Special Program Tells How to Give the Best Christmas Gift of All
Could there be a better time to share the story of Jesus Christ with others than this season of celebrating his birth and blessing each other with thoughtful presents?
Probably not, but what if you’ve never shared the gospel with someone else and don’t even know how to get started? That’s the purpose of TWR’s special radio program The Gift of the Gospel, featuring noted Christian broadcasters and authors Erwin Lutzer, Anne Graham Lotz and Ron Hutchcraft as well as TWR leaders Lauren Libby, Lonnie Berger and Branko Bjelajac.
“During this Christmas season, it’s likely that you’ll be giving presents to friends, family, even co-workers,” says host Andy Napier as he kicks off the fast-moving 25-minute program. “But what about the greatest gift of all – the good news of Jesus? You say, ‘Andy, I know that some of them aren’t Christians, but I really don’t know how to start that kind of conversation.’ Well, that’s what this next half hour is all about, preparing equipping and motivating you to use this special time to share the gospel with others.”
Napier is the host of the radio feature Footsteps for TWR, also known as Trans World Radio, whose mission is to reach the world for Christ through media so that lasting fruit is produced. TWR is making The Gift of the Gospel available to Christian radio stations across the United States. It will also be aired twice during the season on BE 107 FM, a station in Indonesia whose signal extends into Singapore and Malaysia.
“I know that there are people who don’t know Jesus and you are closer to them than any Christian on this planet,” says Hutchcraft, whose radio feature A Word With You is broadcast to more than two dozen countries in multiple languages. “It is your stretch of beach. You are God’s designated lifeguard. You’ll be seeing them in a few minutes maybe, and their eternity depends not just on you showing them Jesus but telling them about him as well.”
Believers’ Bible-ordained responsibility to share their faith with others shouldn’t be perceived as a guilt trip or something to fear. It’s not about mastering a system or having the perfect words, says Lutzer, who is pastor emeritus of The Moody Church and host of popular programs such as Running to Win.
“It’s not something you should take upon yourself as a bondage,” Lutzer tells Napier on the program. “Just ask God for the opportunity to share your faith, and in the process, you’ll sense the Holy Spirit leading you.”
Aren’t there techniques one should employ for delivering this message of redemption – in other words, special training that will ensure success? All disciples of Jesus should certainly be encouraged and equipped to be more effective in their witness, and that’s largely the purpose of this program. But it’s more important that the believer be ready and willing to relate to the hearer and share the truth from Scripture.
“Just let it be natural, just let it come out of the overflow of your heart,” says Lotz, a best-selling author who has been called one of the most influential evangelists of her generation. “Sometimes I’m surprised by how easy it is, that he’s put somebody in my path who’s right there on my wavelength.”
Joining those already named on The Gift of the Gospel are Harold Sala, whose radio feature has been translated into more than 20 languages; evangelist Peter Walker; Jenny Noyes, executive director of the New Wineskins Missionary Network; Stoyko Petkov, director of Studio 865 in Bulgaria; and Stuart Gordon, a pastor and TWR Africa’s director of human resources.
Station managers interested in broadcasting the program should contact John Summerville, TWR director of Radio Station Partnerships, at jsummerville@twr.org for instructions on downloading the audio file. And if you’re not able to listen on the radio but wish to hear the fascinating insights of this unique lineup of speakers, you can listen directly on our content-rich web portal TWR360.org.
