The Soul Winning Resource

Bring forth more fruit

Tips for Soul Winning

This tab will have different questions and tips on soul winning.

Do’s

  • Be kind
  • Get to the point
  • Have a smile
  • Take no for an answer
  • Try to leave at least one verse
  • Handle distractions (As Silent Partner) 
  • Be silent (As the Silent Partner)
  • Ask questions to find out their faith.
  • Be thorough in explaining the Gospel
  • Explain Everlasting Life
  • Correct or Report bad soul winning

Don’ts

  • Be rude
  • Argue or Debate
  • Knock like the Police
  • Just walk away when rejected
  • Waste time forcing uninterested people
  • Habitually leave your partner
  • Pray audibly (As the Silent Partner) 
  • Ask too many questions
  • Beat a dead horse
  • Use bizarre examples for OSAS
  • Rub it in their face that they were wrong

Tips for different religions

The SAME Gospel is to be preached to all, using the word of God:

1st Corinthians 1.18-31: “18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

We DON’T have to be really intelligent or noble to get people saved!

“26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”

Romans 1.16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Romans 10. 11-13, 17: “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Matthew 12.38-40: “Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

When the rich man in Hell asked for someone to be sent to his lost family, he was denied and told that they have the scriptures, because the scriptures are sufficient:

Luke 16.29-31: “Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

After Reviewing the Gospel, discuss REPENTANCE from False Religion

People from other religions such as Islam, Buddhism, Catholicism, etc. need to turn from their religion and place their faith in Christ alone:

John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Acts 20:21 “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Gospel of Christ is not an addition to their false religion, but a replacement. Every false Religion has one of two things, or both, in common.

  1. They have a works-based salvation, false gospel.
  2. They have a false god, or another Jesus.

For Catholics

Give the same Gospel from the Bible

May have to emphasize or explain Faith alone and Eternal Security More

Before you pray with them after the review, stop to explain the difference between Biblical Salvation and what the Catholic Church teaches and make them choose which they believe. 

Some Scriptures that may be helpful:

Indulgences: Psalms 49.6-7 “They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:”

The Virgin Mary: Matthew 1.25 “And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.”

Matthew 13.55-56 “Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?”

The Priesthood: 1st Peter 2.9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;”

One Mediator: 1st Timothy 2.5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”

For Mormons 

Give the same Gospel from the Bible

Emphasize Faith alone, no works, and explain Eternal Security More

Need to take time and show scripture on the Trinity, more on there only being one God

Some Scriptures that may be helpful:

Trinity: There are three records/witnesses, yet they’re one: 1st John 5.7 “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”

Only one God, and only he is the Savior: Isaiah 43.10-11 “Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.”

The LORD, (and another person) his redeemer the LORD says there is no God beside him: Isaiah 44.6 “Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.”

There is only one God: Isaiah 45.5 “I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:”

For Jehovah’s Witnesses

Give the same Gospel from the Bible

Emphasize Faith alone, no works, and explain Eternal Security More

Need to take time and show scripture on the Trinity and Deity of Christ.

I recommend dealing with works salvation before getting into the Trinity and Deity of Christ to attack their faith in the watchtower first.

Some Scriptures that may be helpful:

Deity of Christ:  The Son is called “The Mighty God”: Isaiah 9.6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Only one God, and only he is the Savior: Isaiah 43.10-11 “Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.”

Trinity: Only God is good, and Jesus is good, therefore he is God: Mark 10.18 “And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.”

The LORD, (and another person) his redeemer the LORD says there is no God beside them: Isaiah 44.6 “Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.”

Bodily Resurrection and Deity in one passage: John 20.25-29 “The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”

For Atheists

Give the same Gospel from the Bible

At the door when they tell you they don’t believe in God, the Bible, etc. tell them “Okay, could I show you from the Bible what the Bible says about how to go to Heaven, just so you know what the Bible actually says and you can choose what you believe at the end?” and sometimes if they ask why they would care, say something like “Just so you have the facts and you can know for yourself just intellectually what the Bible actually teaches which is contrary to what most churches teach.” or you could offer them to “pretend they’re interested” so that they can see what the Bible actually says. Many times the preaching of the Bible will create faith in them and they’ll get saved by the power of the Gospel!

For Jews

Give the same Gospel from the Bible

Sometimes using the same approach as you would the Atheist will work on Jews as well.

