Jesus has for them. I would try to show how the Lord loves them, regardless of how the feel about themselves. Also, being in a financially difficult situation, I would try to explain how God cares for them in that situation. Verses in the Bible such as Matthew 10:29-31  "(29) Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. (30) But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

 (31) Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." (N.K.J.V.), and the "Do not worry" passage of scripture found in Matthew 6:25-34 are very comforting. I would try to show them that God supplies all the birds of the air with food, so much more He will supply for them because He loves them and values them.

The possibility that they don't understand the Father heart of God could be approached as well. God's nature is to give - He gave His Son. He didn't  have to, we deserved to die, but He did it because He loves man, and wants the best for him. He dose not sit up in Heaven seeing who is good and who is bad. He doesn't sit up there and kill people willy-nilly.

The grace of God would be a significant area to establish. I would try to explain to them that God created man and in the beginning all was perfect and man had perfect fellowship with his creator. Questions such as why is society so very quickly going down hill? The number of elderly men in particular I know that have asked the question "How much worse can it get?" is amazing. So much has changed in the last thirty to fifty years. They would probably ask why this is all happening.

The answer to that question, "If God is a God of love, why is there poverty, death, disease and destruction?", is not easy.

The only way to answer is as honestly as possible, and say that although in the beginning all was perfect, man chose to disobey God and go his own way. The bottom line is, and no can say anything to the contrary, if we obeyed what the Bible said, obeyed God ordinances, there would be no poverty, greed, wars etc. It is the ultimate truth even the staunchest atheist would agree with, even if they didn't believe in God or His Word. Just based on principle alone, the Bible is a good thing.

Because man has gone his own way, he has lost his fellowship with God. How I would bring the devil into this would depend upon their reaction to what has been said. Most people , even some in the Church, don't believe in a personal devil. This would be very carefully presented, contrasting what the Bible says about God and Jesus, who came to give life, and life abundantly, and the devil, Satan, who comes like a thief to kill, steal and destroy. The world and all its problems do not reflect the character of God, but of the devil who is the "ruler of this world".(John 12:31 and 16:11).

Personal experience of the love of God is something special. Since August 1990, the Lord has blessed me abundantly. He has brought along my wife in early 1993, and blessed our marriage so much.

We married with combined debts in the many thousands, mine alone was ten thousand dollars. Through our trust in Him and not spending on silly things, in less than two years, we were completely debt free. What makes it even more miraculous is that from 1994 to early 1995, I was the one working, and on a mechanics wage. God blesses those who love Him. God moved peoples hearts to give to us - we did not discuss our debt to any one. God did it all.

Some other questions which may arise if they do receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour, is "what can we do?" Being elderly, they might think they are past their use by date, like products on the shelf of the supermarket. This is not true. Retired people can have more precious time to pray than any thing else. They have lived long lives with much experience, and that could  be used to benefit others. This I would encourage them to do. Find a Church they could attend, even if it was once a fortnight, and make new friends.

I would encourage them that even though society pushes aside the aged, God values them so much, He gave His only Son so He could make them His son and daughter. I would try to explain that in man is a void which can only be filled by a relationship with his creator. The sick society in which we live is a result of man trying to fill that void.

Even though they may look at the mountains in life and in society, God is much bigger that they. Zechariah 4:6 says, "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts, who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubable you become a plain!"(N.K.J.V.).

The mountains of Godless living, of violence, hatred and war. The mountains of selfish governments and  financial ruin. The mountains of homeless children and poverty, all these will become a plain before the Spirit of God.

Every situation is different and people react in different ways. The above would work in one situation, but not necessarily in all. Establishing friendship is very important. Trust can be built. I was led to the Lord through people I had known for six years prior to receiving Jesus. A friendship was  long established, and trust was there. I knew they were not going to hurt me or screw my mind up.

My Father has a saying. "Slowly and gently wins the race." With introducing people to Jesus, the aged, I believe, must be ministered to in a gentle, loving way. There are situations where you can get tough and work fast, but I believe they are the exception and not the rule. Jesus sought the leading of the Father and ministered to people in a friendly, personal way. It is God who adds to the Church. We must be vessels of honour that do not offend and push others away. They must see Jesus in us, and feel His love for them.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1)         Buxton, G., Evangelism Training Unit 2.,(Tabor Collge,1994).

2)         Chant, B., Evangelism - Theology and Practice (Part A).,(Tabor College, 1994)

3)         George, R., Church-based Evangelism., (Tabor College,1994)

4)         Kenealy, D., One-to-one Evangelism., (Tabor College, 1994.)

5)         Watson, D., I Believe in Evangelism., (London, Hodder and Staughton, 1976).