by Michael E Brooks

We were in the second week of campaigning in a little town. I had established a series of home Bible studies in a particular neighborhood and was traveling there each day. One morning as I went to an appointment a lady came to the edge of the road, on the other side, and called out, "People on this side of the street want to hear the Gospel too."

What a wonderful experience and what a great lesson! We can become so focused on one person, group, or area that we fail to see needs and opportunities elsewhere. This is true not only in evangelism, but in life generally. A Christian mother is busy with house and children; does she see all the needs of her husband? A father is preoccupied with work, providing a material living. What about his children’s needs for his time and attention? What about his own spiritual values?

But the primary lesson remains evangelistic. Jesus describes the process as "A sower went out to sow" (Matt. 13:3). Careful placing of seed in a prepared site is not the method He suggests. Rather, broadcasting -- throwing seed abundantly and letting it fall where it will -- is His method. We can be too concerned with efficiency and fertile fields. Lost souls are everywhere. Human needs abound. And sometimes the greatest need and the most open heart may be in an unusual, unexpected place. We must keep our eyes open, ready to see where such need exists.

Is there a "wrong side" of the street? Most towns and cities have certain districts of bad reputation. Perhaps the people there are poorer than in other areas. Maybe immorality or crime is more common. Sometimes it is a matter of different races or ethnicities being in the majority.

It is not uncommon for the "better" people of the city to avoid such districts. Unfortunately this can be true of Christians as they seek to minister to their neighborhoods. We just "don’t go there." Maybe it is out of fear. Perhaps it is because we don’t feel it would be effectual. Or maybe it is because we don’t really want to deal with "those kinds of people."

James says about such prejudices, “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality ... have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?" (Jas. 2:1, 4).

People on that side of the street want, and need, to hear the Gospel too.