Street Evangelism

One method of sharing the Gospel is through Street Evangelism.  This is quite different than Friendship Evangelism.  Friendship Evangelism is all about building relationships with people, and witnessing to them over time.  Street Evangelism is when you go out and talk to people and share the Gospel in the street, or at the mall, in the park, or any public place.  It is not always likely or expected for a relationship between you and the person to whom you are witnessing to develop from this form of evangelism, but it is a good way to plant the seed of the Gospel in someone’s heart.  This is a method of going out and talking with people, distributing tract, fliers about the church, and providing a way for them to contact the leadership if they have questions or to get more information.  It is also a good way to spread the word that there is a church in the community and that everyone is welcome to come hear the Gospel, be in fellowship, and have their questions answered. 

This weekend there was a team consisting of people from the cities of Szolnok, Eger, Budapest and Szeged who all came to the Szolnok to do Street Evangelism to share the Gospel with the people of Szolnok.  One fun craft we did as a form of unity is that Marianna, Shane, and I made bracelets that I originally bought for the English Camp.  Instead, we used them for this event and gave them to the team to wear while they were out evangelizing.  It is cool that although we didn’t use them for the English Camp, we were able to use them for this ministry opportunity.  These bracelets have five beads on them, and each colored bead has a different meaning.  The bracelets are just a tool used to help share the Gospel, as a reminder to certain verses in the Bible.

The black bead represents sin: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 (NKJV) and “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 (NKJV).

The red bead represents the blood of Christ: “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures…” I Corinthians 15:3-4 (NKJV).

The white bead represents how we are pure in God’s eyes when we are saved.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV).

The green bead represents growing in Christ. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

The yellow bead represents heaven. "‘Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.’ In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.’" John 14:1-4 (NKJV)

       

As we were praying before we went out, the lyrics to a song called “God of this City” by Chris Tomlin came to my mind.  The YouTube link and lyrics are below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d61LamkXfwk

You're the God of this City
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation
You are

You're the Light in this darkness
You're the Hope to the hopeless
You're the Peace to the restless
You are

There is no one like our God
There is no one like our God

For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City
Greater thing have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City

Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done here

The Lord is the God of the city of Szolnok, and it is awesome that we were able to reach many people.  We met some other people who were out that day also doing street evangelism day from another Christian church in the area.  I even met some people on a mission trip to Hungary from the Bay Area in California, just like me!!!  I think this was a divine appointment so that we could encourage one another.  This was a successful outreach because the team reached many people all over the city of Szolnok by talking with them, distributing tracts and fliers, and inviting them to the church.  We did the outreach on Saturday, and on Sunday new people came to the church!  Praise the Lord!  We are praying that from the outreach this weekend and upcoming outreaches in the future that God will bring more people to the church because they need to hear the Gospel message.  We are praying that all of Szolnok, all of Hungary, and ultimately all the world will be reached with the Gospel!

God is making the efforts of the missionaries and churches in Hungary fruitful.  I pray that many more people come to know Christ through this outreach and others in the future.  It was great to also meet people from the teams in Budapest, and to see my friends from Eger again.  I am grateful that I could be a part of this event, and I hope I have many more opportunities to share the Gospel these last 2 weeks that I have in Hungary.  I pray that God continues to feed your hungry hearts and my Hungary Heart! <3