What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (Full Version)

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Consecrated2God -> What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/15/2008 8:32:51 PM)

I did some street evangelism as a teen at a homeschool event, and we had a really neat tool we used. It was set up like a survey, and as we went through the questions it presented the gospel. I wish I could find it again, but I haven't turned up anything similar online.

One of the guys at our church does some street evangelism, and I think he passes out tracts. I think the survey I did as a teen was better because there was more dialogue involved. I am interested in researching evangelism tools, and would like to know what kinds of tools you have found to be helpful.



zippty_day -> RE: What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/16/2008 12:42:11 AM)

Make up your own new survey. If that worked for you that's great! My sons just came home from a 3 week YWAM camp were they were doing street evangelism. They asked people if they struggled with depression.

For myself, I just get a coffee and walk around, and sit somewhere, strike up a conversation and try to begin a friendship with people. Eventually it leads to what I do? I sing and I'm a missionary, and why am I here? to share God's love and acceptance. I believe all of the Bible and many people don't know what it says. It says that God sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins so we can have a personal relationship with him and eternal life. Many people accept this.

If you are dealing with someone in New Age or another false religion, I'd would try to show them Jesus' love. Don't debate. Find out what people need. Are they lonely, have an illness or whatever and offer to pray for them.

When we do crusades, street evangelism, we set up a platform w/a sound equipment and instruments. We put on a music concert, sometimes YWAMer's come and do dramas, sometimes we have testimonies anything to get their attention and then my husband preaches a mini sermon and invitation to salvation.

Be real and dress normal. I recommend people NOT saying something like, "Hi I'm a Christian!" In fact, I tell them to avoid saying that because people need to see Jesus shining through you. Be Jesus by allowing him to flow through you. Let him use your hands, feet and mouth for His glory. Be his instrument to love the people to himself.

Remember that perfect love casts out all fear and that perfect love is inside of you! You have that perfect love to share with others. The Bible says you will know my disciples by their 'love' for one another. Love the people to Jesus.



4IMPersuaded -> RE: What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/16/2008 7:04:45 PM)

Feel free to take my opinion for what it is... I don't think that in this society there is an effective way to do a street evangelism. I think that the most effective way to evangelize is one-one through a relationship. From a personal perspective, I see those "surveyors" coming and will walk an extra half mile in order to avoid them...

God bless you if He's called you to do it, but I would rather imagine that the point of doing such an excercise as a teen was to develop the confidence of the teen rather than actually effectively reach someone for Jesus.



Neeva_Candida -> RE: What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/16/2008 7:16:30 PM)

I think I know the survey you're talking about. I have a pad of them still. Alas, the ones I have in my possession appear to have been discontinued. However, the place I purchased them is still online.

I got mine here:

Living Waters Store

~Neeva



Neeva_Candida -> RE: What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/16/2008 7:19:35 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: 4IMPersuaded

Feel free to take my opinion for what it is... I don't think that in this society there is an effective way to do a street evangelism. I think that the most effective way to evangelize is one-one through a relationship. From a personal perspective, I see those "surveyors" coming and will walk an extra half mile in order to avoid them...

God bless you if He's called you to do it, but I would rather imagine that the point of doing such an excercise as a teen was to develop the confidence of the teen rather than actually effectively reach someone for Jesus.


While I certainly understand this tendency it is simply not biblical. Where are the examples of Jesus or the Apostles first forming "relationships" and then sharing the gospel?

~Neeva



Dakotasunbeam -> RE: What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/16/2008 8:40:42 PM)

street evangelism just requires you to tell people the good news. I am persuaded that we need no gimmicks or tricks to pull people in. It is the Spirit that will do the calling and the drawing, it is the person that must make the decision whether they will open the door.



KuKu -> RE: What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/16/2008 8:43:16 PM)

Consecrated, that sounds like Evangelism Explosion to me- I was in it for several years when I was on the field, and that was one thing we used if we had more groups than appointments...



Consecrated2God -> RE: What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/16/2008 9:04:23 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Neeva_Candida

I think I know the survey you're talking about. I have a pad of them still. Alas, the ones I have in my possession appear to have been discontinued. However, the place I purchased them is still online.

I got mine here:

Living Waters Store

~Neeva


I wish I could know if the ones you have are the ones I used! What kinds of questions do they have?



