Podcast Episode 5 with Marv Plementosh

The transcript is from an episode of the Bibles and Bullhorns podcast featuring Marv Plementosh, founder of One Million Tracts, a gospel tract publishing company. Hosts Jonathan Morris and John Neifert discuss Marv’s journey into evangelism, the importance of gospel tracts, and his approach to designing and distributing them.

Key Points:

Guest Introduction:

• Marv Plementosh owns One Million Tracts, a publishing company that produces and sells gospel tracts for evangelism.
• His ministry began with a challenge to distribute one million tracts in a year, which later grew into a larger outreach effort.

Marv’s Journey to Evangelism:

• He became a Christian in 1989 and initially disliked gospel tracts.
• After encountering Ray Comfort’s teaching, his perspective changed, inspiring him to evangelize actively.
• Attending Living Waters’ Ambassador’s Academy further ignited his passion for outreach.

The Role of Gospel Tracts:

• Tracts are a versatile tool for evangelism, offering an accessible way to share the gospel with strangers.
• Marv emphasizes designing eye-catching and concise tracts tailored to specific audiences, ensuring they include the gospel message and scripture.

Success Stories:

• Marv shares impactful anecdotes, including instances where people were saved after receiving tracts, even in seemingly random encounters.
• A notable example includes a toll worker who received multiple tracts and later sought salvation, inspired by their message.

Advice on Writing and Distributing Tracts:

• Keep messages short and audience-specific.
• Include the law and the gospel, avoiding overly complex or lengthy content.
• Use humor or bold designs to catch attention, but ensure the message is clear and Christ-centered.

Family and Community Involvement:

• Marv highlights evangelism as a family activity, sharing a story of children enthusiastically distributing tracts.
• He also suggests creative ways to make outreach less intimidating, such as leaving tracts in public places like gas pumps.

Challenges and Criticism:

• Some Christians perceive tracts as ineffective or weird, but Marv encourages trying them to witness their impact.
• He acknowledges receiving negative feedback but views it as an opportunity for people to reflect on the gospel.

Resources and Accessibility:

• Tracts are cost-effective, with One Million Tracts offering customizable designs for churches and individuals.
• Marv’s ministry also supports those with limited means through partnerships like the Bazugan ministry, which provides free tracts.

The episode underscores the value of gospel tracts in spreading the gospel, emphasizing creativity, persistence, and reliance on God to bring fruit from the seeds planted. It ends with encouragement for listeners to share the gospel and explore tracts as a tool for evangelism.