My advice would be to emphasize the story, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ more. Some people try to take Jews to Isaiah 53 or Daniel 9 to convince them that Jesus is the Messiah, which could work, but this is based on the false idea that Jews believe in the Old Testament awaiting their Messiah and just don’t believe in the New Testament. Jews actually don’t believe in the Old Testament either:

John 5.46: “For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.”

Offer to show them just so they can see for themselves. All scripture is given by inspiration and has power to save.

For other Religions such as Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc.

Give the same Gospel from the Bible.

You may say something like “Could I show you what the Bible says about how to go to Heaven when you die, and be 100% sure?” If they say they don’t care what the Bible says, you can come at the same angle as an Atheist and offer to show them just so they know what the Bible does say.

If you get to go through the gospel, before praying make sure you emphasize and explain that they have to choose between Christ and their false religion and make them choose. They must reject Islam, Buddhism, etc.

Soul Winning Rights and Authority

Below is information about legal rights for soul winning. This is specifically tailored for North Carolina but most of the cases below apply across the nation.

1. The right to door-to-door visitation is protected by the Courts.

The Courts have acknowledged that allowing residents and non residents to make door-to-door visits to owners or tenants in private apartment complexes, trailer parks or neighborhood developments, is protected by the First Amendment right of free speech. The United States Supreme Court in Martin v. Struthers, 319 U.S. 114, 146-47 (1943), held: “Freedom to distribute information to every citizen wherever he desires to receive it is so clearly vital to the preservation of a free society that, putting aside reasonable police and health regulations of time and manner of distribution, it must be fully preserved.”

More recently, Watchtower v. Village of Stratton, 122 S. Ct 2080 (U.S. 2002), eight of the nine Supreme Court Justices upheld the First Amendment right to free speech and protected the right of door-to-door missionary evangelism in America. The Court acknowledged in its decision in this case that God has commanded His people to preach the Gospel, and that the authority to preach comes from Scripture, not from the state. 

A North Carolina Supreme Court case, State v. Lawson, 101 N.C. 717 ruled that “A tenant in possession may exercise any lawful control over the land embraced within his lease, in the absence of an agreement restricting him, and the landlord has no power to interfere with such right.” The rule of Lawson, that the tenant’s right to invite is superior to the landlord’s right to exclude. A landlord or property manager doesn’t hold the right to ban or trespass a tenant’s guest or invitee, and as we have the right already to approach every tenant to freely talk about the Gospel and each tenant has the right to receive or reject us, the landlord or property manager cannot restrict us from door-to-door soul winning to each individual tenant. 

This is also consistent with the rule that a landlord may be prosecuted for trespassing on the tenant’s leasehold. And it’s in keeping with the rule, in the Fourth Amendment context, that the tenant, not the landlord, is the party entitled to give or to withhold consent to search.

For centuries it has been a common practice in this and other countries for persons not specifically invited to go from home to home and knock on or ring doorbells to communicate ideas to the occupants or to invite them to political, religious, or other kinds of public meetings. Whether such visiting shall be permitted has in general been deemed to depend upon the will of the master of each household, and not upon the determination of the community. Martin v. Struthers, supra, 319 U.S. 141, 63 S.Ct 862, 87 L. Ed 1313 Id at 1127.

These Supreme Court cases are referencing door-to-door communication which is precisely what we are engaged in. It is the right and decision of each individual tenant or resident, not a Landlord or Manager, to decide who they want to listen to or reject. It is not the manager’s responsibility or power to infringe on the tenant’s right to choose and certainly not the right of another resident.

Here are also a couple Bible verses where we are commanded to go to every single house to preach the Gospel.

Acts 20.19-21: “Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Acts 5.42: “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” 

Recognizing a city ordinance as the authority for soul-winning would give a governmental mandate more authority than a Scriptural mandate, the Court was not willing to do so. 

Since the 1930s. courts have protected the rights of communication for people who are too poor to own a printing press or other accouterments for the dissemination of information; and these courts have permitted such persons to disseminate their views by means that are affordable—such as the distribution of free literature, visitation from house to house, and other free speech activities in the public forum areas of city streets and parks. Cases upholding these rights for more than half a century have included Schneider v. State. 308 U.S. 147 (1939), Cantwell v. Connecticut, 310 U.S. 296 (1940) and Murdock v. Pennsylvania. 319 U.S. 105 (1943) – to cite only a few in this long list of cases.

2. Solicitation involves the selling of items. Neither visitation nor the distribution of free literature is legally considered to be solicitation.

