I am still looking into the pros and cons of street preaching.
Below are several clips.
First clip: Journal from the Street: Street Preacher...A Day in the Life
This first clip is from Jeremiah Cry guys, i think. They seem to be a very solid group and very zealous. And respectful to passers-by. I know several churches that minister with these guys and they seem to be a great group.
Second clip: YouTube - Fiery Street Preachers Cause a Stir in Town Centre
This second clip is from Manchester, England. I was really surprised at the number of people in the crowd, even though most seem to be there as hecklers. I am not sure why the two guys seemed to focus on homosexuality, or if the clip only shows these parts more clearly. The speakers also seemed respectful to the crowd and seemed to proclaim a basic biblical message.
The third clip: YouTube - "Christian" passionately opposes street preacher
This clip is intriguing because a person in the crowd who is a professing Christian appears to be critiquing the street preacher. Noticeable is the youtube title which states that a "Christian" opposes street preaching. This appears to cast doubt on the person's salvation when her only opposition seemed to be an opposition to the methodology and not the Gospel itself. She advocates a relational approach to the Gospel, which I, too, have seen as more effective. The preacher was respectful and listened and attempted to answer her questions though. The preacher does claim that "street preaching [which I would take as open air preaching in general] is the main way" that the Gospel was spread in the NT, which seems a very flimsy claim, and the preacher tells the girl that she then "disagrees with Jesus."
The 4th clip: YouTube - Surfers Paradise Street Preaching
This guy seems genial enough and tried to give a more positive message and tried to be inviting.
The 5th clip: YouTube - Mardi-Gras Bourbon Street Preacher 2008 series #2
I haven't tried to cherry-pick these clips but for the most part put solid-looking guys on this OP. But the 5th clip above seems to epitomize several distateful trends among some street preaching I have seen, a. the big Hell's Fire intentionally provocative sign-board, b.the bantering and confrontational style, c. waving bye and calling folks Satan and seeming to be judgemental, d. not to mention the scraggly-looking beard that is not the norm for most folks in the states.
General observations:
Furthermore,
Finally:
My personal experience:
I have witnessed door to door and in public places passing out tracts (in some of the worst parts of town). these were church-based efforts and we also represented a local church and were tasked to do this by the church.
But, I have never done street preaching. I was a member of an urban black sovereign grace church that rented a place in a local city park and preached so that people could come and listen (just like any summer concert series or local bands do), and I supported their efforts.
Here in my current country I walk from village to village and I gather the locals to preach. Though this might seem like similar methodology, my situation does not seem analogous because we don't really have streets and when an outsider shows up, he is already the center of attention and they want to hear from me, and so I already have a ready-made crowd. I am not trying to grab the attention of passers-by who don't want to hear, I preach to a gathered assembly, usually giving a few minute's notice of the place and time (10 minutes in so-and-so's hut, or this area, or in the church building).
On the coast of this province where I live I have approached and called groups of drunks to repentance because I know that many of them claim allegience to church membership in one of the protestant denominations here. I have also passed out tracts.
But I have never "street preached."
I have had several supporters and one visiting elder tell me that I should be street preaching here and that, if he were here, he'd be beating the street every night. He seemed surprised when I told him I didn't think that this was the most effective means of evangelism here. I defended a more relational approach that cultivated deeper contacts (much like the young lady in film clip number 3). He reminded me that "preaching" was the main means ordained to reach sinners. I asked for an operational definition of "preaching" and why or why not what I did was or was not preaching, but he did not give a deep and thorough answer to this.
My thoughts at this point:
My thoughts at this point are that usually there are more effective means of reaching Western cities, and that the claim of street preachers for theological support is over-rated.
Also, a sustained strategy of follow-up with local Christians seems usually to be lacking in these sorts of ministries. While these exploits get a lot of attention, are these folks really bringing in disciples to the church?
Comparisons to Whitefield abound, but it seems that Whitefield primarily preached at request and people usually came to him. Spurgeon gives a commendation of street preaching or open air evangelism and gives helpful practical tips.
I do not want to discount the means, however, but I have just usually considered this method to be an inferior means in the Western context. Of course, I fully expect my use of the terms 'effective" etc to gain me some critiques.
