#3 Pray for Conviction and do not move ahead without it
The majority of Africans would love to add something to their beliefs to gain entrance into Heaven (note the quote at the beginning of the article). Most people without a Biblical worldview are very open to praying for what is seen as a gift from God, but they might have no knowledge of their lost state.
The term save gives great weight to this, as it is impossible for a person to be saved until he is in danger or lost! As the veteran missionary Darryl Champlin told me, never speak to an African about Heaven until he first will admit he deserves Hell. We need to pray for conviction for those we are witnessing to on a regular basis!
#4 Deal with the Basis of Forgiveness
Most people that do not have a Christian worldview have still been influenced by a mixed view of Christianity. They have heard about the loving God of Heaven and have been told that He always forgives. The average African would have written our Declaration of Independence this way, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created (not equal), that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Forgiveness, and the gift of Happiness…”
The African today believes that forgiveness is a right. When it is asked for, it must be given, and many times must be given even without anyone asking. The mindset is that as long as a person asks forgiveness and states that he will change his behavior (even if this is a promise unfulfilled), then the person they are seeking forgiveness from must grant it! This is not biblical forgiveness. The Bible does not teach that we just “say sorry” and then God saves us. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission, the Bible says. The person without the proper worldview must be taught that forgiveness is given only when the price of the debt has been paid. Without Christ’s blood, there can be no forgiveness. I normally use the Traditional religions at this point. Most Africans know that if a person sins against the ‘gods’ and goes to the priest for forgiveness without a sacrifice, then forgiveness will not be obtained. A price must be paid first. Use this to bring the person’s understanding to Christ.
(Note: For those not in a setting where the people understand animals sacrifices, use a culturally understood point to give the truth meaning. (i.e. In the intercity where there are many gangs, an example could be given using the gang culture. When a person wants to leave a gang, he must be “beat out” or have someone else “beat out” for him. Just because someone wants out of the gang does not mean he can get out. Someone must pay the price).
#5 Always try to teach Deductively
Most missionaries and senior soul-winners understand all their religious teachings and terms. They think from the teaching to the practical. They think with an educated mindset. When dealing with people in an area with great illiteracy or lack of emphasis on learning, the people will need to be taught deductively. The teacher will need to start with the physical reality (example) first, develop the picture in the mind, and then move to the truth. If you look at Jesus Christ’s teaching style to the common people, this was always His habit. He would give an earthly story and then give the heavenly meaning.
#6 Teach on God’s Righteousness and Law
Most people do not see the greatness of their sin and the importance of their need of salvation, because they do not see God’s righteousness. They will never turn to God any other way. Romans 10:3 says, “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” The Bibles also says that without the law man might not know sin. Galatians 3:24 says, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” The most helpful thing that I have used to show God’s righteousness and our sinfulness is teaching through the Ten Commandments.
#7 Stay away form seeking for decisions in groups or leading in prayer for people
Many soul-winners will address a group and when finished will ask each person (if a small group) if they will accept Christ, or (if a large group) lead in a general prayer. The person seeking to reach people in societies that are highly motivated by peer pressure (as in Africa) need to know that this is a very unwise approach. Most of the time while witnessing in Africa, if you seek to lead a group to Christ and the first person says yes, then everyone will say yes so they are not left out. If the first person says no, then they will all say no. Though leading families, friends, and groups to Christ will strengthen and help the growth of the group, each person must make a personal decision based on faith, not public opinion.
Because Africa is not a land of conflict, and the Africans generally will do anything not to offend a person seen as bringing God’s Word, they will most likely say what is needed to preserve harmony! I have seen and have had good veteran missionaries from Africa tell me that one should always let the person pray for salvation on their own. This allows two things to happen. First, a person that does not really believe, though he wants to keep social harmony, will not want to pray or will ask for noticeably wrong things. Secondly, this will give the missionary a chance to see if the person has proper understanding. I have found that people under conviction, with a basic knowledge of truth, will pray some of the most amazing sinners’ prayers. I still remember the prayer Rosemond prayed for salvation – it was so moving I still cry when I think about it.
#8 Use stories to convey the basic truths of salvation
Every time we see Christ communicating the gospel to individuals in the Gospel Records (i.e. Nicodemus in John 3; the two disciples on the Emmaus Road), He was dealing with religious people. Their minds were clouded by misunderstanding of the Bible in regard to His mission to save sinners. These are the same kind of people the missionary will normally meet in Africa. Africans are very religious and have zeal, but for many of them, it is without knowledge. Together, this zeal and partial knowledge clouds their minds to the truth. For this reason, we try to follow Christ’s example and go back to Old Testament picture stories (First Sin and Sacrifice, Cain and Abel, Abraham and Isaac’s Sacrifice, the Passover, Brazen Serpent) and try to use these Scriptures to teach basic building blocks for gospel truths. We try to teach ideas such as sacrifice, replacement, blood atonement, faith, etc. When you live in a culture based on oral tradition (which most of Africa is) you will find this a great tool. Story telling is the mode of learning.
#9 Do not use a translator for witnessing unless the translator has been tried and tested
I have heard many translator horror stories. Sometimes in Africa, because of the multitude of local languages, a missionary may find himself in a situation where he needs to use a translator. For example, he is visiting in a city and comes to a small community where the people do not speak the local language that he knows. As he begins to give the gospel, a person that understands the needed language offers to help translate. This is strongly discouraged! If you are not sure of the person’s spiritual condition or church background, you might be creating greater problems for the person you are trying to reach. Many people that translate do not say what you say, but translate to others what they think you are saying. This is a great problem if the person translating is steeped in false teaching (which most Africans are!). It is best for the one giving the gospel to muddle through the national or local language he knows and have some true basic understanding, than to have complete understanding of a false teaching!
#10 Keep learning
Never stop learning. Try to understand everything you can about the people you are trying to reach. Ask God to give you a burden. Try to grasp their thinking and meet them where they are so you can lead them to Christ! You can never learn everything, and Christ must supply the power and strength, but we must do our best.
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