RJR_fan -> RE: What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/16/2008 10:39:20 PM)

quote:

Where are the examples of Jesus or the Apostles first forming "relationships" and then sharing the gospel?


Food for thought. When Jesus stood up "as was His custom" in the synagogue he'd grown up in, and spoke to people He'd "formed a relationship with," they wanted to toss Him over the town cliff!

John Wesley originally thought it was almost a sin to preach anywhere other than in church -- then, when he reluctantly traveled to an open field to pinch hit for George Whitfield, he read the Sermon on the Mount, and realize that he had an excellent precedent.

London has its "Hyde Park," where any crank with a soap box is welcome to orate.

Good question.

Does God give select folks the ability to hold forth, and hold the interest of hearers, in a public forum? Or how many "open air preachers" are like the "Crazy Gary" at a local university, a ranter who is viewed with irritation and condescending contempt by all those who have to put up with his brimstone etc. sermonizing?

People wanted to hear what Jesus had to say. The coal miners who flocked to Wesley's open air gatherings had white tracks running down their blackened faces ...

It's been decades since I've done open-air witnessing ...



zamdad -> RE: What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/17/2008 12:16:10 AM)

The pastor of my church has this "thing" for a committee called evangelism and outreach. Like so many other things, all too often it seems swe get lost in trying to do things that have become big words we may not truly understand. As has been said, the most effective thing we can do is to establish relationships with others.

There is a need for evangelists. Billy Graham is one of the greatest evangeslists of our time. But, once an evangelist preaches the message, where are the disciples to guide converts to maturity? The root word for disciple is to lead, guide, instruct. Culturally, it seems we have left this job to the evangelists and then we wonder why baby Christians don't seem to mature.



RJR_fan -> RE: What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/17/2008 2:22:18 AM)

quote:

Billy Graham is one of the greatest evangeslists of our time ...


whose own studies demonstrated, decades ago, that "crusade 'evangelism' " has a 96% defect rate. Only 4% of those who go forward at BG "crusades" (now isn't that a word to warm the hearts of Jews and Muslims?) actually demonstrate the anticipated fruits of true conversion. Apparently, there is such a thing as false conversion, that is relatively easy for a gifted orator to induce, using certain well-honed hypnotic techniques -- "every head bowed, every eye closed ... "

Charles Finney ruefully admitted, towards the close of his life, that those areas he'd "revived" demonstrated practically no enduring results, other than a cold, hard, contempt towards the gospel. People come to resent having their buttons pushed. Nearly 30 years later, I still remember the saleslady who followed up a substantial purchase -- one we'd budgeted for for months -- with a "service contract." We ended up spending far more than we'd planned on, for no tangible benefit. Imagine how it feels if the issue isn't a Singer sewing machine, but your soul.

OK -- so herding people into stadiums so an orator can sprinkle magic fairy dust over them and convert them is a flawed model of public evangelism. How, then, can we go where the crowds are, rather than trying to round them up? Jim Jones could always generate crowds, BTW. He imported them.

There is a right way to do street evangelism -- and I'm trying to get a grip on that issue, myself. I even did some, back when I was young and crazy and single.



Consecrated2God -> RE: What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/17/2008 8:23:29 AM)

quote:

Food for thought. When Jesus stood up "as was His custom" in the synagogue he'd grown up in, and spoke to people He'd "formed a relationship with," they wanted to toss Him over the town cliff!


That's true. Interesting point.

I've been doing a lot of reading in the Bible at how the early Christians did their evangelism. At first they went into the synagogues, until they were kicked out. They'd go to gymnasiums and lecture halls where anyone could raise a philosophical argument. They'd even go to the market place where people were buying and selling.

The problem for us in our little town is that we don't have any place like that we can go. There's no modern equivelent of a snygogue. Gymnasiums are for playing basketball, not coming in and preaching an impromptu sermon. You can't just come in to a lecture hall and start preaching--you'd have to rent the place and advertise your event. People don't go to a market place to shop--they go to stores that would kick you out if you started preaching in the aisles. Even so, we don't have a store in our little town. The only place where people even gather here is the bar.

We know the need to go to the people, but we're a little stumped on how to actually get that contact with them. They aren't coming to our little quaint country church, and I would be surprised if they did.