My present plan:
I am reconsidering all my present methodologies and I am open to doing more "street" stuff if i am convinced that it is a good long-term strategy.
I have prepared some tracts and have already prepared christians to circulate these among their family groups on the coast and in the highland villages. We have duplicated and passed out thousands of vcd films of evangelistic messages in urban places where tvs are common.
I will even set up on a street cornerand buy a bull-horn if I were convinced that I should do this, or if I were convinced that this methodology should be given greater energy or priority than my present pursuits (none of us have unlimited time, after all, and so I want to invest in something long-term that is sustainable and leads to further contact and assimilation and discipleship into a local body).
I do feel a little guilty because I myself feel offended by some street preachers and, when I have actually been approached by street evangelists, this was not welcomed by me (trying to get to work, and who is this strager approaching me anyway?). I would also be annoyed rather than overjoyed probably if I were held up on a busy street trying to get around someone with a microphone or loud voice telling me to repent or speaking about hell and if this were directed at me. One is made to feel like a target and a prey and it seems very logical for many to tell the preacher to shut up, especially if there is a strong ethic of minding one's own business in public (as it is in the West).
My wish:
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Are my wishes valid, or off-base?
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Any additional thoughts or clips to consider?
Below are several clips.
First clip: Journal from the Street: Street Preacher...A Day in the Life
This first clip is from Jeremiah Cry guys, i think. They seem to be a very solid group and very zealous. And respectful to passers-by. I know several churches that minister with these guys and they seem to be a great group.
Second clip: YouTube - Fiery Street Preachers Cause a Stir in Town Centre
This second clip is from Manchester, England. I was really surprised at the number of people in the crowd, even though most seem to be there as hecklers. I am not sure why the two guys seemed to focus on homosexuality, or if the clip only shows these parts more clearly. The speakers also seemed respectful to the crowd and seemed to proclaim a basic biblical message.
The third clip: YouTube - "Christian" passionately opposes street preacher
This clip is intriguing because a person in the crowd who is a professing Christian appears to be critiquing the street preacher. Noticeable is the youtube title which states that a "Christian" opposes street preaching. This appears to cast doubt on the person's salvation when her only opposition seemed to be an opposition to the methodology and not the Gospel itself. She advocates a relational approach to the Gospel, which I, too, have seen as more effective. The preacher was respectful and listened and attempted to answer her questions though. The preacher does claim that "street preaching [which I would take as open air preaching in general] is the main way" that the Gospel was spread in the NT, which seems a very flimsy claim, and the preacher tells the girl that she then "disagrees with Jesus."
The 4th clip: YouTube - Surfers Paradise Street Preaching
This guy seems genial enough and tried to give a more positive message and tried to be inviting.
The 5th clip: YouTube - Mardi-Gras Bourbon Street Preacher 2008 series #2
I haven't tried to cherry-pick these clips but for the most part put solid-looking guys on this OP. But the 5th clip above seems to epitomize several distateful trends among some street preaching I have seen, a. the big Hell's Fire intentionally provocative sign-board, b.the bantering and confrontational style, c. waving bye and calling folks Satan and seeming to be judgemental, d. not to mention the scraggly-looking beard that is not the norm for most folks in the states.
General observations:
- It looks like the preachers are psyched up or must get their game face on before a sermon. This indicates that they anticipate opposition.
- Adjectives such as "fiery" or "sold out street preacher" occur in these sorts of descriptions. This seems to indicate that a Christian's zeal, if they are sold out, would lead one to do, support, or sympathize with these street preachers.
- None of the street preachers are representing a local church that I see or advocating joining a denomination.
- The themes of hell and judgment are the primary themes.
- Opposition to the methods of street preaching is often assumed to be due to a lack of evangelistic zeal or a false profession
Furthermore,
- Most of these guys seem very solid and upstanding.
- They seem, overall, to be respectful and motivated out of love
- They seem concerned for their cities
- They seem theologically convinced that open air or street preaching is the main means or one
Finally:
- There are many of these guys who seem to tape themselves
- These guys expect to gather a crowd and create a spectable and get heckled.
- "Opposition" or throwing something at the preacher often gets filmed and put on youtube. Evidence of their "persecution"?
- The folks who do this seem to take on the personal identity of "street preacher." it is not merely of something they do, but intrinsic to how they see themselves.
