- RSVP if possible (no biggie).
- Bring a water bottle, a Bible, and a pen.
- Warmly greet the brothers and ask for names 10x. We need reminders too.
- We assume you have a healthy relationship with your local church. We can’t love and serve you in the same intimate way believers from your local church can.
- Don’t bring deceptive tracts. We are overt, not stealthy.
- Feel free to shadow an existing conversation.
- Please avoid a believer/unbeliever ratio that makes the unbeliever feel uncomfortable.
- Feel free to pick unbelievers off of group discussions that are on the edges.
- Please don’t audibly insert yourself into an existing conversation unless explicitly invited.
- If you hear our dialog partner say 10 things worth refuting, but don’t hear us react, it’s probably because we’re being patient and gentle, trying to go down a path and stay focused.
- We can be cheerful and even goofy with strangers. We’re trying to be friendly.
- If a crowd forms, we may preach.
- If you feel like preaching, do it! But please be considerate of existing conversations around you.
- If you preach, speak slowly, inflect your voice, and stick close to Scripture.
- 95% of what we do is simple one-on-one or small group interactions. It’s boring by worldly standards.
- We often guage body language in deciding whether to continue to engage beyond handing out tracts.
- We are nervous too, managing our own fears. Hoping to ride a wave of occasional bravery.
- If someone says something ugly or rude, we feel you. You are a human being made in the image of God. You were meant to be treated with respect and kindness.
- Retorting or reacting isn’t typically a wise way to deal with angry or foolish passerbys. Let them go. We want peace
- Work hard. Get rejected a lot. God almost always provides a good conversation.
- Being a mere friendly presence helps us.
- If a young child wants to take a tract, defer to their parent. Get their permission.
- Old people get extra gentleness.
- You’re among Christian weirdos. If you have a different idea on how to start conversations, go for it!
- We love having a diversity of men, women, old, and young among us. Spanish speakers too!
- Evangelists are easy to please. If God gives us one good conversation, we are satisfied.
- If you only come to pray and be with Christians, that is 💯% ok. It adds to our joy and encouragement.
- If you mess up, we love you. We love newbies. We trust God’s providence. God loves working through you. Your fresh bravery encourages us.
- We love fellowshipping in-between interactions! Abrupt interruptions are normal though. Expect them. We may jet off mid-sentence to hand a tract to a passerby.
- We like praying before and after as a group.
- We like talking doctrine and theology.
- We love warmly greeting brothers in Christ we meet from around the world.
- We love making friends in the context of evangelism.
I Am Aaron Shafovaloff 