Practical Outreach Etiquette

2018-10-07

These are some practical tips I tend to follow when going out in our soul-winning neighborhood outreach. You may feel led to do things differently, but I put them here as some advice that works for me.

  1. Bring a backpack with supplies. Include Gospel tracts (everyone gets one), Bibles for anyone who gets saved, and bottled water for hot summer days.
  2. Do not go on properties that have a loose dog, a no trespassing (or similar idea) sign, or a fence. Those things are there for a reason. These people want their privacy, and I personally want to respect their wishes. There will always be another door to knock. A case can be made to the contrary, but this is what I feel comfortable doing.
  3. Walk on the grass minimally. People often take a lot of care of their lawns. Use walkways and driveways as much as possible. Always go back to the road before proceeding to the next house, and do not cut across the lawns.
  4. Knock on the door loud enough to be heard, but not an intimidatingly loud bang. Knock on the side of the door that has the hinges to minimize door movement. Knock with four to five knocks. Wait a solid thirty seconds if they do not answer, then try with another four to five knocks.
  5. If they are not home, leave a Gospel tract in the door. Curl it in a door handle or place it in the crack of the door.
  6. Include your church information in the tract. Church name, address, telephone, web address, and church times.
  7. Include your personal information in the tract. Your name, telephone, email, and web address (if you have one that pertains to the faith; be sure to read the article on that.)
  8. If they answer, invite them to church initially, and hand them a gospel tract. This is a good thing to do to break the ice. You want to see them at church, and you care about them.
  9. Tell them the name of the church you go to when inviting them. When they hear “Baptist,” they will know that you are not a Mormon or Jehovah’s Witness.
  10. Ask them if they go to church. They may or may not. This helps discern what kind of church background they are from, if any.
  11. Ask them that more importantly, if they were to die today, are they 100 percent sure that they would go to heaven. Obviously, church attendance or membership does not save anybody; you want to move into the heart of the matter.
  12. If yes, ask them why they know, if they know. They may believe on Jesus Christ, or they may believe something entirely different.
  13. Ask them if they would like to know how to be saved if they do not know, or do not believe in Christ alone for salvation. Emphasize that it only takes a few minutes.
  14. Do not force the issue. If they do not want to hear, thank them for their time, and leave.
  15. Present the Gospel. Read the article on the most important things to include.
  16. When you are finished presenting the Gospel, if they did not believe before, but they do now, go over the basics again. We are all sinners. Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead. If we believe on Him right now, we would be saved, and we would be saved forever.
  17. Lead them in prayer. Prayer should emphasize thanking God for what He has done already as a completed work in Christ.
  18. If you ask them if they are saved, and you find out they really are, try to encourage them to share the Gospel also with others. People often do not even realize that they are supposed to do this.
  19. If you lead them to Christ, give them a Bible. If they do not have a Bible, give them one. The Gospel of John is a good place to start.
  20. Let them know that your contact and church information is available on the tract. You do not want to intrude into their lives, but you want them to be able to contact you if they have further questions, or if they would like to go to your church.
  21. Always be kind. If people do not want to hear, or they close the door on you, or whatever it may be, just be kind.