Witnessing in Bars

Has anybody ever tried this form of evangelism? Going to a bar and witnessing one on one?

I've never been one to frequent bars, saved or unsaved. But recently I started thinking: I would like to reach people in their 20's-30's. And the place I know almost all of them are on Friday and Saturday nights is at the bar. My missions & outreach pastor at Church thinks it is a great idea, and is fully supportive of me doing it, especially if I can find somebody else to go along. That's why I'm asking.

Be careful here brother. Listen to David Wilkerson's sermon.

http://media.sermonindex.net/15/SID15641.mp3

The devil enticed men of God into sinful places saying they needed to know how to relate to them etc. One ended loosing everything.

I would really pray if it God calling you to do this. I am one who shares Jesus' love on the streets but I would not go into bars etc.

I will pray you hear the voice of God. Very dangerous. This is my opinion. Others may have a different view. Praying for discernment Jimmy, God's perfect will be done here.

Maybe you could be outside the bars with tracts, coffee etc. for when they go in or come out? Just pray and wait until you know for sure you have heard from the Lord.

Glory to God He has laid it upon your heart to reach the lost with His love. He will show you where and how.

He did it for me. Put the burden on my heart with a passion and then He opened the door and put me where He wanted me to be. They come into my space where we set up a table and serve goodies & coffee on a cold morning and I have tracts and serve and a brother comes and shares from the Bible and one leads in some praises. We will go downtown and hand out fliers inviting all to come. Do you see what I am talking about here? There is a difference - going into their world is dangerous. Again, God's will be done regarding this. Praying for you Jimmy. God is faithful. This is just my opinion in love.

I have done this a few times, both personally planned and unplanned, so I'll share some thoughts.

I find that witnessing to people who are drunk can be very wasteful, although the God`s Word does not come back empty, it accomplishes all it set out to do. However, as a point of caution, drunk people can get violent and so it is really up to you if you really believe that any witness to them in that state will have any impact at all. Yet even still, the matter is really not in us having impact, because we are only vessels, the matter is our obedience to the Lord in these and all outreach matters.

There are some who take to me because I am willing to be where they are, and there are some who appreciate me more, become willing to listen, because I am actually NOT in the bar.

Some people respect the notion of not wanting to partake in alcohol, yet others warm up to those who are not going to shy away from their activities. The fear and danger in drinking as a personal conviction is the limit where I know I should not be drinking anymore.

As a notion of outreach this is a beautiful ministry. It is a danger to personal holiness, but that is when we let our convictions guide us and always be prompted by the Holy Spirit. In the end, I find that if I am positive that the pull of the Holy Spirit is drawing me to witness to these people at such and such a time, then it is best to go with it and trust that God will protect you.

Sorry for the long reply. I just thought I'd throw something out there. Feel free to disagree with me, take what you think you can use, discard what you think is incorrect, rebuke if you must, but in the end go with God.

You have to be careful in witnessing at a bar. If you come across as religious you will do more harm than good.

You have to be real and show yourself as a friend and someone with an open ear. Then when doors open offer the water of life. Don't go into it thinking you are there to get people saved. The flesh will take over.

There are more people out there especially in that age group that have not heard the real gospel, if they have heard anything of the gospel(I was one of those that never heard until the age 20! Though i was not first witnessed to at the bars, it could possibly near have been.), chances are it's been watered down. Many people in that age range are open in hearing too, because they are at learning and seeking stage. I highly recommend going out Jimmy. In my experience it has always been profitable. I was once a lost heathen at that age and in the college circles, and know full well the need for someone to be out there saying the gospel.

There have actually been many a Christians that we've have also talked to out at the bars as well...Discouraged in their faith...

If you are near a college, even the better. Though all need to hear the gospel obviously, college students are seeking.

Though I have personally have not gone IN to witness, I would not hinder the Spirit from prompting me to do so if the need arose. I know several brothers who have.

Just my personal experience...

especially if I can find somebody else to go along.

Two by Two is wise.

Be careful here brother. Listen to David Wilkerson's sermon

Keep in mind when David Wilkerson founded Teen Challenge, he spent much time in crack dens doing so.

A friend of mine got saved by a guy witnessing to him in a bar inviting him to "cowboy church". So with that said I think it is a great idea if the Lord has laid it on your heart and your motives are pure. Examine your heart whether you want to impress people by being an "extreme evangelist" who closes down bars or to really sincerely help people no matter if your ever recognized and if it takes sacrifice. If its the latter you will do great and be blessed, but if its to impress you will fail and possibly fall into dangerous temptation.

So my advice is examine your hearts motives before the Lord in prayer and then act on that!

In brotherly love,
TimmyJoe

I would not even consider such a thing unless the LORD sent me, and just by the fact that you are asking the opinions of others tells me that you have not been sent. You are being set up for a fall.

It is a danger to personal holiness, but that is when we let our convictions guide us and always be prompted by the Holy Spirit. In the end, I find that if I am positive that the pull of the Holy Spirit is drawing me to witness to these people at such and such a time, then it is best to go with it and trust that God will protect you.

Amen. Well, every moment we are in the world is a danger to our personal holiness. Getting drunk and chasing after women has never been an issue for me, so, I'm not too worried about getting caught up in anything I don't need to get caught up in.

