Dod Dah Parade, Pt. 2: Dealing Politely with Police

21 CommentsEv Tips/Tools, Open Air

This may sound shocking but I’m going to write it out, here and now. There is no need to get arrested while preaching the Gospel in America. That’s right. At this current time there is no need for anyone to go to jail for evangelizing. The time will come when that may have to happen, just not now. (Click here to start at PART 1)

Watch this recent encounter at the 2011 Pasadena Doo Dah Parade, when a police officer wanted me to stop preaching to the crowds lined up waiting for the parade to start. You’ll notice that when I hear the policeman interrupt my sermon with “Sir! Sir!” (off camera at the 2:30 mark), I lift up my index finger to ask him to let me finish my presentation. He did. Watch how I handled the situation. (Below, read the reason why I think Christians don’t need to be arrested. For now.)

There is a reason why American evangelists get hassled by police and carted off to jail. This is a general observation that may not apply to all heralds of the Good News, but it’s something I’ve seen way too often in the streets and in the press releases of Christian defense institutes. Too many evangelists suffer from…

Read More

Evangelism Tips from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade

8 CommentsEv Tips/Tools, Parades

We tried something new at our local St. Patrick’s Day parade—and it was highly effective: Hand out tracts and preach to the people who will be marching in the parade before it starts! At most small town parades people don’t arrive until about 15 minutes beforehand. So, you may as well do something constructive with your evangelism team while you wait…

…like preach to the beer ad marchers. That’s what “Mad Mike” Stockwell did (at my urging).

As you can see they were held in rapt attention, barely able to stand upright before dropping to their knees in repentance.

You can also climb aboard the ubiquitous double-decker bus that is in every parade—and hand out tracts to the riders (like “Mad Mike” Stockwell did—on his own initiative.

You can also do more creative things, like these…

Read More

Evangelism Gone Wrong, Pt 9: Notes from “The Shepherds’ Conference”

4 CommentsEv Tips/Tools

What has this post to do with evangelism? Read on. (Start at Part 1 of this series here.)

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the “Shepherds’ Conference,” an inspiring, equipping event hosted by Grace Community Church, which had over 3,000 pastors and leaders in attendance. It was refreshing and exhilarating to hear the Word of God preached accurately, God exalted highly, and His Son, Jesus, worshiped rightly: It was like being at a three day banquet where Fillet Mignon was served at every meal. The expository preaching properly exegeted was to be expected, but I was most impressed with the level of service  I witnessed.

This was just a simple shoe shine stand manned by volunteers from the church; and it was free to all the men who attended the conference and had  shoes. The “Shiner” at the front of this image certainly modeled humble service in action: He’s a Superior Court Judge.

Read More

Evangelism Gone Wrong? Pt. 5: The 3 “Do Nots” of Open Air Preaching

11 CommentsEv Tips/Tools, Gay community, Open Air

My friend Paul Latour (who runs an excellent blog called “The Word Street Journal”) graciously granted me permission to re–post this revised and updated column from August, 2008. I noticed a few mistakes he made when he sent me photos from a Canadian Gay Pride Parade (it was only his eighth time preaching in the open air). Here are three tips that I offered to make his “irksome task” more winsome; you, too, may find these helpful. (Start at part 1 of the “Evangelism Gone Wrong” series by clicking here.)

The 3 “DO NOTS” OF OPEN AIR PREACHING

#1: Do Not hold a Bible when preaching in the open air.

“Wait a minute,” you protest. “Are you ashamed of the Gospel, God’s Word, the Sword of the Spirit, Pastor Steve?”

Readers of this blog know better. I just think that in this post-Christian, anti-Christian culture, a Big Big Bible being waved around is not a visual selling point. There is just something about a guy shouting and holding a black book  that builds fences around sinners’ hearts and minds before they even hear what I’m saying. I prefer to lure them in with some humor, trivia, interesting statistics, then WHAMMO!, they hear the Law and Gospel. I don’t want to blow my cover that I’m a Christian until it’s too late—for them.

Think about it like this: Before you were a Christian were you appreciative of a guy standing , hollering, and gripping his Holy Bible? Was your first thought Gee, I wonder what that guy is saying? I think I’ll walk on over and have a listen. Have you also noticed, Way of the Master acolytes, that Ray Comfort never holds one? (Discount this advice if you are devoted to the public reading of Scripture. By all means, bring your Bible then; but that is for a completely different purpose.)

The next “Do-Not” is really important…

Read More