"SPLASH" by Ken & Paula Hemphill
Show People Love and Share Him
It’s tough to say exactly where I stand on this little book, I would say it’s not a bad read, on the other hand I was expecting so little. First of It was a free book, given out at the Evangelism Celebration at Cedarville college. Secondly it’s really a cross between a bible study and a book; it has 6 chapters running about 17 pages apiece, yet then runs 2 or 3 pages of questions after each one. Finally on picking up the book you expect something soft and watered down. So that being said I really wasn’t expecting much, yet found myself presently surprised.
What this book is:
This book is a solid little read that may get you excited about evangelism in your life. It starts with the premises that "Christians should SPLASH everyone they meet with the living water of the gospel." SPLASH standing for Show People Love And Share Him. They take this idea from the ministry of Jesus, who consistently showed people love and shared himself. The book is filled with scripture showing what and how Jesus did. My personal favorite chapter was the short one entitled "And". Here they spoke of the fact sharing love without the gospel has little value, and the needs to be shared with love to have a maximum effectiveness. Splash claims not to be a system for sharing the gospel, but the unsystem, a call to be yourself, and share your story.
What this book isn’t:
As I stated earlier this book is not in any was a system for sharing your faith. It is not Way of The Master or any number of similar programs. This book isn’t profound or to deep. It’s not something you can really sit and debate much theology over. It’s not long, and really it’s as much a bible study as it is a book.
Final Thoughts:
In the introduction to this book it claims only 4% of professing Christians have ever shared Jesus Christ with another. This number is breathtaking in light of the Great Commission found in Matthew 28: 19-20 "18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen" (NKJV). Christ called us all to share him with others. Not just pastors, missionaries, and evangelists but all people. In light of that command perhaps SPLASH can be an effective tool doing that.
All in all I would recommend splash if you’re having problems in the area of evanglism. Or perhaps leading a small group study on the subject. It will not give you the things to say. It will not alleviate you anxiety in doing so, but it may inspire you to open up your life to show people love and share Him.