My approach that I hope to take is simple. Go with another strong brother in the Lord, sit at the bar, make small talk with whoever is sitting near me, and in the midst of that small talk, share something about the Lord, and maybe invite that person to church. This way seems simple enough.

If somebody is hammered, I probably won't take too much time dealing with them. While I don't doubt the Lord's ability to save people who are drunk (I've heard testimonies of such), I realize that I can probably be more effective talking to somebody who isn't already lit. And I plan on going early enough in the night (10-midnight), that there should be enough people there that aren't drunk to witness to.

You have to be real and show yourself as a friend and someone with an open ear. Then when doors open offer the water of life. Don't go into it thinking you are there to get people saved. The flesh will take over.

Amen. I don't plan on coming with a jacket full of evangelistic tools or anything. I hope to just pull up to the bar, sit down, order something to drink (just a soda), and start making small talk with whoever is next to me, and look through the Holy Spirit for any opportunity to share the Lord in the midst of that. I'm looking to do a friendship style evangelism.

Many people in that age range are open in hearing too, because they are at learning and seeking stage. I highly recommend going out Jimmy. In my experience it has always been profitable.

Amen :-)

Examine your heart whether you want to impress people by being an "extreme evangelist" who closes down bars or to really sincerely help people no matter if your ever recognized and if it takes sacrifice.

With as many bars are in this area, I don't imagine closing down any bars anytime soon. It's definitely not my goal. I just want to see people get saved, and think it a great place to go do it.

I would not even consider such a thing unless the LORD sent me, and just by the fact that you are asking the opinions of others tells me that you have not been sent. You are being set up for a fall

I'm already sent into the world to witness to the lost.

And I'm not questioning so much if I should do this, so much as fishing for responses of people who might have done this form of ministry, and to learn from their experiences.

Honestly, I'm not so sure what sort of fall I am being set up for? I've been in bars before. And every now and then I go to a bar to meet up with people. I've never had a problem before.

Luke 16:8 "...for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light."

Survey the unsaved... I would guess that THEY would consider the bar an OFF-LIMITS or a STRANGE place for "religious" people.

Sadly, it seems... in these last days, the unsaved are truer to their worldly principles... than the children of light are truer to their Biblical principles.

Everett Ashley used to be a drunk until God saved him and called him to preach. He started about nine churches and did evangelism and missionary work. Whenever he would go to a new church to pastor, he would go to the bars and witness to the people. Many drunks were saved and delivered. One tavern operator told him one day, "Rev. Ashley, you need to stop coming in here. You are taking away some of my best customers." Of course it was God who was taking them away. The early Salvation Army was very zealous in storming the forts of sin and were quite successful. If God leads you to go---go by all means. Do not listen to the ones who try to say don't go. God can help you to make a difference. Don't go for small talk. Go as a man on a mission, so all that are in there knows why you are there. It is almost impossible to get some into the church, so it's time to take the church to where the people are. That's how many churches have been started. Jesus was not afraid to go where they were.

I'm already sent into the world to witness to the lost.

3a - Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing.

Notice that Peter has just decided to go fishing.

3b - They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

Notice that they didn't catch any fish.

4 - But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

5 - Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

6 - And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

Notice how when they cast the net where Jesus tells them to, they catch a multitude of fish.

i have ministered in bars and dance clubs since i was saved over 40 years ago. it is not for everyone. a testimony. i met a loose, drug using woman in a dance club and she invited me to her home where she offered me drugs and other activity. i refused and brought her to the dance contest where i was the judge.i would witess to her in a kind and non condiscending manner and brought her to my church. she had thought that she was too wicked to be saved(as did many others)... that sunday she went forward after hearing about Gods amazing grace, and really met Jesus. she never went back to the drugs or clubs again. she married and got involved in a good church close to her home. ayear later i met her and she asked me if i were still going into clubs...when i said yes she got religious on me and asked why. itold her that thats where i found her.jimp many others can be told.

Jimp,
What do you mean when you say, "she got religious on me"? Was she even using Scripture? Some people are so conceited that they won't listen to God's word, and when someone tries to point them some truth from Scripture, they just react in an unloving way, especially when it contradicts what they believe. That was the problem with the Pharisees: They had exchanged God's truth for their own teachings and traditions (Mark 7:6-9). There are many like them today, who claim to be spiritual, but really won't listen to God's Word. They would rather believe their own delusions, as opposed to God's revealed truth. They are full of sin, though they often claim to be full of the Holy Spirit! They are seriously deceived. But, we must deal with them patiently, admonishing them and helping them out of love (1Thessalonians 5:14).

KingJimmy,
Although I am not against witnessing in bars (as long as they are not strip clubs or something like that), I do think we should carefully consider the danger of it.

Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals."
(1 Corinthians 15:33)

We should not be arrogant and say, "that will never happen to me, because I am not like that". Pride comes before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
(1 Corinthians 10:12)

Now, if you take heed to these warnings, and after praying about it, you still feel called to go there to witness, then go ahead. Just remember that you must not turn to them, but rather they must turn to you (Jeremiah 15:19).

Blessings in Christ Jesus,
Renoncer