PREPARATION FOR STREET PREACHING AND VILLAGE CRUSADE.

TEXT: Mark 16: 15-20; Lk. 14:28-32; Prov. 24:27.

The great commission of Christ covers every person, people and place. Since the fall of man, God has been providing ways of restoring the fallen man to Himself. The only perfect way came eventually i.e Christ “the lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29). The gospel of Christ is the POWER of God unto salvation to EVERYONE THAT BELIEVETH (Rom. 1:16-17). Therefore the whole gospel must be preached to the whole world. To reach the world with the gospel requires planning. Planning in the means and the method to adopt.

The men God can use to carry out this great task. Bringing men to Christ is a great task: “or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? And then he will spoil his house” (Matt. 12:29). This therefore calls for a crusade a campaign against something believed to be bad (sin) and the preaching of the gospel for the salvation from sin. It is therefore necessary to x-ray the evils of sinners when a street or village crusade is being held. Solutions through Jesus Christ’s redemptive work on the cross must be offered for their sins.

1. PENETRATION INTO THE STREETS AND VILLAGES:

Lk. 22:9;Acts 17:16-25; Lk. 14:28.

To bring the gospel into the streets or villages calls for a serious preparation and planning. The world will always give way to those who know where they are going. Therefore, there is always a period of proper planning before any successful programme (2 Kings 3:11 -18; 4:1-6; lsa. 40:3). Planning and preparations remove any omissions. It blocks the ways of the enemies and prevents them from destroying the success of the outreach.

Areas of Planning and Preparation

i. Proper feasibility survey:

Zech. 2:1-5; Titus 1:12,13; Acts 17: 16-23; 21:27-36; 22:2; 23:6-7; Neh. 1:1-4.

How large is the place? What is their present moral, physical or spiritual state? What do they believe? What is their historical background? What language(s) do they speak? What denomination(s) exist in the place and how many in number? Is there any gospel church? etc these will help in planning, preparation and penetration of the place.

ii. Prayer for success:

Neh. 1:4-11; 2 Chron. 26:11-15; Hos. 10:12; lsa. 62:6,7; Ezek. 36:37-38; 1 Tim. 2:1-4; Matt. 18:18-19.

The feasibility reports received by Nehemiah led him to pray for the people. There must be heartfelt, prevailing, earnest, faithful and consistent prayers before, during, and after the crusade among the leaders and the laity. Praying personally and collectively for a total breakthrough, mass conversion of souls, great restoration, spiritual experience, the minister and equipments etc (Eph. 6: 18-20).

iii. Publicity

The use of town criers, personal contact, early morning cry; awareness in their market and use of fine-coloured publicity garments by the brethren are some things that can help to publicize our crusade. Everybody should show excitement during publicity to attract the watching world Lk. 8:35-40; Ps. 66:16; 89: 1; Ezra 8:36; Acts 8:6. it should be noted however that street outreach/mini crusades may not require a wide publicity but tacks to get the attention of men and is less expensive. It can be done by day or night. Bus, boat or generally carriage evangelism is also useful.

READ ALSO: 

• The Place of Prayer in Evangelism
• REACHING OUT TO THE “SHUT-INS”
• WINNING NOMINAL CHRISTIANS FOR CHRIST 
• CONSERVING THE FRUITS OF EVANGELISM  

2. PROCLAMATION OF CHRIST’S GOSPEL:

Acts 8:1,4-8; 9:20; 1 Thess. 4:3-4; 2 Tim. 2:21; Isa. 10:27;Acts 22:1-22; Titus 1:11,12.

The church has almost completely given up open air ministrations to occultists. The occultists feel free to hold their seminars publicly without shame or fear. The time has come for us to rise up and speak boldly for Christ. Preach God’s saving grace, the power of holiness, the possibility of total freedom from sin, His power to heal. Preach Christ not yourself or your Church. All illustrations must be aimed at exalting Christ. This must be done with the power of the Holy Ghost.

3. PRESERVATION OF CRUSADE FRUITS:

Isa. 46: 10; Acts 15:36-41; 18:23; Rom. 1: 11-12.

There must be proper planning and preparation to preserve the fruits of the crusades. This must be done before the crusade or street preaching begins. Such planning include church planting, how to convey souls to church, discipline and teaching the converts in order to establish them in the faith. The hope of the whole world is in the gospel of Christ the power of God unto salvation. Why do the proclaimers feel unconcerned, unmoved, by the sight of thy dying, rotting world? The divine cry is still going on today, “who will go for us?” If we do our own part, God will do His and at last the Soul winner’s crown shall be given to us. Amen!