Not Ashamed of ChristSample

Be Ready to Witness

After serving in the Union Army during the Civil War, Major D. W. Whittle returned home to a successful business career with the Elgin Clock Company. It would not be long before his association with D. L. Moody persuaded him to give up that career for full-time evangelistic work. Whittle wrote a number of hymns, including “Showers of Blessing” and “I Know Whom I Have Believed.” Whittle became a greatly used personal soul winner as well, but that was not always the case.

Whittle told a friend named Howard Pope that at one point while he was still in his business career but had started preaching and singing, a lady came to his office and said, “Major Whittle, my husband was greatly impressed with the services last night, and he promised me that he would come down and see you this morning.” Whittle told her “He just asked the price of brass, and talked around a little.” “That was just an excuse for his coming,” she told him. Whittle responded, “I am sorry to say that all I talked about was just brass too.” In recounting the story later Whittle said, “That was a mistake I never forgot.”

Our church has planned times of soul winning for people to go out and present the gospel to others. I believe this is important because scheduling soul winning helps us fulfill this important obligation. But there are many other times when an opportunity may arise, and we need to be alert and take advantage of each one of those.

Growth Principle:

Be alert so that you do not miss an opportunity to give the gospel to someone.