WALTERS, Okla. -- As a pastor, Tony Nickel said he frequently noticed wives coming to church without their husbands and families coming without one or more family members.

That prompted him to develop a workshop designed to help believers more effectively witness to their unsaved family members, according to the Baptist Press.

"The ladies with unbelieving husbands were always in fear of coming to church because their husbands wanted them home," Nickel said. "I also noticed that no one was doing anything about the extended family."

"Bringing Them Home: Leading Your Unsaved Family Members to Christ," was developed to help Christians regain credibility with family members who know their weaknesses, remember their sins and know they are far from perfect.

Nickel, pastor of First Baptist Church, started the program in 1994 after preaching a message that addressed how to witness to unsaved family members.

"At a home prayer group meeting six months later, a church member said she did what I said in the message and led her brother to the Lord," Nickel told the news service. "I couldn't believe anyone remembered what I preached six months ago, let alone using it to lead someone to Christ."

After surveying members at his church, Nickel discovered nearly one-third lived with either an unsaved spouse or child. Others had close relationships with extended family members who had not accepted Jesus as Savior.

His program teaches seven lifestyle evangelism principles, the last of which shows how to share the Gospel in a way that draws on the personality of the believer. At churches where he has presented the workshop, 98 percent of those who attend reach a point where they can share the Gospel, BP reported.

"The first six principles are testimony," Nickel said. "It all begins with the Christian getting right with God, then reconciling with unsaved family members."

Nickel developed the program as an eight-week course, but churches can shorten it to Friday night/Saturday morning sessions or all-day Sunday sessions.  A "Bring Them Home" crusade runs from Sunday through Wednesday, with training prior to revival services.

"When people go through this, they walk away saying, ‘Why didn't I think of this?'" Nickel said. "It doesn't call us to be perfect, but genuine."