High Visibility Evangelism

By Larry Rosenbaum

HIGH‑VISIBILITY EVANGELISM   PART I.

One of the biggest problems we have faced in San Francisco is getting people`s attention.  In this city, there are voices crying out loudly for so many different causes‑‑political causes, Eastern religions, cults, gay rights, etc.  The born‑again Christians in this city are, for the most part, silent.  It is possible to live in this city and almost never hear anything about Christ.  While there are lots of church buildings around, a person might have a hard time finding one that is spiritually alive and does not compromise God`s Word.

If you can get someone’s attention‑‑if he will at least think about Jesus Christ for a few minutes‑‑the Holy Spirit can use this to convict the person of his sin and need of salvation.  In this chapter (and the next), I want to share briefly about some of the methods we have used to get people’s attention‑‑what I call “High‑Visibility Evangelism.”

Open Air Preaching

Open air preaching, of course, is not a new method.  We find it throughout the Bible.  The Old Testament prophets were essentially street preachers.  Noah was called a “preacher of righteousness” as he built an ark, warning the people of God’s impending judgment.  Noah is quite an encouragement to me when I don’t see a lot of results from my witnessing.  Noah preached God’s Word for up to six hundred years and only his family was saved, yet he was perfectly in God’s will.  Then there was Jonah, who went to the Gentile city of Ninevah, warning them of God’s judgment.  Jonah had no love for the people he was preaching to, yet the entire city of over 120,000 repented and escaped destruction.  Many of the prophets were imprisoned and put to death because their message was unpopular.  God told some of the prophets to do some outrageous things to dramatize His Word, such as walking around naked for three years (Isa. 20), and cooking with excrement (Ezek. 4).  I’m sure glad we’re living in New Testament times!

Much of Jesus’ ministry was that of a street preacher, as He went from town to town preaching God`s Word in public places.  He sent out the 12 and later the 70 disciples to do likewise.  Before He ascended to heaven, He told His disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15).

The book of Acts begins with the words of Jesus, “You shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses unto me . . . unto the uttermost part of the earth.”  The rest of the book relates how Peter, Paul, and the other disciples preached God`s Word boldly in public places.  They were persecuted, but this did not stop them.  After Stephen was killed, “Saul made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and dragging off men and women, putting them in prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:3,4).  It wasn’t just a few leaders who did the preaching, but the entire church.  This is one of the reasons that the early church turned the world “upside down.”  They weren’t paying a few pastors and evangelists to hold meetings inside some buildings, but they were all preaching boldly wherever they went.  How we need to do this today!

Considering how much importance is placed on open air preaching in the Bible, it is truly amazing how little of it is done by “Bible‑believing” churches today.  In most cities and towns in America today, few if any people are preaching in public places!

I witnessed on the streets for about seven years before I began street preaching.  I would give out tracts, talk to individuals and groups, but never preached.  When I came to San Francisco, I saw a number of street preachers who would preach at Market and Powell, near the cable car turnaround.  Many of them spent a lot of time arguing with one another, calling one another “devils” because they disagreed on some doctrine.  Many of these street preachers did not have any regular church involvement.  What I saw definitely did not make me want to be a street preacher.

After a few years, I met some other street preachers who joined us for our outreaches.  They were good, solid Christians who preached under the direction of the Holy Spirit.  Sometimes the message was strong, emphasizing the holiness of God. At other times it was very gentle, emphasizing God’s love.  Several of these preachers encouraged me to start preaching.

I resisted for two reasons: 1) My voice isn’t very loud and 2) I was afraid my mind would go blank while I was preaching.  One of the preachers loaned me his megaphone, which took care of my first excuse.  The Holy Spirit reminded me how He had always given me words to witness to individuals, and assured me that if I would open my mouth to preach, He would give me the words to speak.

My first street preaching experience was much like my first witnessing experience.  I was very nervous but the Lord helped me through it.  The next time was a little easier, and now it is not difficult to preach to groups of people.  One thing I found is that God has given me a unique style of preaching, and He has me preach in different ways to different groups.  I have met many anointed street preachers, each of whom has his own God‑given style.

After you have been witnessing for a while, I would encourage you to start preaching.  Get a megaphone if necessary.  (Take Him to the Streets has information about where to get one.)  Pray, asking the Lord to give you a message and boldness to preach the message under His anointing.  He may give you some scriptures to read.  Then‑‑open your mouth and He will fill it.

“For Christ sent me . . . to preach the gospel:  not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect . . . . For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness” (1 Cor. 1:17‑23).

We need to understand these verses.  Our preaching will look foolish and be rejected by a lot of people.  But it is God’s plan to save those who in simple childlike faith will believe the message of the cross.  I don’t want to turn people off by a sloppy appearance or by unkind remarks, but I can expect that some people will be turned off by our preaching.  In Galatians 5:11, Paul talks about the “offense of the cross.”  The only way to avoid offending people is by not preaching the gospel.  Unfortunately this is what most Christians do.

