Way of the Master Week 5: Gospel Tracts as Ice Breakers

2005 Archive: Turning Handouts into Conversation Starters

A pocket full of paper and a heart full of courage—turning simple handouts into bridges for eternal conversations.

If Way of the Master Week 4 handed us the map, then Way of the Master Week 5 gave us the keys to unlock countless conversations—simple gospel tracts that open doors with strangers. 

87 people discovered that a simple slip of paper is a total lifesaver when you hit that 'what do I say now?' wall, turning an awkward moment into an eternal one. 

The polite Sunday school vibe vanished, replaced by a pre-game huddle of 87 people realizing they finally had the tools to get off the bench.

People who had been nervous about sharing their faith suddenly realized they didn't need a seminary degree or a perfect testimony, just a pocket full of tracts and a willing heart. 

This wasn't just about learning which tracts to use; it was about seeing how God can use the simplest tools to open the most important conversations.

A sampling of Living Waters tracts—simple tools that became conversation starters for those willing to share their faith on the streets.

Evangelism Training: September 14, 2005 (Week 5 Report)

Tonight was Way of the Master Week 5 training. We watched "Ice Breakers" (Gospel Tracts) episode and discussed it with 87 people in the class.

Way of the Master Week 5: What Kirk and Ray Taught Us

The "Ice Breakers" episode took us straight to Grand Central Station in New York City.

This location is where Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort showed us how to turn a simple piece of paper into a bridge for eternal conversations.

The whole point? Quality gospel tracts aren't just something you shove in someone's hand and run away—although they can be.

They are also meant to be conversation starters that can open doors you never saw coming.

Kirk and Ray demonstrated how unique, well-designed tracts grab attention much better than boring, preachy-looking ones.

If you hand a person a tract that looks creative—like a Million Dollar Bill or something that makes them curious—you've got their attention. 

Suddenly, you have at least a few seconds to make an impact.

And a few seconds is all the Holy Spirit needs to work.

The Strategy Was Simple: Use the Tract as an Opener

Use the tract as the opener, not the closer.

Hand it to someone with a smile. Ask them a simple question like, "Did you get one of these?" or "Have you ever seen one of these before?"

Now you're not just some weirdo shoving Jesus pamphlets at strangers—you're sharing the gospel through actual conversation.

From there, you can transition into the "Good Person Test" we learned in Week 4, or just let the tract do its job while you move on to the next person.

Either way, you've planted a seed. And that's the whole point.

Leann St. Clair puts faith into action—handing out gospel tracts isn't as scary as it seems.

Not All Tracts Are Created Equal

Ray and Kirk made it crystal clear: the quality of your gospel tract matters.

Use tracts that are professional, interesting, and don't scream "Religious Weirdo Alert” from a mile away.

Living Waters tracts (the ministry founded by Ray Comfort) are designed specifically for this—they look good, they're creative, and they get people's attention without being off-putting.

The Way of the Master Week 5 episode reminded us that we're not trying to win an argument on the street corner—we're trying to start a conversation that could lead someone to Christ.

And sometimes, that conversation starts with a simple, well-made piece of paper.

Mission accomplished—a man stops to read a giant one hundred dollar bill gospel tract on the streets of Branson.

From Eye-Rolls to "I Can Do This!"

The response was immediate—they thought using gospel tracts was a brilliant idea, especially using good ones (not the cheesy ones that make people roll their eyes).

Probably more than half the class said they had passed out tracts at one point or another, but many had stopped because they weren't sure if it was effective.

Tonight changed that.

A Real Street Witnessing Testimony from Branson

Last Saturday, five of us headed to historic downtown Branson, Missouri to go street witnessing.

This outreach was a direct result of our Way of the Master training class. 

Jeanne, who is taking the evangelism training class, went out with us. Tonight, she got up and spoke to everyone about the experience.

She said it wasn't scary like she thought it would be, and that most people didn't get offended at all.

I was hoping that hearing this from someone who had actually done it—not just from me—would draw more people out into the streets with us. 

Sometimes peer testimony carries more weight than me standing up there teaching.

Stories That Stirred Hearts

We discussed some witnessing stories from our recent outreach, as well as others I had experienced in Oklahoma City.

People loved hearing about real encounters—the good, the awkward, and the moments when God showed up.

We showed various Living Waters tracts at our Way of the Master table. The church had bought them, and we were repacking and selling them to the class.

We had purchased a bunch... and now they were almost gone! Folks love the uniqueness of the gospel tracts.

Those who receive them are happy to have gotten one (well, most of the time). 😉

Click to go and Subscribe!

Putting Our Evangelism Training into Practice

About 10 people said they were planning to go out with us this upcoming Saturday to witness in historic downtown Branson, MO.

We arranged to have a person or two who already uses the "Way of the Master" method of evangelism come down to go out with us Saturday. 

That would ensure everyone was trained properly "in the field".

A Quick Stop at the Police Station

After we went witnessing last Saturday, Leann and I stopped by the police station to ask if there were any special laws we needed to know about before taking our church group out to witness.

I already knew the answer to this, but I wanted to hear what they would think about us being out in Branson doing some street witnessing. 

They said it was soliciting and we needed a permit.

I politely told them we weren't soliciting.

We have a legal right to hand out gospel literature and share our faith on public sidewalks.

They told us to go to City Hall. (Classic run-around.)

Leann called the City of Branson and informed them of our rights as Christians.

The lady said she'd have to make some calls to see if we were right. (Translation: "Let me check with someone who actually knows the law.")

Another lady called Leann back and said we were free to go witness—no permit needed. Just don't block entrances to stores, don't block the sidewalks, etc.

So we were set to meet up Saturday and hit the streets. I'll let you know how it goes.

Standing up for our biblical mandate and legal right to share the Good News without a permit in our city.

Biblical Evangelism: Not as Scary as It Looks

The lesson from Way of the Master Week 5 is clear: A gospel tract isn't just a piece of paper. It is:

• A conversation starter.
• A door opener.
• Sometimes the only Gospel a person will ever hold in their hands.

I learned that the fear of street witnessing melts away when you see someone else do it and survive (and even enjoy it). 

Jeanne's testimony proved that obedience doesn't require perfection—just willingness.

Here's something really important: Know your rights as a Christian. 

We don't need permission from City Hall to share the Good News on public sidewalks—that is not against the law.

Not to mention we already have permission from the highest authority. 😉

The Enduring Takeaway and Call to Action: Your Turn

Main Takeaway:  

Stop waiting for the 'perfect moment' to share your faith. Sometimes the perfect moment is just a simple tract and the courage to hand it out.

Call to Action: Grab Your Gospel Literature

This week, grab a fresh stack of creative outreach materials and keep them in your car, purse, or wallet.

Don't overthink it—just hand one out with a smile. Leave it with a very good tip at a restaurant. Slip it in a book at the library. Mail it with your bills.

And if you're feeling bold? Ask someone, "Did you get one of these?" and watch how God opens the door from there.

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← Previously: What Did Jesus Do (WDJD)? — Week 4 | Next Up: Week 6 — The Motive of the Sinner

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