Nathan Jensen comments on street outreach, and the Word of God
Whichever way the wind blows
A street ministry team I once belonged to started out by offering prayers for healing. However, its activities broadened over time, with the result that many of our most fruitful encounters with the public were discussions about faith. Despite some of us feeling that we should learn how to more effectively share the Gospel, we lacked clear direction on how to do this.
After a long absence and through an exceptional set of circumstances, I found myself drawn back into street ministry, supporting a friend to whom the Lord had given a vision for sharing the Gospel in a particular town. We were especially encouraged in this by a friend (and gifted evangelist) whose house church collectively does outreach by putting up a table in various town centres with the sign “Free Bibles”. This attracts many people wanting to read the Scriptures for themselves. The Lord also drew our attention to a remarkable phenomenon breaking out across university campuses in the UK https://www.fusionmovement.org/blog/2196/reflections-on-the-student-awakening:
“We are seeing that the most common method of students coming to Jesus is through reading the Bible. The word of God is speaking freely and it is speaking first. The word is discipling students long before they even think about coming to church and the role that Christian friends play comes in much later down the line as they help make sense of what is being read.”
Inspired by these accounts, and armed with Bibles, Gospels and some other Christian literature, we tried out the model our friend had suggested. Despite the cold British winter and general disinterest of most shoppers, we were still astonished that several approached our table and asked for Bibles. We also approached those whose cautiously curious gaze suggested possible interest, and conversations often flowed as a result. Over the course of three separate two-hour sessions, we gave away around fifty Gospels or Bibles, along with a few tracts. Given that the Lord is clearly blessing this approach at this time, we of course intend to continue with it.
Whilst we are in the early days of ‘learning on the job’ (and of course making mistakes), there are lessons worth sharing. If reading this article kindles or fans a flame within you, it will have served a useful purpose. Three learning points:
Lesson 1 – the “Logos”
Is whether there a theological basis for what we are doing? Shouldn’t people first come into church so that they can receive a Bible through trusted sources, such as a pastor? What does the Bible say?
Although the ‘teaching’ ministry within the church is a valued gift of the Spirit, in outreach we seek to meet people ‘where they at’. Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch is a case in point (Acts 8: 26-40). Holy Spirit was already speaking through the written word of Isaiah’s recently fulfilled prophecy, so Philip the evangelist’s job was to assist by explaining the message of Christ, His death and His resurrection – in short, to share the Gospel!
A few months ago, I was surprised when some well-meaning Christian friends told me that street evangelism is no longer appropriate for our modern British culture! Instead, they explained their church’s approach to the Gospel is to show people that “we are nice people” by inviting them to various church events. However, I wonder whether this approach has become so popular nowadays because ‘woke’ encourages a victim/offence mentality. The ultimate offence is Christ crucified – the very thing we are told not to be ashamed of if we want to witness to our Lord!
Scripturally speaking, Jesus is the Word of God in person, and the Bible is the recorded Word of God – they are inseparable. “I am the way, the truth and the life, and no-one comes to the Father but by me”(John 16:4). The Bible is also the “way” (Psalm 119:33), the “truth” (John 17:17) and the “life” (Philippians 2:16). As Paul said, “faith comes through hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).
Scripture points to Jesus, so that we may come to Him and to have life, even if some enquire with wrong motives. Furthermore, the Lord sends Holy Spirit to lead us “into all truth” (John 16:13) and remind us “of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26). Some church leaders encourage their congregations to rely on an intermediary to interpret the Bible for them, but Paul states that“you do not need anyone to teach you” (1 John 2:27). It is Jesus Himself who opens our minds to His Word (Luke 24:32).
In some parts of the world, where witnessing for Jesus is likely to result in a violent death, the Lord is appearing directly to many individuals in dreams and visions. An uncomfortable but important question, therefore, is whether He has also personally taken over the initiative in leading people directly to His Word, knowing that much of the Western ‘church’ compromises on it? We spoke with a woman, for example, who said that several years ago her church had given up Bible study. She has a beautiful Bible at home, but admitted to never reading it! We then shared a few printed verses about Bible prophecy being fulfilled in our day, which prompted her to eagerly request a copy so that she could go home to search the Scriptures for herself.
