Recently when in Australia, Graeme Hart took me out on the bay there in Geelong in his and his father’s boat. As I looked into the glove compartment, I found a small encyclopedia of fish and fishing in Australian waters. Professionally done, the book pictured the fish in color, noted where they could be found, the bait preferred—everything one would need to know about “down-under” fishing.

I asked Graeme, “Do you have such a book on catching men for Christ?” He gave me an understanding glance, but didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. It was rhetorical.

I’ve often pondered the church’s impotency when it comes to “catching men” with the gospel. When I brought up the subject at a synod meeting of the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia—over lunch—one pastor wryly said, “Here in Australia we expect fish to jump into the boat!” Another said it was almost impossible to win people that way, and he proceeded to go step-by-step through the regimen of what it takes to reach a man for Christ. I said, “Sir, it seems to me you have answered your own question.” Whoever put together that book on Australian fishing didn’t throw it together overnight. It was the product of extensive research and (an important and) experience. 

Why are not our congregations centers for training persons in fishing for men? That’s our mission—to “preserve, maintain, and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.” It is evident that if one wants to catch fish, he must go fishing. And then he must fish! But if I am not really prepared with the gospel message, that is, if I don’t have it clearly in mind and know what I want and need to say, I probably won’t have much interest in fishing. And those of us who like to go “fishing” need to take the unprepared along with us so that the excitement of seeing a person respond to the gospel of Christ might get into their blood.

A couple of years ago, my friend Ike Jorgensen who lives near Ottawa, Ontario, insisted he was going to take me fishing. Up at 2 a.m. to get to Algonquin Park by 6 a.m.—Ike knows when the fish bite—the four of us left the dock for our destination. Ike knew where the fish gathered for food. I was dressed warmly, like a man going to Mars. After a frigid 20-minute ride on the water we arrived. Putting out a float so we would not wander from the right place, we began a slow troll in a wide circle. In the course of it all, I was given a rod, the bait was in place, and I was told how to let the bait go to the bottom, then slowly and with jerks begin to wind it in. Everyone had his rod out when suddenly I got a strike! Let me tell you, everyone on that boat began to shout instructions. And, of course, novice as I was and am, I needed directions. Gradually I got the fish close enough to the boat and one of the guys landed it in the net! I had caught a six-pound lake trout—beautiful! Later each of the guys made his catch. After returning home, Ike prepared trout steaks and we enjoyed a delicious meal.  But this would never have happened had Ike not pressed me into going fishing with him. I’ll never forget it! 

Fishing for men takes knowledge and experience. But I like the analogy. One must know something about fish, know their habits and locations, go where they are, and then fish! As time passed that day with Ike, we kept our rods in the water; but Ike said the time was past for their biting. So we went home.

I noted that. Working in evangelism is very much like that. It’s true that the gospel is “the power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16), but it must be taken to people. Yes, we study people, their habits, appetites, ways of thinking. And we are fully equipped with various ways to present the message. We become skilled in the art of winning people. And while we recognize that only through the sovereign grace of God do people believe, we don’t make the mistake of thinking that “fish jump into the boat.”