In Kokinda, the Court stated: “[I]t is unreasonable to prohibit solicitation on the ground that it is unquestionably a particular form of speech that is disruptive to business. Solicitation impedes the normal flow of traffic… [C]onfrontation by a person asking for money disrupts passage and is more intrusive and intimidating than an encounter with a person giving out information. One need not ponder the contents of a leaflet or pamphlet in order to take it out of someone’s hand, but one must Listen, comprehend, decide, and act in order to respond to a solicitation.” Kokinda 497 U.S. at 733-734

Following Kokinda. Justice O’Connor further distinguished the difference between solicitation and the distribution of free literature (leafleting) in her concurring opinion in International Society for Krishna Consciousness v. Lee. 505 U.S. 672, 830 (1992).

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in International Society for Krishna v. Lee, 505 U.S. 672, 683 (1992), where the Court found that while it was reasonable for an airport to restrict solicitation—it was not reasonable to also restrict free tract distribution in its terminals because solicitation would impede travelers from getting to their airplanes on time, while the distribution of free material could not be restricted. This case also upholds our right to freely distribute the gospel anywhere as long as we are not selling anything or asking for donations.

Justice O’Connor stated, “[L]eafleting does not entail the same kinds of problems presented by face-to-face solicitation… With the possibility of avoiding litter. It is difficult to point to any problems Intrinsic to the act of leafleting that would make it naturally incompatible with a multipurpose forum such as those at issue here. Id. at 690 So the legal distinction between solicitation and distribution of free literature (which would also include house- to-house visitation with verbal invitations to attend church) is clear. “Solicitation” involves the selling of items. This fact does change when the reasonable venue for a personal visit for the distribution of free literature is at home rather than a fairground or airport.

In Conclusion, Church visitations to private apartments, neighborhood developments or trailer parks may only be prohibited when the individual resident themself chooses to object individually to a particular visit. The apartment Complex or trailer park manager may not make a blanket prohibition on behalf of the entire complex. However, if an individual tenant opposes the church visitors on their doorstep, the visitor must leave immediately and not return to that particular address again. Even when one particular resident objects, church visitors may continue to visit all other residences in the apartment complex or trailer park when the householders have not objected. It is the responsibility of each individual tenant or resident, not of the complex Manager, to object to a visit.

Other non-federal Supreme Court cases that have ruled using these federal cases as basis to support and defend our religious rights:

Commonwealth v. Richardson, 48 N.E.2d 678 is a supreme court ruling, although not federal, showing that we cannot be barred from the common area of an apartment building by management either as each tenant has the right to accept or reject us. The best a landlord or manager can do is restrict our use of the common area as only a bypass to get to the tenants, but that we cannot hang out in the common area. This ruling has been cited as evidence in multiple other states’ cases as well.

In Walker v. GeorgeTown Housing Authority, the Massachusetts Supreme Court held that “the constitutional right of the authority’s tenants to receive communications may not be abridged by the blanket prohibition of campaigning and soliciting.” 677 N.E. 2d 1125, 1128 (1997) The court recognized that it is up to individual residents, even if they are not owners, to decide whether door-to-door communications are welcome. This court cited the United States Supreme Court decision in the aforementioned case of Martin v. Struthers. As the Federal Case applies to all states, the North Carolina Supreme Court Case (State v. Lawson) which teaches the same tenant vs Landlord principle, this ruling is valid to North Carolina.

In Smith v. Silvey. 197 Cal Rptr. 15, 19 (1983), a California Appellate decision, also recognized that it is up to the residents, not a mobile home park owner or apartment manager (or in this Situation, another resident) to dictate which house-to-house distributor’s ideas they will listen to. Silvey’s right to contact the residents of the Park through the medium of printed literature or even personal visits is a protected right of expression in the absence of protest by the recipients. The burden of restricting the “house- to-house distribution of ideas” falls on the homeowner; that is, no governmentally imposed restriction should occur until after the caller has been warned by the householder that the latter does not want to be disturbed.

 In Murdock v. Pennsylvania, the Supreme Court had also held that religious tracts valued speech in the United States and that the distribution of tracts is a form of religious activity which “occupies the same high estate under the first amendment as do worship in the churches and preaching from the pulpits.” The Court said a city must limit permit requirements to those organizations that attempt to solicit or ask for money. The Court recognized that door-to-door soul-winners are not solicitors if they do not ask for money, but only distribute free literature which residents are free to decline.