Podcast Episode 8 with Brad Tower

The transcript is from an episode of the Bibles and Bullhorns podcast featuring Brad Tower, an evangelist affiliated with Hearts for the Lost and a full-time teacher. Hosted by Jonathan Morris and Jon Neifert, the episode discusses evangelism, overcoming fear in sharing the gospel, and open-air preaching.

Key Points:

Introduction:

• Brad Tower, based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, shares his journey in evangelism through his involvement with *Hearts for the Lost*.
• The organization trains churches in biblical evangelism, focusing on using the law to reveal sin and pointing to the gospel.

Work with Hearts for the Lost

• Brad explains the organization’s approach: training church members in evangelism and then applying it in real-world outreach, such as street witnessing.
• Key topics covered during training include using the Ten Commandments to bring awareness of sin, true and false conversions, gospel tracts, and open-air preaching.

Evangelism Philosophy

• Emphasis on allowing God to work in people’s hearts rather than relying on methods like the sinner’s prayer.
• Brad focuses on planting seeds and sharing the gospel clearly, trusting God for the results.

Overcoming Fear and Encouraging Others

• Brad shares his personal struggles with fear in evangelism and how he encourages others by breaking the process into manageable steps.
• He invites new evangelists to observe or start small, such as handing out tracts, to ease them into sharing their faith.

Open-Air Preaching

• Brad recounts his journey from avoiding preaching to becoming an open-air preacher.
• He stresses the importance of preparation, humility, and maintaining a respectful demeanor to avoid unnecessary conflict.

Farmers Market Ministry

• Brad organizes a team from his church to evangelize at local farmers markets, combining tracts, conversations, and occasionally open-air preaching.
• He highlights the importance of teamwork, personal invitations, and building relationships within the church to encourage participation.

Interactions with Authorities

• Brad describes occasional challenges with police or complaints, especially during open-air preaching, but notes that friendliness and respect often resolve such issues.

Lessons and Advice

• Brad emphasizes the value of persistence, humility, and relying on God rather than personal ability.
• He advises others to involve their churches, take small steps to overcome fear, and leverage tools like gospel tracts and group outreach events.

Future Plans and Outreach Opportunities

• Brad plans to expand his outreach efforts beyond farmers markets to events like football games and welcomes others to join his initiatives.
• He invites listeners to reach out to him via Facebook for advice or collaboration.

The episode underscores the importance of biblical evangelism, humility, and teamwork in sharing the gospel effectively. Would you like any additional details or focus on specific parts?