What is Street ministry? - Dean Morrow

What is Street ministry?

Street preaching or soapbox is what may come to mind when you think of street ministry. It is true certain people have used the “soapbox” approach. However, street ministry can take on many forms but the type I am talking about today is an encounter evangelism, type of street ministry, where we carry the power and love of God to a lost and hurting world through an encounter with Christ in us, the hope of glory. It is the reality of that encounter with God, through street ministry, that people feel the presence of God's love and their knowledge of Him becomes tangible through a physical healing, healing of the emotions, or being set free from oppression. By being touched, God becomes real to them through an encounter with his goodness. It is His goodness that leads to repentance.

Where to begin your street ministry? In our metron, or sphere of influence and authority in which He has placed us. If you are not sure what your metron is, hopefully this outline will help kindle your thoughts to find it. It starts in your house, the house of the Lord. If you have children, you have a sphere of loved ones in which you have been called to nurture. They belong to you; you have the authority to pray over what they are facing. It is possible to grow in favor with God and man. This is based on personal growth and faithfulness in doing what the Lord asks of us. (Luke 2:52)

The road to Street ministry starts with intension. If you set out with this in mind, you will find intention puts into motion opportunity as you move out, you will look for and find opportunity will present to you in many ways you will learn to recognize when opportunity presents. In the beginning you may be immediately challenged with fear this is normal to run into this wall of fear and it has stopped a lot of Gods people from entering their promise land.
However, you can get around fear by recognizing it exists as a possibility and predetermine if you will you let it stop you. Where fear and opportunity come together is where the rubber meets the road! You are in control, you are behind the wheel, you just need to navigate around or over this fear.

When I was growing up hanging out with my friends, they dared me to jump down from a high place into a pile of hay like they did. I was afraid to do it and was stuck just looking down at them. I thought I could not do it, so to get me to do it they called me a "chicken", why? For not daring to jump. After several times of taunting me to jump and calling me chicken I knew I did not want to be a chicken that is not who I am. I told them I am not a chicken! Then I jumped and as it turned out there was extraordinary joy and thrill in jumping like that not only the jump (free falling) but the overcoming fear and taking a risk was fun. You see they all knew it after having jumped what it was like they each had experiential knowledge and I only fear until I jumped.
I realize that fear was a catalyst for me to take a risk, a chance at uncertainty. I realize taking a risk stepping out can be thrilling. I call it "crossing the chicken line" you just do not know what is on the other side. You must take a risk in street ministry. Yes, there is a chance it may not succeed you may face rejection or fail to see the benefit of the risk at the time but it is a way for new growth in your life to emerge. It has been said: Success is The Crossroads where preparation and opportunity meet. Faith can grow as a spiritual exercise. Our faith muscles grow as a direct result of pressing against resistance.

Lead with intent to go out and show the love of God by being an encourager. Just put one foot in front of the other and step out in faith. You will see that the Lord will use you right where you are at. Whether its the gas pump, grocery store, or everywhere you go, you carry the presence as ambassadors the Kingdom of heaven. You will not only bless others, but something will begin to happen to you as you grow in your influence and authority.
“‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” (Luke 14:21b-23, NKJV)