Good Friday Evangelism

On Good Friday I decided to go out with a pack of Easter Million Dollar Bills and hit the streets to try to get into a conversation with a stranger to ask about what Good Friday and Easter mean to them.

To be honest, the entire day was somewhat uneventful. It was cold outside and not many people out. Those that were out were either jogging, listening to their headphones, or both. The malls in the area were about dead — as much as the actual malls were. Several that I went to many stores were closed; others were completely out of business.

For the people that were out, I tried to get into conversations, but no one would stick around for a conversation. I first went to the Gray’s Lake Walk Bridge overlooking Des Moines. The great part of this bridge is that it is littered with donation plaques that say things like, “In memory of…” As I was walking on the bridge I stopped a woman and gave her a tract. She laughed: not at the clever way I presented the gospel on such a timely day as this, but at me calling me an idiot for believing in such foolishness. As she walked away, I was able to ask her, “Why do they call it Good Friday? What makes it good? Not only that, but what about all the people who’s plates are on this bridge saying, ‘in memory of…’ Was it good for them?” I knew she heard what I said, acknowledging me with her one finger salute, and wasn’t pointing to God to give Him glory either.

It’s important to use your surroundings as a springboard to use to start a spiritual conversation. Like this bridge, while walking on it there is a constant reminder that their life will end at some point as it happened with many who’s memories are remembered on the plaques that litter the bridge. I was also able to combine that with Good Friday to make it more impactful.

But even if you are the most eloquent speaker with a list of funny anecdotes; without the Holy Spirit sowing the ground of their hearts and drawing them to Himself, they will never hear, understand, and receive the gospel (John 6:44, 65). We as Christians committed to sharing the gospel should not take rejection personally, but should use it to give us thick skin in the sight of adversity.