May 27, 2002

Statewide network wants to lure fishers to faith in Christ
___ Continued from page 1
___talk to them in a language they understand."
___For example, before a recent tournament, Shine preached using visual aids out of his tackle box. He told the anglers that just as they use a variety of lures and techniques to catch fish, so Satan throws out just the right lure to entice humans to sin.
___Men who make spiritual decisions at the tournaments are referred to local churches for discipleship.
___The ministry is effective because non-Christian fishermen can see that believers are "ordinary guys," Shine said. "I don't fish in a coat and tie, so I am a little more approachable to a lot of guys. And one of the good things about evangelizing the person in your boat is you know they are not going anywhere."
___While acknowledging that many non-Christians show up for the first tournament or two with a bit of apprehension, he finds that dissipates rapidly once they get to know some of the other men. "We want them to know you can be saved and still enjoy your life," Shine said.
___Membership in the organization is made up primarily of Christian pastors and laymen who like to fish competitively, but who make being in church on Sundays a higher priority. Many use the organization to expose non-Christian angling friends to the gospel.
___That is a large part of the appeal for Shine, who is pastor of Pine Forest Baptist Church in Onalaska, 30 miles east of Huntsville on Lake Livingston.
___His congregation supports his work with Fishers of Men because they see it as another way to spread the gospel.
___"Anything to evangelize--that seems to be the backbone of this congregation," he said.
___Shine and Duck Wright, a layman from Jasper and director of both the East Texas and Metroplex divisions, recently took a boat to the Royal Ambassador Congress in Tyler and talked with boys and men about fishing and Jesus. One boy professed faith in Christ that day as his father looked on.
___For more information, go to the website www.fishersofmenministries.com, or call Wright at (936) 897-9951.
___Larry Shine uses bass fishing to lead men to faith in Jesus.

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