I know there are many theories these days on the wrong or right ways to do evangelism, but overall it just needs to be done. We'll probably make some mistakes along the way, and maybe we'll figure out what works for us and write the next how-to book. [8D]



Neeva_Candida -> RE: What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/17/2008 3:28:21 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: RJR_fan

quote:

Where are the examples of Jesus or the Apostles first forming "relationships" and then sharing the gospel?


Food for thought. When Jesus stood up "as was His custom" in the synagogue he'd grown up in, and spoke to people He'd "formed a relationship with," they wanted to toss Him over the town cliff!


While it does indicate that Jesus spoke in the synagogues it does not indicate he formed relationships with these people. The pastors of today preach to the people each Sunday but it does not mean they have a relationship with these people.

I guess it is important to clarify what one means by forming relationships. We may be speaking about different things. I am referring to the person that believes they must come to know the other person first before it is appropriate to share the Gospel.


quote:

a ranter who is viewed with irritation and condescending contempt by all those who have to put up with his brimstone etc. sermonizing?


This is not necessarily a bad thing. On judgment day the irritated won't be able to say someone didn't try to warn them.

quote:

People wanted to hear what Jesus had to say. The coal miners who flocked to Wesley's open air gatherings had white tracks running down their blackened faces ...


Ultimately it is the work of the Holy Spirit to draw people. In open air preaching those that don't wish to hear may go on their way.

~Neeva




Neeva_Candida -> RE: What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/17/2008 3:36:46 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: zamdad
As has been said, the most effective thing we can do is to establish relationships with others.


While it has been said it has not been proven or backed up by scripture.

quote:


There is a need for evangelists.


And we are all called to be such. Witnessing is every Christian's responsibility.

quote:


But, once an evangelist preaches the message, where are the disciples to guide converts to maturity? The root word for disciple is to lead, guide, instruct. Culturally, it seems we have left this job to the evangelists and then we wonder why baby Christians don't seem to mature.

The Holy Spirit must lead one to Christ. It is by His power and not our own that this happens.
Christ's sacrifice cleanses us of our sins. It is by His power and not our own that this happens.
So, why do we think that God needs us to "grow" baby Christians? If God has truly saved a person He is also able to keep that person.

~Neeva



Consecrated2God -> RE: What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/17/2008 3:43:22 PM)

I do believe discipleship is an important part of evangelism. Jesus said to make disciples, not converts. On the flip side, I know some teach that it's wrong to evangelize anyone if you don't have time to disciple them personally, and I disagree with that way of thinking. I knew a girl who had led many children to Christ and then was made to feel guilty later on life because she had no way of discipling the children.

I think too many people today don't evangelize because they are afraid of doing it wrong. There's so much teaching on how to evangelize, and so much of it conflicts with each other. People are afraid that they are going to do it wrong and mess up that person for life and then they'll never accept the gospel because they turned them off from it, and it's all their fault. So they don't try. A lot of Christians seem to feel that it's preferable to not evangelize at all, then to try and evangelize and do it wrong.



Neeva_Candida -> RE: What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/17/2008 3:46:43 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: RJR_fan

quote:

Billy Graham is one of the greatest evangeslists of our time ...


quote:

whose own studies demonstrated, decades ago, that "crusade 'evangelism' " has a 96% defect rate. Only 4% of those who go forward at BG "crusades" (now isn't that a word to warm the hearts of Jews and Muslims?) actually demonstrate the anticipated fruits of true conversion. Apparently, there is such a thing as false conversion, that is relatively easy for a gifted orator to induce, using certain well-honed hypnotic techniques -- "every head bowed, every eye closed ... "


The statistics show the same is true for most church conversions as well. The Southern Baptist were not able to locate about 85-90% of the "saved" they'd recorded the year before their study. Other protestant denominations have done similar studies and found similar results.

This is almost as interesting as the studies that suggest that a majority of those in regular attendance don't believe the Bible is God's word, that there are multiple ways to Heaven and that what's wrong for one person is not necessarily wrong for another.

So, the problem is not easily blamed solely on the type of evangelism. Rather, one needs to look closely at the message being delivered. In many of today's modern churches you will find a "life enhancement" gospel. If you draw someone with the wrong message they likely will depart the first time they are challenged.

