ISEMA Newsletters
High-Visibility Evangelism
Often, Christians ask us if it is effective to preach, give out tracts, and carry signs. Isn’t it better to develop a friendship with a single person, and spend a lot of time witnessing to him? Certainly, friendship evangelism is very much necessary, but it does not eliminate the need for mass evangelism. Today, we are obsessed with the need to justify everything with statistics. We at SOS Ministries are constantly being asked how many people were saved at our last outreach. Of course, we desire to see many people saved, but this does not justify our ministry. Noah was called a preacher of righteousness, and he warned his generation probably for hundreds of years, yet only his family was saved. The important thing is to obey God.
Throughout the Bible, we see God calling His servants to publicly proclaim His word in the public places, to multitudes of people. Jesus preached in the open, as did His disciples. The early believers preached publicly in the city centers wherever they went. Jesus told us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. While one-on-one witnessing is a very important kind of witnessing, little is said about it in the Bible and only a few instances are recorded. Preaching, on the other hand, is a major theme in the scriptures from beginning to end. Today, however, very few Christians preach in the public places and many argue that open-air preaching is ineffective and should be avoided.
Tract distribution is a form of preaching. Many people will not stay around long enough to listen to gospel preaching, so we can put the message on a tract for them to read later. Often a person will leave a tract in his pocket, or stick it in a drawer, and read it at a time when he is depressed, or thinking about the meaning of his life. Many people have been saved by reading a tract that was thrown on the ground by someone else. Even if a person isn’t saved through a tract, God can use it to get him to think about his relationship with God, or to understand better what it means to be born again.
Signs are another form of preaching. A person may not take a tract, but he can’t help reading the sign you are holding. God will use that brief message to convict a person of his sin and need for salvation. People who are passing by in their cars will also read your sign.
Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” In the SOS Ministries newsletter, I am constantly stressing the need for more workers to witness in San Francisco. In this city as in many others, the voices advocating sexual immorality, drug abuse, occultic activities, and Eastern religions and cults are very loud.
The voices calling people to turn from such things to faith in God through Jesus Christ have been virtually silenced. As God’s word is continually proclaimed boldly and openly in the public places of the city, people will be continually confronted with their need to make a decision regarding Jesus Christ. Satan is seeking to distract people from that reality, and we need to remind people continually that they have a choice to make which will determine their eternal destiny.
The Effectiveness of High Visibility Evangelism
There are several ways in which these high-visibility methods are effective in advancing God’s kingdom on this earth. First, they help people to learn how they can be saved. Often, people have read dozens of tracts and may even collect them. They may never have prayed to receive Christ, but they know what they need to do and are familiar with many of the scriptures relating to salvation.
Second, they cause people to become conscious of the Gospel and their need to make a decision either to accept or reject Jesus Christ. Each time a person is confronted with the Gospel, he must think about Christ and his need for salvation. God can use each witness to draw the person to Himself.
Third, they leave people without excuse. God has given each person a free will–to accept or reject Him. If he chooses to reject the Gospel, he will give account of his life before God on Judgment Day. He will not be able to say he never heard the Gospel, or had no opportunity to be saved.
Fourth, they cause an entire city or nation to become more conscious of the Gospel. Often, we find that when we witness at major events, people comment that we are everywhere. People get used to expecting Christians to be at rock concerts, parades, downtown parks, etc. They start talking to one another about all the Christian activity. They are also impressed by the dedication they see in these Christians.
Fifth, the atmosphere of a city or neighborhood can change. Demonic principalities loose their hold on an area where Christ is consistently preached and worshiped. As the Holy Spirit descends upon an area, demonic strongholds are broken up and people become more open to the Gospel. Demons cannot stay in a place where Christ’s lordship has been established.
Sixth, the Christians who participate will be strengthened spiritually. We have found that many of those who participate in our outreaches find that they have become bolder in witnessing in other situations. They become more excited about the Lord, as they see Him using them to witness to others. Their desire to intercede for the lost increases, as does their desire to grow spiritually so that their life will be a better witness for the Lord. Their renewed excitement about the Lord spreads to other Christians.
Seventh, other Christians are encouraged by our boldness to witness for Christ. After seeing what we are doing, many Christians have been encouraged to witness to their friends, or even to start a street ministry in their own community.
Finally, many people do get saved as a result of gospel preaching. However, we only get to see a small percentage of the fruit. Some come to the Lord on the street and we are able to follow-up on them. Others are saved on the street but we lose track of them, or we do not see an immediate change in their life. In many cases, the person may not get saved until much later. The person who witnessed to him may never learn about it in this life.
Coming Events
September 4. Teen Challenge Evangelism Action Training School, Wales. Twelve week residential course in evangelism. Natl. Training School, Teen Challenge, Penygroes Rd., Gorsias. Llanelli, Dyfed SA14 7LA.
September 28-30 National Street Ministries Conference, Dallas, TX. Contact Scott Hinkle, Box 30642, Phoenix, AZ 85046, (602) 661- 6406.
October 26-29 San Francisco Halloween Outreach with David Clifton Ministries, Denver, CO. Contact SOS Ministries, Box 27358, Oakland, CA 94602, (510) 531-5325.
October 27-31 Fantasy Fest Outreach, Key West, FL. Contact Rescue Atlanta, Box 965039, Marietta, GA 30066, (404) 924-0201.
October 30-Nov. 3. Door to Door Evangelism Training, England. Contact Colin Groome, Home Evangelism, Tyndale House, 3 Grange Rd., Edham, Surrey TW20 90W.
SOS MINISTRIES is looking for two men with a desire to learn about and do evangelism to live in their ministry house. For more information, contact SOS Ministries, Box 27358, Oakland, CA 94602, (510) 531-5325.
HANDS FOR CHRIST is offering Christian tracts and bumper stickers on a donation basis. They also need used Christian Bibles, books and tapes to distribute to Third World countries. Contact them at 5720 Williamson Rd NW #111, Roanoke, VA 24012, (703) 362-1214.
JOB OPPORTUNITY: Assistant Ministry Director. Help build on present ministry. Creation of new ministries. Training churches in personal evangelism. Public relations. Ministry operations. Additional job openings in various skill areas for both men and women available. Contact Outreach for Christ, Box 4326, Virginia Beach, VA 23454, (804) 428-8227.
A Final Word
I want to thank each of you for your prayers and financial support for ISEMA. Please continue to send information about what is happening in your community, teachings on evangelism, information about upcoming outreaches, etc. so we can share these with our readers. We especially would like to receive reports on various summer outreaches.
1995 is half over, so we are offering 1995 ISEMA memberships at half price until the end of the year–$10 for individuals and $17.50 for churches and ministries. For $5 extra you can have a 1995 International Street Ministry Directory.
Our Tape of the Month is “Witnessing to Children” by Sharon Flack, Bay Area Director of Child Evangelism Fellowship. Most people come to Christ before they are 18. Children are most receptive to the gospel, and we need to reach them while their hearts are soft.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum