Street Witnessing in Downtown Branson: Passing Out 500 Gospel Tracts

By Brad St. Clair, Evangelism Coach

September 10, 2005 Archive: A Saturday of Street Witnessing in Branson

Sunny downtown Branson sidewalk with storefronts, a bench, and flowers. Title: Street Witnessing in Downtown Branson

Illustration of downtown Branson. The report below is from September 10, 2005.

Have you ever tucked a few gospel tracts in your pocket, then brought every one of them back home? Most believers have. We worry about what to say, or how people will react.

This is a report from a day of street witnessing in Branson, Missouri, back in 2005. It's honest and a little messy. That's why I'm sharing it.

Back then, I was still new at this. Today I've been sharing my faith for over 20 years. As an Evangelism Coach, I've learned that real conversations rarely wrap up neatly.

Ours didn't either. Most people we talked with that day said, “I'm a Christian.” That still happens all the time today, and it's still a great place to start.

Archive note: This report is from September 10, 2005. It first appeared on the blog for Repent and Turn Ministries, my ministry before it became YouEvangelized.

I fixed the spelling and grammar, added headings, and explained a few terms. The story is the same, with a few small notes from today.

Branson S.W.A.T. T.E.A.M.: Our Street Evangelism Plan for Downtown Branson

This afternoon, we went to historic downtown Branson, Missouri.

Our plan was simple. Pass out gospel tracts and talk with people. (A gospel tract is a small paper handout that explains the Gospel.)

Our team was small. It was me, my wife Leann, our son Dillon, and our daughter Alexis.

We call ourselves the S.W.A.T. T.E.A.M. That stands for Street Witnessing And Training, Taking Evangelism Across Missouri. Yes, I worked hard on that acronym. 😉

Jeanne joined us, too. She's from our Way of the Master Foundation Course at church. (It's an 8-week evangelism class.) She came along to watch how we witness on the street.

A Crowded Day and a Lot of “I'm a Christian”

It was a pretty crowded day in downtown Branson. Quite a few bus tours were there, all doing sightseeing and shopping. Many were retirees.

It's amazing how many people say they're Christians when you start talking with them.

Jesus gave a warning that explains why I ask gentle questions instead of taking “I'm a Christian” at face value.

Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. — Matthew 7:21 (NLT)

Giant $100 Bills: A Simple Way to Start a Gospel Conversation

Before we split up, a man and his wife walked past us. They saw the Giant $100 Bills in my hand and asked if we were giving away money.

I gave them two. (Turns out a giant $100 bill gets attention.) Then I asked what they thought happens to us when we die.

They believed in heaven and hell. The man said he would go to heaven.

We went through the Law and some grace. “The Law” means using the Ten Commandments to show people their sin. “Grace” is the good news that Jesus paid for our sins.

Then I asked if they would be innocent or guilty on Judgment Day. The wife said we won't be judged.

They said they were Christians. They thanked me for talking with them.

500 Gospel Tracts and Two Teams

Dillon and I took one side of the block. Leann took Alexis and Jeanne, and they stood across the street.

Between all of us, we probably passed out 500 gospel tracts. Many were money tracts, like the “Million Dollar Bill” and the “Giant $100 Bills.”

We also handed out some “America America” and some “Pink and Blue” tracts.

Which one was the favorite? It's a toss-up. Some people liked the Giant $100 Bills best. Others liked the Million Dollar Bills.

Three women smiling on a Branson sidewalk, one holding a giant $100 bill gospel tract, in front of Dick’s 5 & 10

Photo from another day in downtown Branson. Not the ladies in this report.

Ever hand someone a tract and walk away wondering if it did anything? God says His word doesn't go out for nothing.

It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. — Isaiah 55:11 (NLT)

Sam from Houston: A Believer Who Wants Evangelism Training

I spoke to a man named Sam. He's a Christian from Houston. He was there with his wife and about five kids. (I'm not sure they were all his.)

Some of his younger adult kids said they had been through some Way of the Master training in Texas. It's a very biblical way of evangelism.

I gave Sam my ministry card. He said he'd get in touch with me. He wants someone in his area to contact him about this training. He's interested in possibly going out to witness.