If you are obedient to Christ’s command to preach His Word, you can be assured that God’s Word will not return void, but will accomplish the purpose God has intended for it  (Isa.55:11).  After Stephen was killed, Saul went out to see how many Christians he could throw in jail.  But when Jesus appeared to him later, he said, “It is hard for you to kick against the pricks” (Acts 9:5). Saul`s conscience had been bothering him.  God had used the preaching of Stephen, as well as the witness of other Christians, in Saul’s life.

In large cities, there are many good places to preach, where a lot of people will hear the message.  But even in smaller cities and towns there are good places to preach:  on Main Street, at the high school, at a rock concert, parade, or county fair, outside the movie theater, or at a college campus.  Street preaching in a small town can be very effective.  People have probably never seen this before in their town.  You’ll become the talk of the town and may get front page coverage in the local paper!  People may make fun of you, but it will show them that you’re serious enough about what you believe to risk the disapproval of others.  It just might cause them to take God`s Word seriously.

Satan knows the power of gospel preaching, so he will do anything he can to discourage you from preaching on a consistent basis.  You will be attacked, but remember where these attacks are coming from.  Satan will even use misguided Christians. They will tell you that you are turning people off, hurting the cause of Christ, and what you are doing is definitely not of God.  When you hear these things you need to respond in love, to pray for them, and check your own heart to make sure you are preaching with an attitude of genuine love for the lost.  It is easy to allow our own personal frustrations to enter into our preaching, to get angry at people because they don’t seem to be responding.  If we preach a strong message, we need to be certain that it is coming from God, not from our flesh.  At the same time, do not allow yourself to fall into condemnation, and don`t listen to Satan`s lies.

CHAPTER 6:   HIGH‑VISIBILITY EVANGELISM   PART II.

Tract Distribution

Often, when I am out on the streets, I will find myself mainly giving out tracts to people.  In some places, like the business district, people are in a hurry and won’t stop to talk, but most will take a tract.  The same is true at crowds leaving sporting events or rock concerts, at parades or other events.  In large cities, people are less likely to get into a conversation with a stranger, but most people do take tracts.

There are many advantages to using tracts.  A well‑written tract has a clear explanation of the plan of salvation and a prayer the person can use to receive Christ.  It also has an address and phone number for the person to call if he wants more information. We constantly get calls and letters from our tracts, having distributed several million.  Some people have questions or need help.  Others have received Christ from the tract.  Many people tell me they collect tracts and read them from time to time.  Often a person will read a tract when he is depressed or in a crisis. If a person is drunk, or doesn’t want to talk to you while his friends are around, he can take the tract home and read it later in the privacy of his home.  Even if he throws the tract on the ground, tears it up, or throws it in the trash can, someone else may pick it up, read the tract or fragment of the tract, and get saved!  I know of several instances where this has happened.  If someone doesn’t speak English, you can give him a tract in his language (preferably with the address and phone number on it of a local church where his language is spoken).

You can probably find some good tracts at your Christian bookstore.  There are tract companies that will send out tracts for free, or on a donation basis.  Write us, and we can send you some addresses.  Or you can write and print up your own tracts.  You can either use general‑purpose tracts or tracts for special events, such as a Fourth of July parade or Christmas.  We write most of the tracts we use, and print them inexpensively.  We try to relate our tracts to the things people in San Francisco and tourists are interested in, and to write them in a contemporary style.

Giving out tracts is one of the easiest things you can do, but more people will take them if you follow a few guidelines.  Dress neatly, smile, and be assertive.  The busier people are, the more aggressive you need to be.  Stand directly in front of someone and say in a loud voice: “Hi.  Here’s something for you to read,” or “Did you get one?”  If people aren’t in such a hurry, you might add, “It’s about Jesus” and sometimes they will stop and talk.  This is a good way to filter out those who are receptive in a large crowd.  Sometimes, if you say it’s about Jesus the person will refuse it, whereas if you don’t say anything they’ll at least read part or perhaps all of the tract.  If you hold out the tract near their hand, they are more likely to take it.  If you act like what you’re giving out is good news and important, which it is, people are more likely to receive one.  If you look dejected, people probably won’t want to read what you’re giving out. These are simple suggestions, but they make a big difference.

I try to carry tracts with me wherever I go. You can give out tracts to people you pass on the street, to the person sitting next to you on the bus or to everyone on the bus. You can leave tracts in all sorts of places, such as in phone booths or with a tip in a restaurant.

