The city of Kokomo, Indiana recently conducted its annual Jim “Moose” Carden Fishing Clinic. This is an effort to allow children the opportunity to learn about fishing. This year’s clinic featured trick fishing caster Scotty Lucas, who wowed attendees with his accurate casting. According to the Kokomo Tribune, Lucas said, “I’ve learned to do the things I do in order to put the bait where the fish are, and do it naturally. If you do it this way, I guarantee you’ll catch more fish.”

Some studies have shown that 80 percent of convicted felons never learned to fish growing up as children. Scotty Lucas and others like him believe that teaching children how to fish might keep them out of trouble, so they put forth a great effort to promote fishing to the next generation.

Jesus has called his followers to be fishers of men. Perhaps the reason that so many churches and individual Christians find themselves in trouble is that they have lost their focus; they have forgotten their purpose in life—fishing for people.

Let’s take that quote from Lucas and tweak it a little bit so that it refers to our mission as followers of Jesus—“I’ve learned to do the things I do in order to put the gospel message where the people are, and do it naturally. If you do it this way, I guarantee you’ll catch more people.”

Happy fishing, and stay out of trouble!