~Neeva



Neeva_Candida -> RE: What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/17/2008 3:51:22 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Consecrated2God

I do believe discipleship is an important part of evangelism. Jesus said to make disciples, not converts. On the flip side, I know some teach that it's wrong to evangelize anyone if you don't have time to disciple them personally, and I disagree with that way of thinking. I knew a girl who had led many children to Christ and then was made to feel guilty later on life because she had no way of discipling the children.

I think too many people today don't evangelize because they are afraid of doing it wrong. There's so much teaching on how to evangelize, and so much of it conflicts with each other. People are afraid that they are going to do it wrong and mess up that person for life and then they'll never accept the gospel because they turned them off from it, and it's all their fault. So they don't try. A lot of Christians seem to feel that it's preferable to not evangelize at all, then to try and evangelize and do it wrong.


It would be nice if this were the reason. At least we could feel good about our intentions. Perhaps this is the reason for most Christian's reluctance to witness.

However, I am afraid that more often than not we are simply ashamed of the Gospel. We don't want to look ridiculous or silly. We don't want to face snickers and giggles. We don't want people to scoff us.

~Neeva



Consecrated2God -> RE: What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/17/2008 4:06:01 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Neeva_Candida

quote:

ORIGINAL: Consecrated2God

I do believe discipleship is an important part of evangelism. Jesus said to make disciples, not converts. On the flip side, I know some teach that it's wrong to evangelize anyone if you don't have time to disciple them personally, and I disagree with that way of thinking. I knew a girl who had led many children to Christ and then was made to feel guilty later on life because she had no way of discipling the children.

I think too many people today don't evangelize because they are afraid of doing it wrong. There's so much teaching on how to evangelize, and so much of it conflicts with each other. People are afraid that they are going to do it wrong and mess up that person for life and then they'll never accept the gospel because they turned them off from it, and it's all their fault. So they don't try. A lot of Christians seem to feel that it's preferable to not evangelize at all, then to try and evangelize and do it wrong.


It would be nice if this were the reason. At least we could feel good about our intentions. Perhaps this is the reason for most Christian's reluctance to witness.

However, I am afraid that more often than not we are simply ashamed of the Gospel. We don't want to look ridiculous or silly. We don't want to face snickers and giggles. We don't want people to scoff us.

~Neeva


I'm not ashamed of the Gospel, but I do feel awkward starting a conversation about it. I'm not sure the best way to bring up the subject. I want them to actually listen to me, and I don't want my opening lines to come out wrong so that they tune me out before I've even gotten a chance to say anything. That's one of the reasons I really liked that survey. It was scripted and I didn't have to come up with my own lines. [:)]



zamdad -> RE: What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/17/2008 5:17:41 PM)

quote:

I guess it is important to clarify what one means by forming relationships. We may be speaking about different things. I am referring to the person that believes they must come to know the other person first before it is appropriate to share the Gospel.


I think this is a good point. One of the things about semantics is that the meaning of words seems to change over time. Sometimes we can say things using the same words, yet having completely different meanings.

One thing about street evangelism is that each person is different and the typical canned evangelism methods might work on some, not at all on others. While Neeva indicates that Christ did not form relationships with those He adderssed in scripture, He did have divine insight into their lives. He knew their hearts. he knew what their troubles were. He also took compassion on them and got them to think about life drifferntly from that moment on.

We are not blessed with divine insight. For us to get to know those we want to minister to, it takes time and effort getting to know the person as an individual. If our goal for street evangelism is, aside from bringing them into the kingdom, getting them off the street and living a different life, we have to be willing to get beneath the mask and into the smelly pits of that person's heart. If anyone is willing to undertake this journey of transformation, they have to be prepared to see things they don't want to see and to help that wounded soul address the pain and then walk alongside as they begin to enter unfamiliar territory.

After many years of working as a probation officer and working with wounded souls I have learned that people, like horses, cannot be pushed, prodded or pulled to water, they have to be led. They have to have someone walking alongside who is patient, firm, fair, consistent, and a few other adjectives. And leading them to water does not mean you will make them drink. I have also learned that, far too often, those who desire to minister to a target group do so more to make themselves feel better than to actually bring about change in a person's life.



RJR_fan -> RE: What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/17/2008 10:11:34 PM)

quote:

I have also learned that, far too often, those who desire to minister to a target group do so more to make themselves feel better than to actually bring about change in a person's life.