Carry special tracts for children as well as adult tracts. Children from 7‑11 years old usually cannot understand adult tracts.  However, they are normally very receptive to God`s Word and will read carefully a tract designed for them. Almost all children will take a tract they are offered, unless their parents have instructed them not to take anything from a stranger.

Using Signs and Banners/ Carrying a Cross/ Marches

Signs are an extremely easy and effective method of witnessing, yet Christians almost never use them.  Political protest groups and labor unions know the power of signs, and have used them for years.  A dozen people carrying signs looks like a major event.  If the event is put on TV, it can influence millions of people.

People read signs.  Someone may refuse to talk with you, may refuse a tract, but they will read the sign you’re carrying that gives a brief portion of the gospel message, and they’ll think about it.  Signs are about the only way to witness to all the people who are driving by while you’re out on the streets.  Many bars and restaurants have large windows. The people inside will read your sign as you walk by. Signs attract people’s attention.  Often, they’ll come up to you and ask you why you’re carrying the sign or what you’re protesting.  This gives you a perfect opportunity to witness.

It is easy to make a sign using stencils, poster paint or magic markers, cardboard, a stick and nails.  The message you use on a sign needs to be brief.  Some of the messages we have used include:

  1. Open your heart to Jesus.
  2. Ask me about Jesus.
  3. One Way to God:  Jesus.
  4. Wise men still seek Him.
  5. To know Jesus is to love Him.
  6. I love Jesus.
  7. Where will you spend eternity?
  8. Jesus is alive!
  9. What will you say on judgment day?
  10. Jesus Christ:  our only hope
  11. Jesus Christ is God.

We have a large blue nylon banner that reads “Jesus Christ is Lord” on one side and “Jesus Saves Sinners” on the other‑‑in 20 inch letters. Whenever we have concerts we put up this banner in the most conspicuous place and thousands of people read it. Recently we`ve started taking the banner witnessing with us. When we are witnessing on a crowded street, we tie up the banner between two poles. We do the same thing at rock concerts. We put up the banner so everyone can read it as they leave the concert.

In recent years, Arthur Blessitt popularized the idea of carrying a cross down the street, witnessing to people about Jesus.  Everyone knows what the cross represents. As you carry it, people are reminded of what Jesus did for them.  Often, they will ask you why you are carrying the cross.  Some people make large crosses with a wheel on the bottom.  One person I know uses a Styrofoam cross (much lighter!)  When we carry a cross down a street known for wickedness, people really come under conviction as they think about what Jesus did for them, and how they are not following the Lord.

You can combine these methods by having a march for Jesus. We do this a lot and find it very effective at getting people to think about Jesus. Take a group of Christians‑‑10, 100, 1000, or more and start marching down the street. If possible, bring a cross, lots of signs and banners, and some guitars and other instruments.  Sing worship songs as you march.

Each summer we have a week‑long outreach called “SOS‑San Francisco.” On the last day of the outreach, we march through downtown San Francisco with hundreds of Christians. We end the march at the fountain in front of City Hall, where we baptize the new believers who were saved during the outreach. This is a powerful witness to the unsaved and a great encouragement to the Christians.

Street Music and Drama

People really like to be entertained.  An individual or group singing songs or doing a drama skit portraying some aspect of God`s Word will draw a crowd.  A group of Christians can practice some songs with a guitar, or learn a short skit in a few hours.  A professional‑quality group can gather hundreds of people and hold their attention for an hour or more.  You may not do as well, but you will draw some people with a few songs or a short skit. A good book on street drama is Harvesting the Field by Kirk Henneberry, 401 N College, Decatur, IL 62522

Church on the Street

Many people refuse to step inside a church building, except for a wedding or funeral.  Some claim that they had a bad experience in a church or are turned off by the coldness and hypocrisy they saw.  Others think themselves unworthy to enter a church building.  If people will not come into a church building, we can‑‑and should‑‑bring the church to them.

The church, of course, is not a building but the body of believers God has called out of the world unto Himself.  The early Christians did not have special church buildings.  They met in homes and in public places such as Solomon’s porch on the Temple grounds (Acts 5:12).  When we have church services in public places, it gives unbelievers an opportunity to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit, the beauty of worship, the love, joy, and peace that is felt as believers gather together, and the reality of knowing Christ.  Demonic powers are scattered when Christians gather in true worship, and an atmosphere is established in which unbelievers are convicted of their sin and drawn to Christ.

There are several ways to adapt a church service to a street situation.  One is for a church to hold its regular worship service in a public park. An alternative is to have a special worship service at a different time, such as Sunday afternoon after church or Saturday afternoon.  Talk to your pastor about this idea.  If you pick a busy park and meet there on a regular basis, such as the first Sunday of each month, people will start joining you and some will get saved and be added to your church.

