Why Tracts?

March 26, 2012 by: Crossway

Tracts are creative, short-form gospel presentations, convenient to use and economical to produce and distribute. They’ve been used by Christians since the 13th century and continue to aid in outreach efforts around the globe to this day.

Crossway, originally known as Good News Publishers, was founded in 1938 through the evangelistic ministry of Clyde and Muriel Dennis, two people who cared deeply about the advance of the gospel. The Dennis family found that tracts could have a unique and strategic role to play in the work of evangelism, printing over 50 million during World War II alone.

Crossway continues to distribute 16 million tracts annually to ministries and individuals actively sharing the gospel. The simple truth is that God still uses tracts today!

If you haven’t used tracts before and aren’t sure how to use them, here are some tips to get started:

  • Tracts are tools best used as an outgrowth of relationship, not in place of relationship.
  • Know your audience; choose a design and an approach that fits with the person you’re talking to.
  • When leaving a tract at a restaurant, be generous and thoughtful with the tip amount. Remember that for many servers, you’re representing Christianity as a whole. Use the opportunity to reflect God’s grace and generosity.
  • Tracts are strategic tools, but they aren’t comprehensive. Be ready with other resources such as Christian books to help answer the additional questions that come up.
  • Have your Bible or Bible app close by; ready to read the Word of God with the people you’re caring for.
  • Pray for the people you share with consistently and, on occasion, let them know that you’re praying for them
  • Follow up with the person you’re sharing with and help them find a church.

What an opportunity we have share the good news with the world around us. Please join us in prayerfully considering how God might use you in someone's life today.

"And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'"— Matthew 28:18-20

For more information on tract resources visit Crossway.org/Tracts or contact: tracts@crossway.org.

Crossway is a not-for-profit Christian ministry that exists solely for the purpose of proclaiming the gospel through publishing gospel-centered, Bible-centered content. Learn more or donate today at crossway.org/about.