Torch, Summer 1983

10 ''D. '' d h 1x an t e "Dix" by Dr. Paul Dixon Dr. Paul Dixon is one ofthe foremost proponents ofthe evangelism/discipleship concept. He preaches and practices it at Cedarville College and in meetings in this country and overseas. The material that follows is taken from Dr . Dixon's book, The Joy ofDiscipleship. L et me share an experience I had discipling a new convert. I remember it as one of the blessed experiences of my life in discipleship, and it was not even planned . You will find that God will use you in discipling of people even when you don't have a system or a plan. God will just cause it to happen. When I was in college, I had a ministry away from home every summer; but the summer before my senior year I knew I was to stay home and work at a company in Cincinnati. One day I needed a haircut, so I went out to start my '53 Dodge. But it just would not start because it had rained the night before. When it rained, the only way to start the car was to take off the spark plug wires and wipe them with a rag . I got out and pulled the spark plug wires and dried them off, but the engine still wouldn ' t turn over. I finally had to walk the mile or so to the barber shop. As I was walking back, a car pulled over to the curb and a young man leaned out and said, "Hey , Dix, what are you doing?" Many years had passed since anyone had called me Dix, so I knew it had to be someone from Norwood High School days. I looked up to see a fellow dressed in an ROTC uniform. His name was Jim; I recognized him from our school days together. He was now a senior at the University of Cincinnati. He said, "Let me give you a lift home." On the way he asked me ifl were in college. I explained to him how the Lord saved me when I was a senior in high school and that I was studying for the ministry. I told him that next Sunday night I would be preaching at the Norwood Baptist Church and asked, "How would you like to bring your wife and come?" He responded , "I might do that. I would like to hear you." So Sunday night Jim came with his wife. He sat in the congregation and leaned intently forward while I was preaching. When I gave the invitation , he raised his hand expressing his concern about his soul, but he didn't come forward. I announced that I would be in a room where anyone could come to ask me questions after the service. It wasn 't long until Jim came in. He sat down and said he just wanted to thank me for the message , and that he was glad he came. He started to leave when I asked , "Jim , are you sure that's all you want to talk about?" He said, "No , I've never heard anything like this before , but I think you ought to know that I'm an agnostic. I'm deeply involved in philosophy ." He said that he didn't even believe the Bible. I said, "Well , that's your opinion. But would you like to know why I believe the Bible?" We sat there for an hour as I explained to him why I had confidence in the Scriptures. When we were finished, I explained that in the final analysis the Bible had to be accepted by faith , just as receiving Christ was a step of faith. He thought a minute and said, "Believe it or not , at this point , after what you ' ve said, I'm ready to accept the Bible by faith; but I'm not sure I'm ready to accept Christ. " He wanted to think it through. He was afraid the music and the preaching were playing on his emotions. He wanted to get away from it for a few days. I said , " Fine , but while you are thinking about it , if you die , you will go to hell. That's your choice, and I have to be honest with you about it. " He said he still wanted to think about it more. "Good ," I said , "if you want to be saved , I' II give you two days. By then if you still want to be saved , be at my house on Tuesday afternoon at 2:00. " He agreed. Tuesday at 2:00 there was a knock on the door. l opened the door and there he stood grinning from ear to ear with a Bible under his arm. He said he wanted to be saved. I took him up to my room and led him to the Lord. I gave him some brief helps on how to grow as a Christian . He looked at me and asked , "Would you have time tomorrow to teach me more about how I can grow as a Christian?" l told him I would and that he could come back the next day at the same time. He came back the next day , and the next after that; for two weeks, we studied together. On one occasion he was unable to meet at our usual time . He asked if I could meet him at the university during his lunch hour to study the Word together. ****** * Jim has been a deacon in a church in Toledo , Ohio , and today is a member of the Board of Trustees of Cedarville College. That experience was an involvement in discipleship that I did not plan , but it was in the providence of God. What a joy to disciple a new convert! •