Hướng Đi Ministries
• You might add other events such as the Lord’s birth, baptism, temptation, examples of His teaching, healing of the Gerasene demoniac, the parable of the prodigal son, the Lord’s transfiguration, His ascension, the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and the conversion and baptism of Saul.
• Concentrate on the positive benefits of the Gospel which many Buddhists will appreciate:
– Forgiveness of sins and freedom from the burdens of sin and guilt. He brings us into a relationship with himself that no karma can destroy – nothing can separate us from God’s love. “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest” (Mt. 11:28)
– Freedom from the fear of demons and ancestral spirits.
– Protection from magic and evil spirits.
– Healing from sickness through prayer in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (this has often brought significant breakthroughs). Always be willing to pray for the sick.
– Hope and certainty instead of fatalism and insecurity.
– The only way to avoid hell.
– In the new creation, animals will not harm each other (Isaiah 11:6-9).
– Strong and loving family relationships.
• Use stories, music, drama, ethnic songs and other forms familiar to the Buddhists of the region, to communicate the message.
• Pray that new Christian will be filled with the Holy Spirit and with the love of God, be freed from all Satanic bondange in their minds, read God’s Word with understanding, gather with other Christians to humbly share together, walk closely with God in repentaunce each day, be strong to resist temptations of dishonesty, impurity and idolatry, deny themselves, and witness boldly for the Lord.
• If possible, include converts from Buddhism in evangelism. Help new converts to witness to their new- found faith in Christ. Have as little foreign involvement as possible.
• Continue constantly with the twin tasks of witnessing and nurturing new believes. Never stop evangelism just because there are converts: reach out through converts to their relatives and friends.
• Check people’s level of understanding: as Buddhism is very different from Christianity, Buddhists find it difficult to understand the Gospel. When witnessing to them, ask them to tell you what they have understood. It may be that they have “hrard” something quite different from what you intended.
• Remember that our message is the Lord Jesus Christ: not a religion. Do not lose track of the message by comparing religious practices and experiences in Christianity and Buddhism.
The end
IAN E. BENSON