- The primary demographic of street preacher seems to be young, energetic men who are not pastors.
My personal experience:
I have witnessed door to door and in public places passing out tracts (in some of the worst parts of town). these were church-based efforts and we also represented a local church and were tasked to do this by the church.
But, I have never done street preaching. I was a member of an urban black sovereign grace church that rented a place in a local city park and preached so that people could come and listen (just like any summer concert series or local bands do), and I supported their efforts.
Here in my current country I walk from village to village and I gather the locals to preach. Though this might seem like similar methodology, my situation does not seem analogous because we don't really have streets and when an outsider shows up, he is already the center of attention and they want to hear from me, and so I already have a ready-made crowd. I am not trying to grab the attention of passers-by who don't want to hear, I preach to a gathered assembly, usually giving a few minute's notice of the place and time (10 minutes in so-and-so's hut, or this area, or in the church building).
On the coast of this province where I live I have approached and called groups of drunks to repentance because I know that many of them claim allegience to church membership in one of the protestant denominations here. I have also passed out tracts.
But I have never "street preached."
I have had several supporters and one visiting elder tell me that I should be street preaching here and that, if he were here, he'd be beating the street every night. He seemed surprised when I told him I didn't think that this was the most effective means of evangelism here. I defended a more relational approach that cultivated deeper contacts (much like the young lady in film clip number 3). He reminded me that "preaching" was the main means ordained to reach sinners. I asked for an operational definition of "preaching" and why or why not what I did was or was not preaching, but he did not give a deep and thorough answer to this.
My thoughts at this point:
My thoughts at this point are that usually there are more effective means of reaching Western cities, and that the claim of street preachers for theological support is over-rated.
Also, a sustained strategy of follow-up with local Christians seems usually to be lacking in these sorts of ministries. While these exploits get a lot of attention, are these folks really bringing in disciples to the church?
Comparisons to Whitefield abound, but it seems that Whitefield primarily preached at request and people usually came to him. Spurgeon gives a commendation of street preaching or open air evangelism and gives helpful practical tips.
I do not want to discount the means, however, but I have just usually considered this method to be an inferior means in the Western context. Of course, I fully expect my use of the terms 'effective" etc to gain me some critiques.
My present plan:
I am reconsidering all my present methodologies and I am open to doing more "street" stuff if i am convinced that it is a good long-term strategy.
I have prepared some tracts and have already prepared christians to circulate these among their family groups on the coast and in the highland villages. We have duplicated and passed out thousands of vcd films of evangelistic messages in urban places where tvs are common.
I will even set up on a street cornerand buy a bull-horn if I were convinced that I should do this, or if I were convinced that this methodology should be given greater energy or priority than my present pursuits (none of us have unlimited time, after all, and so I want to invest in something long-term that is sustainable and leads to further contact and assimilation and discipleship into a local body).
I do feel a little guilty because I myself feel offended by some street preachers and, when I have actually been approached by street evangelists, this was not welcomed by me (trying to get to work, and who is this strager approaching me anyway?). I would also be annoyed rather than overjoyed probably if I were held up on a busy street trying to get around someone with a microphone or loud voice telling me to repent or speaking about hell and if this were directed at me. One is made to feel like a target and a prey and it seems very logical for many to tell the preacher to shut up, especially if there is a strong ethic of minding one's own business in public (as it is in the West).
My wish:
- I would love for many of these street preacher types to come overseas to contexts where they would be better received and where their zeal could be translated into sustainable impact in a region that is not hardened to the Gospel.
- Also, I wish more booths and handouts were set up in appropriate public places, and venues created so that passers-by could voluntarily approach the evangelist and discourse politely instead of with raised voice. Western society has too many pushy people and loud voices and one cannot even watch the news anymore without seeing a yelling match. I don't want my faith associated with that.
- Also, I wish that the many urban churches had their doors open or that community churches were open or
-
Are my wishes valid, or off-base?
-
-
-
-
Any additional thoughts or clips to consider?
You need first to define "effective evangelism" from a Scriptural standpoint. In all your analysis of street preaching, you haven't done that (at least not that I've seen). If you haven't first established what biblically constitutes "effective," you cannot rationally, biblically evaluate any evangelistic approach.
