all I see is open air what about door to door or how do I witness in Mayberry

W

washad Dec 22, 2007

I have a question for the members here. I have been reading a lot of the posts about witnessing. Most of them seem to put a strong emphasis on street preaching or open air preaching. I agree that tese things are well and good. My problem lies in the fact that I live in a small town (400) and pastor in a small town (1500). I always see that open air is great because of all the people that get to hear the gospel but there are not thousands of people congregating in one place so my only option that I see is door to door. My question is does anybody have an effective way to witness door to door. Also do any of you know any other effective ways to witness in a small town setting where "everyone knows everyone"?
Thanks for the help
washad

B

Billy7 Dec 22, 2007

Hi Washad,

I too live in a small town and can relate to what you're saying about open-air ministry. It's not always functional in the small town setting.

However, a few suggestions I would make would be things like:

1) Focus on building relationships. Find opportunities to get to know people and look for natural openings in which you can share the gospel with them.

2) Invite people over for dinner and instigate a discussion about God and spiritual matters.

3) Start a Bible study in your home and post invites at the local grocery store and such.

4) Use hobbies such as fishing or hiking and biking as ways to spend time with unbelievers and as opportunities to talk with them about spiritual matters.

5) Finally, as you go about your daily business in the community, trust God to set up "divine appointments" with those whom He would have you speak with.

These are just a few ideas I've used in the small town setting, and I hope they help.

sermonindex Dec 22, 2007

Evangelizing Mayberry could happen very easily if revival started in the heart's of the people of a small town such as Andy, Barney, Goober, Floyd and Otis and the Mayor. Of course now days, according to some who call themselves Christians that have become so educated beyond the wisdom of God's Word, it would be improper if Andy or Barney were to show their allegiance to the Lord while on duty. They would want to bring in the ACLU and remove them from office, if they were witnessing on duty. We need some Andys and Barneys with some backbone that will stand up against the evil forces and serve the Lord and not just with lip service at church as the Pharisees. It's easy to spot this mindset, most will respond with comments and excuses for separating Jesus from certain things in life and will it call promoting unity and will urge all to stay away from these subjects and if they don't stay away from them, they are not showing love for the brethren. This statement and way of thinking is hogwash. The early disciples had all things in common following Jesus and making HIM LORD was their first priority, even when the government said it was a no-no. The early disciples struggled with this early in their discipleship such as when Peter denied Christ 3 times out of fear for what the government would do to them. Jesus told Peter he had allowed Satan to sift him as wheat and when he was converted, strength the brethren and then later Peter gave it all for the cause of Christ after he was regenerated by the Holy Spirit's power. We have many true Christians in third world countries that are still dying proclaiming the gospel. We here in the US, the land of free and the home of the brave are greatly populated with many pharisees who honor God with their lips only in the Sunday Service and keep HIM separate the rest of the week in their everyday life. As of today in the US all one has to endure is a little ridicule from the pharisees and many still remain silent out of fear or is it sometimes, out of the lack of regeneration of the Holy Spirit?

R

RobertW Dec 23, 2007

I have been part of 'ministry teams' (for lack of a better expression) that have gone into small towns preaching revival type meetings in which the whole town was invited. Local pastors and prayer warriors would pray God to send someone to preach and the call came out. So we went.

I think it is important in many settings to keep in mind a passage Jesus spoke:

(Matthew 13:57) And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

"Without honor" here is translated as ~~[i]~~despised[/i] in I Cor. 4:10. Why do you suppose that is? Why would even Jesus be dispised by His own people and family. I think the old saying, ~~[i]~~familiarity breeds contempt[/i] is very true. If it was true for Christ it will be true for us.

It is a strange thing that a man can preach for 10 years in one church and town and people yawn and cast off the Word as if it were a lite thing; but then, that same individual will go across the state line and folk will receive the word gladly. I think this is an important consideration. Sometimes the people need to hear the same message, but they need to hear it from a stranger or someone on the outside (as it were). This is why I think itinerate preaching is a good thing as well as the old school 'evangelists'.

My recommendation would be to prayerfully arrange a meeting someplace in the town where many can gather and get the word out. Prayerfully ask the Lord to direct you to a preacher that will come and preach the Gospel at these meetings for whatever donations will be provided (love offering or whatever). Someone that you know will preach the Gospel without stirring up too much unnecessary controversy. Someone that will focus on the Cross, justification, regeneration, baptism in the Holy Spirit, holy living, etc.

Be prepared to follow up and continue to work with any that profess Christ to begin to disciple them. This may well be a door to door process or may end up becoming an evening class with prayer for new converts. etc. etc.

L

Lawevangelis Dec 23, 2007

Go door-to-door at Christmas time with home baked cookies that the people at your church have baked. Include a good Gospel tract and try to engage them in discussion when you drop off the cookies. We used to do this in a very small town of about 1,000 and it was a good way to get the Word out.

Another time we gave away the Jesus video to everyone in the town who wanted it, also going door to door. You might do the same thing with one of Ray Comfort's books (www.livingwaters.com).

And there are times to do open-air in small towns. Christmas tree lightings, summer festivals, parades, etc. are all opportunities for an open-air or an evangelistic booth set up in the vendors section.

Blessings,

Jon

sermonindex Dec 23, 2007

Christianity has gotten a bad rap from the hirelings & hypocrites, unfortunately.

A saying I once heard, "If each town took care of their own - just think what could happen."

That saying caused me to start a Volunteer Help Org in our town. [No finances taken or needed]

First you announce this to your Church and get volunteers. And if there are more than one Born-Again Churches in your town, enlist them also. You only need one or two people willing to take the calls for help afterward, who will then call/enlist the right person or persons. Carpenters, kids willing to mow lawns or run errands. Even the children & elderly in the Churches can do things.

This opens the door to the witness. (It's more of a "walking our talk" that causes them to 'see' Christ in us, more than just words.)

Then call your local paper and they will be happy to make it a Community Story and bring little flyers or cards to doors and/or post them around town, that you are there for anyone, to just be an ear [some just need a phone call once a week because they're lonely] - or raking leafs/shoveling snow for the elderly or disabled. Or a trip to the Pharmacy. Whatever they need. Some folks are afraid of being taken advantage of - but they needn't be if Christ is in it.
Some people are afraid to go looking for help or are not even aware that there are other avenues for assistance, but if you come to their door with a free-help offer, it's "help coming to their door."

If each town took care of their own, imagine what could happen!

Mat 25:34~36 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Amen!