Synopsis
From the very first day I became a Christian deep down I knew the answer to three questions. 1. Where did I come from? 2. Where am I going? 3. Why am I here? That inner knowing of the answers to these three perplexing questions propelled me into the world of ‘fishing for men’. This little book, Gone Fishin’, is now in its third printing and has been used to bless and encourage those struggling with ‘how to reach people with the good news of the Gospel’. It has brought hope and salvation to those who were sinking into an abyss of despair. I’m just an ordinary person who strives to be in tune with an extraordinary God. Just as Peter and John were considered unlearned and ignorant fishermen, I have qualified to fish for souls, in spite of my ignorance, because of Jesus. My credentials are nothing to brag about, but I know I have bragging rights about the Savior who rescued me. In these chapters you will find people just like the ones you rub shoulders with every day. In my case I owned a small real estate company in rural Georgia and God turned it into a soul-saving station. You will read accounts of professionals who, under their sophisticated facades, were bankrupt and miserable. You’ll discover how they learned the true meaning of life and how they became more successful than they ever dreamed.You’ll also read about those who were living deviant lifestyles, not realizing God had a better plan for them; a plan that included freedom from sin. You’ll drive down a rutted road with me and see Ted who had been living in an abandoned bus. Then you’ll ride with me to a truck stop and wait with me while Ted takes a shower, his first one in six months. You’ll see how God’s love poured out to him and others and brought them to salvation.Fishing for souls is the most exciting vocation a person can have. It’s a job you won’t find advertised on a computer employment site, or in a classified ad in your local newspaper; yet it is a vocation you can couple with any other job you have. In my case it was a man who owned a pest control company who brought my whole family to Christ. He actually began telling my family about Jesus while he was spraying for black widow spiders!Fishing for men is a command of our Savior, yet so few do it today. Most Christians seem to feel it’s the preacher’s job to go out and evangelize the lost. Evangelism is something we read about, but few ever become personally involved.Is it any wonder that today we are losing the battle for the souls of men? By leaving this all important work to a few professional preachers and a handful of TV evangelists we are missing the point of what Jesus has called us to do.Whether you’re a housewife, a garbage collector, a doctor or a teacher, God has called you (and me) to be fishers of men. This is not the work of only a select few. Every person, who calls themselves by the name of Jesus Christ, has a mandate to preach the Gospel.“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:14-15 (KJV)Take time to read these adventures in soul winning. Try reading just one story each day. Soon, you too will be on your way to becoming a fisher of men.
About the Author
My story could be told by thousands of others who have come from broken homes. Everything went topsy-turvy for me when I found my mother crying in the kitchen. The phone receiver was dangling from the wall and my mother was shaking her head from side to side, as deep sobs wracked her body. My father had just called and told her he wanted a divorce. By the time my mother married my second step-father, I was well on the road to destruction. I secretly married at fifteen and shortly afterwards my husband was transferred overseas. When my step-father discovered what I had done, he promptly kicked me out of the house; saying if I was old enough to be married I was old enough to be on my own. While my husband was overseas I led a double life. On one hand I kept writing to him and acting like the faithful wife, but in reality I was living with a man who, unbeknown to me, was out committing robberies to support our lifestyle. During this time, my step-mother and father had become Christians. They were fervently praying that God would touch me and save me. I'm so happy to tell you their prayers were answered. I would love to report that everything was perfect after I gave my heart to Christ, but such was not the case. After sixteen years of marriage, my husband left me for another woman. In 1972 God brought a wonderful, godly man into my life. He has encouraged me to become the woman God designed me to be. My husband Charlie designed our wedding bands. Within a molded triangle are two initials - J.C. This stands for Jerri and Charlie united in Jesus Christ. In 1979 I became a real estate agent--retiring 28 years later--it was a good fit for me. When Charlie retired as a contract administrator with the government, he worked five years as the Chief Appraiser for our county and retired again--then I joined him. Actually, retired at the Tuck home is spelled: R. E. T. R. E. A. D. We are busier than ever these days. We have been involved in prison ministry for over twenty years and we are still continuing to cast our lines out to those whose lives were like our own; lives imprisoned in sin. As you read about a few of our adventures together in winning people to Jesus, we pray you will be challenged to join us on this amazing fishing expedition. The one thing of value you can take to Heaven is souls. Everything you see around you will one day be gone. Only that which is not seen will remain. Let's go fishing!
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