Interesting point. It does make one feel good to do something of a "ministry" nature. Something to brag about among one's own Christian friends ...



colliefan -> RE: What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/17/2008 10:48:22 PM)

Could "street evangelism" be getting to know the barista at Starbucks who makes your latte, the waitress who pours your coffee at IHOP, the mom who sits next to at your child's soccer game,,,,

I have done EE and looking back, it was more like a scalps for Jesus than introducing them to the Master. By all means we need to be prepared to give an answer to the hope that is within us, but I doubt the effecacy of something that is not based on a relationship.



zamdad -> RE: What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/18/2008 12:47:23 AM)

Getting back to the semantics of it, evangelism as it's often taught/presented within the church is like Amway. "One way or another, we're gonna getcha." What people want to see in us is who we are. If Christ is really in us, they are going to see Him. They are going to wonder what makes you tick. What gives you that joy? God gives us opportunities galore to share His character with others. He commands us to love others just as He loves us. Seems that all too often we get differing mental pictures of exactly what this love looks like. Sometimes we have to put our own preconcieved notions aside and go where God is telling us to go whether we like it or not.



RJR_fan -> RE: What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/18/2008 7:57:20 AM)

quote:

I have done EE and looking back, it was more like a scalps for Jesus than introducing them to the Master. By all means we need to be prepared to give an answer to the hope that is within us, but I doubt the effecacy of something that is not based on a relationship.


The Catholic church grew to its presence size by stressing family evangelism. Parents understood their obligation to bring up their own children to understand the faith they'd been baptized into. It was, during courageous ages, considered nearly a sin for Catholic parents to entrust their kids to public schools.

We first "evangelize" our own children, by raising them "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." If we then go on to have as many children as possible, over time we will replace the hedonistic unbelievers.

I've giving a lot of thought and prayer to the concept of family-centered evangelism. Addressing men with the charge -- "If you lead your family into a covenantal relationship with the God of the Bible, your future generations will be blessed."



kernsfamily -> RE: What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/18/2008 3:26:58 PM)

when the youth of our church go up to boston (to help out with a church we "planted" there), they engage in "servant evangelism"....

nothing more than standing at the bus stops/subways or whatever......and handing out bottles of water to those walking by (the water is "private labeled" with the church name/info on it, btw)......of course, many wonder WHY is this person simply handing out a bottle of water, and not expecting anything in return.....so, there are MANY people who do want to ask, and they converse....but, it's primarily a "no questions" asked thing.....just take a bottle of water and have a nice day.....(and, there are always people who call and have questions about the church later on.....)

we do the same thing here at a HUGE hot-air balloon festival here in town...or other similar events....

quote:

"If you lead your family into a covenantal relationship with the God of the Bible, your future generations will be blessed."


absolutely....that's what I have "learned" through active study in my men's "small group study" that gets together regularly.....and, we encourage/challenge each other to lead our families in such manner.....and, all of our families have been blessed immensely.....



Neeva_Candida -> RE: What's the most effective way to do street evangelism? (8/18/2008 11:16:28 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: zamdad

quote:

I guess it is important to clarify what one means by forming relationships. We may be speaking about different things. I am referring to the person that believes they must come to know the other person first before it is appropriate to share the Gospel.


I think this is a good point. One of the things about semantics is that the meaning of words seems to change over time. Sometimes we can say things using the same words, yet having completely different meanings.

One thing about street evangelism is that each person is different and the typical canned evangelism methods might work on some, not at all on others. While Neeva indicates that Christ did not form relationships with those He adderssed in scripture, He did have divine insight into their lives. He knew their hearts. he knew what their troubles were. He also took compassion on them and got them to think about life drifferntly from that moment on.

<snipped for brevity>

After many years of working as a probation officer and working with wounded souls I have learned that people, like horses, cannot be pushed, prodded or pulled to water, they have to be led. They have to have someone walking alongside who is patient, firm, fair, consistent, and a few other adjectives. And leading them to water does not mean you will make them drink. I have also learned that, far too often, those who desire to minister to a target group do so more to make themselves feel better than to actually bring about change in a person's life.


I'm not sure we are on the same page exactly. I'm not talking about reaching a target audience any more narrowly defined than simply being unsaved. As for street evangelism the audience I speak of is anyone within ear shot.

~Neeva



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