BBQs and street evangelism

This past week has been full of scary, stranger, cold turkey, walk up whatever you wanna call it work in the city.

Monday and Tuesday i was helping out at the City Bible Forum BBQ held in Martin Place.

The aim was to raise the profile of the ministry and alert people to the fact we exist and there are meetings for them in the city to come along to if they want to hear what the Bible's all about. We tried to do that all in the space of the time it takes to get a sausage into your hand.

There was a variety of conversations....the most (scary) interesting one was a guy who asked us the process of getting his son baptised and who he needed to speak to so that he could enrol him into this school

He was deadly serious as well.

But having done these two days of cold contact work, it made me realise even more the necessity of it. Sure we might be freaked out by but we actually have more of a need to do it. Here's some quick thoughts:

1. It shows to people that there are still Christians out there. If all ppl read is the SMH then they're eventually gonna listen to the lie that churches are dying, there isn't anyone going to churches anymore etc etc. However, if ppl meet real, genuinue Christians (who aren't nutters or freaks, but just ordinary ppl like themselves) then it starts to work against their perceptions

2. It enables us to get in touch with society and hear what they're thinking. The thought of someone getting their son baptised just to enhance their chances of getting into a private school is preposterous to us, but it actually helps us read our culture and the thoughts and opinions out there (see book review on Confessions of a Reformission Rev

Today, more than ever, we need to re-introduce the lost art of conversations. We need to converse beyond our Christian networks and speak with, listen to what is beyond that network.

3. We are the ultimate beneficiaries of this sorta work. Almost everyone's reaction to doing walk up work is 'How effective is it? Does anyone get saved?'. Whilst there might not be thousands getting converted, it does achieve Reason 1. Who knows how God will use that seed that's been planted

But more than that, generally those who engage in this sorta stuff find it a lot easier to talk to their friends about the gospel because they've had conversations with people and engaged with them. If its hard to speak to a stranger, imagine how much easier and natural it is to speak with a friend!

Plus - it also keeps you sharp in your own understanding of the gospel as you articulate it to others. You begin to realise how much jargon you use and learn to simplify your language.

So scary yes, I agree. But essential - even more so.

You also find how much easier it becomes if there is someone with you too. Even though you might be shaking and trembling in your boots, the fact that there's someone else there with you is enormously comforting.

If you're ever looking for a partner in crime, just shout! Or else I might look to you :)