Lesson 2 – The “Rhema”
The second lesson the Lord started teaching our evangelist friend, and us, was how to open up the Bible in conversation with people. We believe there are several reasons for doing so. First, theologians refer to the way the Bible speaks to us by using two Greek words – the “logos”, which is the written Word of God, and the “rhema”, which refers to when the Bible speaks to us directly and personally. For example, we had a conversation with a New Ager whom we wanted to encourage to read a Gospel, but she was resistant, arguing that her own personal philosophy of life was sufficient. She rightly believed in doing good to others and treating them as she would want to be treated. During this conversation, we kept opening up the Bible and reading verses which reflected her own views. Astonished, she kept exclaiming “that’s in the Bible?!”. After that, it was easier to encourage her to take a Gospel to read for herself.
The other aspect of this, to put it crudely, is that it demonstrates that we ‘have confidence in the product’. The fact that we know the Word of God and can open it up demonstrates its relevance spontaneously in conversation and speaks powerfully of the value we place on it. By analogy, when travelling to a new place, choosing a good restaurant can be hard, but if the locals frequent one, we can be more confident!
We are encouraged to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8), so reading a short passage of Scripture to someone – in context relevant to the discussion – fulfils a similar purpose to a movie trailer in stirring interest. We are therefore not only inviting people to take a Bible, but demonstrating that it is worth reading. Last, but not least, the Word of God is pure truth, not returning empty from the purpose for which the Lord sent it (Isaiah 55:11). It is the “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17) which travels to places we can never touch by human reasoning or arguments, useful though these may be, no doubt, on occasion.
Lesson 3 – People
We are novices learning a new approaching to outreach. Not all of us even consider ourselves to be evangelists, yet the Lord evidently wants to teach us. We sometimes miss opportunities through lack of preparation. On one occasion, three different people declined a Gospel with words along the lines “I’m Catholic”. Denominations of any kind can elevate man-made teachings above the Bible and membership of denominations is certainly no guarantee of regenerated life. So, rather than always regarding such responses as conversation stoppers, are there ways of turning these situations into opportunities to discuss matters of faith, salvation, and spiritual authority, for example?
As street evangelists our goal is simply to help people along their journey by pointing them to the Bible and its teaching, but it can be helpful to have a couple of ready-made conversation starters for those with different world views, such as reincarnation, atheism, and so on. For those of us who are not full-time evangelists (and perhaps even for those who are), I am not convinced that our role is to win every argument. We certainly do not want to put people off by coming over as smug or superior. Neither have we the right nor mandate to do so. However, a well-placed question can encourage people to think more deeply. For example, to an atheist, might we not reasonably ask “do you really believe that the entire universe, our world and all the wonders around us were created out of absolutely nothing?” Who knows where this might lead?
It is worth adding, finally, that we are Spirit-filled believers who are open to the Lord giving us words of knowledge or using us to pray for people whom we meet, including for healing. God often uses His power to authenticate His message, meeting people’s needs, and bringing them into His Kingdom.
Where to, now?
It seems to us that the Lord is sovereignly in the business of putting people’s confidence back in His Word after decades of relentless attack on it by our society. The hunger we are beginning to see can only come from Him. True believers long for revival. And whilst visible outward signs are impressive, God often speaks in a still, small voice privately to individuals who seek Him.
Jesus contrasted those who build a house upon sand with those who build their lives on the foundation of His Word. Giving away the Word of God gives people the space and time to explore this on their own – something we cannot effectively do through a brief encounter with a stranger on the streets. If giving away Bibles is indeed a move of the Spirit at this time – and we have no doubt that it is – why not consider partnering with the Lord in it?
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Nathan Jensen authored Full Gospel Evangelism, freely downloadable here as a PDF document: https://christian-publications-int.com/images/PDF/FullGospel_Evangelism.pdf
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