DOs and DON’Ts for those coming out to support open air preaching

DOs:
Form yourself into part of the audience and look as though you are listening to the speaker. We call this “rent-a-crowd.” This will encourage others to stop and listen.

There is plenty of opportunity for personal witnessing... and it’s easy, because the subject of Christ has already been “brought up.” When you go to witness to someone one-on-one, move out to the edges of the crowd and try to talk to people just as they are turning to leave. In other words, let them listen to the speaker until they’ve decided they aren’t going to listen any more... then catch them as they are leaving by saying something like, “Hey, before you leave... what do you think about what that guy was just saying?”

There is also a great opportunity to give away Gospel tracts. Just as in personal witnessing... move out to the edges of the crowd and give away the tracts to people who are turning to leave. Just as they are leaving say, “Hey, did you get one of these?” and hand them a Gospel tract.

DON’Ts:
Never stand with your back to the speaker. Don’t talk amongst yourselves, concentrate on being attentive to what’s being said... why should anyone else stop and listen if you aren’t even attentive?

Do not argue with hecklers - that will ruin an open-air meeting... leave the heckler to the speaker (we pray for hecklers).

Do not hand out Gospel tracts to people who are listening to the speaker... then all the listeners turn into readers and the speaker is standing up there talking to no one.