So I couldn’t help my curiosity – I had to find out how long it took to distribute 50 gospels of John in the busiest area of Richmond. Richmond Center Exchange was obviously the best choice – the skytrain station was also a bus stop which serviced Richmond Center and countless other retail stores.
I drove to the Staples compound but suddenly felt weak as I parked my car. This was a surprise – handing out 50 free booklets in the most tolerant country of the world is really no big deal. Still, there was a heavy feeling of wanting to turn back. Thankfully, I just came from a workshop on prayer so I had the good sense to reach for my lifeline to God. The prayer relieved my stress and emboldened me to set out.
My first attempt was to a Filipino lady who parked close to my car. She politely said no on account of being already a “believer” but encouraged me for what I was doing. I made my way to the bus terminal, offering gospels and taking the rejections in stride. However, it was harder when several people stood close to each other. My roughly 5% success rate meant that most people said no, and it felt awkward asking someone who had just overheard me getting turned down by another person.
Eventually, I reached the end of the bus stop so I walked back to the spot which seemed to have the highest foot traffic. My spirits went down with each “no”, and the weirdest feelings came when people pretended I was invisible, but each person who received a gospel was worth it. Some even produced a genuine smile of joy.
I also met a Christian who chatted me up on my surprising results – 30 minutes into the adventure and I was halfway through my gospels. The Chinese versions were especially handy because several people couldn’t understand English. In the end, I got through 46 gospels in one hour, including the 15 minute chat with the Christian. I had 4 Chinese gospels left, so I felt it was time to restock on English versions (ie. order a new batch).
Awkwardness is the biggest challenge of street evangelism – I only had enough guts to hand out booklets, not enough to engage non-believers in meaningful conversations. Eventually, I hope I will get over even that. As for now, I can still say that this was still a great experience. I can’t wait for the next order of gospels to arrive!
Rod
October 7, 2011
May God Bless you and stregthen you in your work for Him Gerald! It always feels like those initial feelings you were experiencing each time you start, so take encouragement, as after approaching the first person that usually dissapates. A couple of questions you can use to engage people are: “What do you think happens once we take our last breath?” or, “I heard something that got me thinking…every second two people die (snap you fingers a couple of times if you want”)…one of these seconds will be yours and mine…what do you think happens on the other side?” or, “We have no guarantee of how long we are going to live…you could go to sleep tonight and not wake up tomorrow…what do you think happens?”
Whatever the response you can ask them why they believe that and then you will know how they think. I find if they, like most, think they are good enough to go to heaven, I like leading them through questions asking them if the ever told a lie, then what does that make you – a liar (like me); have you ever wanted something someone else has, then what does that make you – a covetor; and so on. Do two or three or howmany you may need to get the point out and then you have established that they are a sinner in God’s hol standard of the 10 commanments. Then bringing in how we must be perfect to be in His presense is required. It is open then to bring in how He himself came to live as Christ and live that perfect life to be a sarcifice to pay the required punishment for all those breaking of the laws – to be the substitute so you could be forgiven and come before God as if you had never sinned yourself – the only way into heaven.
God Bless,
Rod.