Outdoor church services are also a good, non‑threatening way of getting people in your church involved in witnessing.  If you use a public address system, people will hear you better.  This may require renting a generator and a small PA system, if you don’t have one.  Call the police department to find out if a permit is needed and, if so, how to get one.

The service needs to be adapted to meet the needs of unbelievers.  A few brief testimonies of salvation and of God’s workings in the lives of believers are helpful.  Avoid using Christian jargon such as “sanctified” and “propitiation” without explaining the terms.  After the message, give people an opportunity to receive Christ or receive prayer for personal needs.  Keep the meeting short.  We have a policy of not taking offerings in evangelistic gatherings, since it confirms the suspicions of many unbelievers that we are only “after people’s money.”  After the meeting you can serve refreshments, giving the Christians an opportunity to meet the new people and speak with them informally.

Another thing you can do is organize a special worship rally in a local park.  Several times a year we gather hundreds of Christians from different local churches for a worship rally in a downtown park on Saturday afternoon.  We get a permit (ask your police department how to get one), set up a large public address system, and have a worship group lead in worship for an hour.  This is followed by a 20 minute evangelistic message and an opportunity for people to come forward to receive salvation, prayer for personal needs, or to get a free New Testament.  During the worship time, the presence of the Holy Spirit is very strong and hundreds of unbelievers are drawn to listen.  Some of the Christians are trained to counsel and pray with those who come forward.  Other Christians are looking around for unbelievers who are being touched by God`s Spirit, and get into conversations with them about Christ.  Still others are standing around the periphery of the park, giving out tracts and inviting people to join the rally.

A third method we have used with great success in San Francisco is called “church on the street.”  Our regular street witnessing team will gather on a busy sidewalk, making sure to leave a pathway for people to walk by so we don’t block the sidewalk.  Usually, we start with a few worship songs, have a one minute testimony, worship for 5 more minutes, and have someone preach for 2 minutes, closing with an invitation for people to come forward and receive Christ.

Often, when our street witnessing team first gathers on a street, the whole team will worship on the street for about 15 minutes.  Then, we will send most of the Christians in pairs to witness and leave about 10 Christians at that spot to continue in worship.  Occasionally, someone will preach a short message.  This helps establish an atmosphere where the presence of God is felt, in contrast to the other things that are happening on the street.  Workers who get spiritually drained while out on the street can join the worship group for a while and get refreshed.

Balloons, Stickers, Posters, Floats

We should constantly be looking for new ways of getting God`s message to people. One method that has been used effectively is giving away helium balloons with something about Christ printed on it. People will stand in line to get a balloon, and carry it around the city with God`s Word on it. Balloons are especially effective at special events such as parades. Ed Human is an evangelist who has used balloons for years. You can order balloons from him, as well as get information about how to use them. His address is Box 1403, Euless, TX 76039. Ed also prints stickers with a Christian message. You can put them all sorts of places. Also, you can give them away to people on the street.

Before he was saved, Ron Woodruff received some Jesus stickers at the Mardi Gras in New Orleans. He couldn`t read but he liked the fluorescent stickers and put them up in his room. His friends would come into his room, read the stickers, and ask Him if he believed in God. God used this to get him thinking about Jesus.

Another thing you can do is put tracts or specially‑designed Christian posters up on bulletin boards and any other place where there are fliers announcing various events. In doing this, we need to avoid defacing property and bringing reproach to Jesus.

One idea that few Christians have considered is putting a Christian float in a parade. All you need to do is get a flatbed truck and decorate it with some Christian theme. Make an attractive float that can be used at any event. Pick a parade at a small town near you and apply to enter. Small parades usually will accept anyone who applies. Being in a parade gives you an opportunity to witness to everyone there. You can set up a sound system on the float and talk about Jesus, or play Christian music. Other Christians can walk along the float and give out tracts. This is an especially good way to give tracts to children. Once you have been in one parade, you will find it easy to get into larger parades. In fact, you will probably receive application forms for parades without asking for them. I have met some Christians who have a ministry of putting a float in parades all over Northern California. This is an easy and effective way of reaching millions of people.

The Effectiveness of High‑Visibility Evangelism

In San Francisco as in many other cities, 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.

Since so many Christians question the effectiveness of street preaching, tract distribution, carrying signs and other high visibility methods, let me give eight ways in which these methods are effective in advancing God’s kingdom on this earth

1. 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

2. They cause people to become conscious of God`s Word 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 closer to Himself.

3. They leave people without excuse.  God has given each person a free will‑‑to accept or reject Him.  If he chooses to reject the truth, 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.

4. They cause an entire city or nation to become more conscious of God`s Word.  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.

5. The atmosphere of a city or neighborhood can change.  Demonic principalities lose 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 God`s Word.  Demons cannot stay in a place where Christ’s Lordship has been established.

6. 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 their 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

7. 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.

8. Many people do get saved as a result of 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.

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