A new gospel tract published by Houston businessman David Howell has been read by at least 15,000 people – most of them prisoners – since June, and many have reported that God used it to change their lives.
Titled “How to Be a Child of God,” the graphic, comic-book style booklet explains the concept of being crucified with Christ, presented by the apostle Paul in Galatians 2:20. An accompanying video presents its message online with automation and professional voiceover.
“You don’t see any words like ‘redemption’ and ‘salvation.’ There’s just plain talk about how to become a child of God,” Howell told the Southern Baptist Texan. “I try to keep it as simple as possible for those who haven’t been around church and have never heard those terms.”
Howell, a member of Houston’s Second Baptist Church, began writing the tract more than five years ago after he became frustrated that other tracts leave out important points of the gospel and basic Christian living. Often, he found himself asking to meet with new believers who came to Christ through a different tract in order to explain more.
After Howell wrote the text, he asked a team to review it, including staff members at Second Baptist. Then he contracted artist Randy Rogers to produce drawings that illustrated the message. Eventually Howell produced the video as well.
He planned to print a limited supply of the tract and felt God leading him to send it to prisons and rehabilitation centers. But when he consulted a friend familiar with prison ministry, Howell realized God was opening a door for much wider distribution.
“He said, ‘It’s dynamite, man. It’s colorful. It’s exactly what [prison ministries] want – easy to understand. You’ve got Bible verses already in it. They don’t have to have a Bible. – It’s perfect,’?” Howell said.
The video is designed to reach Internet users ages 25-40. One pastor liked it so much that he embedded it on his church’s website. Howell encourages others to do the same.
“I’m just trying to get the Word out,” Howell said. “I’m not a for-profit kind of guy, and I’m not trying to make a living out of this. God’s blessed me in other ways. I’m just wanting to get the message out.”
To view the tract or to watch the video, visit howtobeachildofgod.com.
– Roach is a correspondent for the Southern Baptist Texan (www.texanonline.net), the news journal of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.<