Sam and his wife liked the name of our ministry, Repent and Turn Ministries. They said Christians nowadays aren't really doing the “repenting” part (turning away from sin).

They said that Christians are living just like the world.

They were looking for a church to go to Sunday morning. I told them about my church. They said they planned to see us there.

Nervous About What to Say?

Sam wanted to learn more about witnessing. Maybe you do too. My free newsletter, The YouEvangelized Report, comes out twice a month.

You'll get encouragement and simple tips for talking about Jesus with the people you already know.

Three Ladies in a Van Waving Us Down

Dillon pointed out three ladies in a parked van. They were waving at us.

We went over, and they asked if they could have five of the Giant $100 Bills. I gave them the tracts and told them they were gospel tracts.

They said they were all Christians. I asked if they considered themselves good people. They did.

Then I asked, “Do you think you've kept the Ten Commandments?” We went through the Law and grace. They thanked me for doing this.

What Happened Across the Street

Leann, Alexis, and Jeanne passed out many Million Dollar Bills. Leann took two sets of people through the Law.

She asked if they had lied, stolen, lusted, or blasphemed. (Blasphemed means misusing God's name — using God's name in vain, etc.)

After the Law, one lady said they were Christians. She told Leann she didn't have to go through the grace part. Then she left.

Leann took the other lady through the Law, too. Then came the question: “Would you be innocent or guilty on the Day of Judgment?”

The husband said, “We have to go.” And they left.

Julie, Norma, and Bee from “Flaurida”

Dillon and I walked up to three elderly women sitting on a bench on the sidewalk. Their names were Julie, Norma, and Bee. They were from Florida. (They told me it's pronounced “Flaurida.”)

We gave them some gospel tracts. They said they were all Christians.

We talked a while. Then I asked if I could show them how we go about witnessing to someone who “isn't a Christian.” We went through the Law and grace.

They thanked us and said it was very interesting. They did say they didn't lust, though.

In their generation, it wasn't like it is now. People didn't go around lusting all the time because of what's on television and so on (I don't know if I truly believe that, though).

Three Retirees Who Looked Insulted

One group of three men was standing around. They were retirees here with a church group. It looked like they were waiting on their wives.

I started talking to them. They didn't want to take a gospel tract, but they finally did. They thought they were good people.

We started going through the Law. They looked insulted that I was asking them these questions.

Only one man ended up speaking. He was the one who seemed more offended. He said he is going to heaven because he is saved.

I went through grace anyway. I thanked them. Then we talked a while longer about Branson shows.

“Pretty Much” Good People Who Said No Thanks

A couple of people said they were good people. I asked if they had kept the Ten Commandments. They said, “Pretty much.”

Then I asked if we could go through some of them to see how they did. They refused.

It appeared to me that they didn't want to be shown exactly how much they have offended God.

Overall, Friendly People and a Thankful Team

Overall, people were very friendly. We thank God for Jeanne coming out with us today.

Next Saturday, we are planning on taking a group of people to downtown Branson. We'll pass out gospel tracts and witness.

Key Takeaway: “I'm a Christian” Is Where the Talk Starts, Not Where It Ends

Most of the people we talked with that day said they were Christians. One woman told me we won't be judged.

A couple of people said they'd kept the commandments “pretty much.”

Hearing “I'm a Christian” didn't end the conversation. It gave us a friendly place to start.

If you're wondering how to witness to someone who says they're a Christian, start right there. Ask a gentle question.

My job is to be kind and clear. God's job is to change hearts.

I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.
— 1 Corinthians 3:6 (NLT)

If you're afraid someone will brush you off, or say “no thanks,” this verse is for you. Planting is your part. The growing was never your job.

Even now, I still get nervous when I walk up to someone. It gets easier over time. Obedience doesn't wait for you to feel bold.

Your Challenge: Start One Conversation This Week

This week, hand one person a gospel tract or ask one friendly question about spiritual things. Then leave the results with God.

Someone has to tell them. This week, that someone can be you.

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? — Romans 10:14 (NLT)

Not sure what to say? Join my free newsletter, The YouEvangelized Report. Twice a month, you'll get a short note of encouragement.

You'll also get one simple tip for starting a conversation without making it weird.