As we step into equipping individuals and groups in evangelism, we should consider the various tools we can add to our Outreach Tool Belt to enhance our ability to minister to the people we encounter outside of church.

As leaders of groups, ministries, and churches, we need to be committed to not just train and have people practice these tools, separately and individually, but also to create a culture of outreach within our ministries and churches—a place where we model and inspire reaching out to the lost and those in need.  Below are 13 main tools to add to our outreach tool belt.

1)  Spiritual Breakthrough & The Salvation of the Lost  (in preparation for going out on outreach)

Readiness to pray for divine help to sow the seed of the Good News and to be ready and able to winsomely lead the lost to Christ. Pray before you go!

2)  Felt Needs

Readiness to pray for people's needs and problems they are facing.

• MINISTRY/OUTREACH TOOL: Listening to Jesus for Others 

• MINISTRY/OUTREACH TOOL: Blessed to be a Blessing

3)  Physical Healing

Readiness to pray for physical healing.

• MINISTRY/OUTREACH APROACH: 5-Step Healing Prayer Model

4)  Stories Of Hope 

Readiness to orally share a Bible story of Jesus bringing hope to broken people. 

• MINISTRY/OUTREACH APPROACH: Stories of Hope & the Seven Signs of John - These stories are perfect stories to orally share on the streets. Get to know the stories so well you can share them spontaneously when the opportunity presents itself. 

  • As an bonus next step, you can actually lead a Discovery Bible Study (DBS) on the streets, orally. Just retell the story of hope twice, then ask the person to retell it to you in their own words. Then go through the DBS questions orally with the person (i.e.: What does this story reveal about people? Etc.) 

5)  Testimony Of Your Conversion

Readiness to share your story of how you came to know Christ yourself, entered into an enriching relationship with Him, and how  Jesus has been transforming your life ever since.

• OUTREACH TOOL: My 15-Sec Testimony (15-Sec Testimony) - Keep in mind that the goal of the 15-sec testimony is to have a full grasp of the basic structure of your conversion testimony. From this foundation you will be able to tailor-make a sharing of it, based on the amount of time given to share it. Sometimes this window is only 15-seconds long, as people are in a hurry. Other times you are given longer slots of time, attention and interest to hear extended versions of your story.  Whatever the case, an established basic structure of it makes you ready for whatever windows of opportunity show up in that moment. 

6)  Everyday Stories Of God At Work In Your Life 

Readiness to relay a story of something God did in your life in order to connect and minister to a person.

• These are the stories of how God continues to transform your mind, heart, actions, and life purpose. Being ready means stewarding these experiences, staying aware of God’s work in your life, reflecting and journaling to remember, and reviewing past stories to keep them fresh. It’s also about being sensitive to when to share them.

• When you're with someone, trust that the Holy Spirit can bring a story from your past to mind. Trust that this memory (this story of God at work in your past) could be a way to connect with or minister to that person.

7)  Gospel Presentation 

Readiness to present the Good News of Jesus Christ in clear, Biblical and winsome ways.

• OUTREACH TOOL: Collection of Various Types of Gospel Presentations (recommended: 3 Circles & Left Hand Gospel) - The goal is to learn at least one Gospel presentation for outreach readiness. After that, exposure to other Gospel presentations will help you deepen your understanding of the Gospel message.  When you have a a solid grasp of it you will have an easier time personalizing the Gospel truth to the recipient, based on their needs, misunderstandings of Christ and Christianity, and other questions and objections they may have.   

 8)  Listening Ear to People's Problems, Concerns, and Worries

Readiness to hear out those in need and show care, compassion, and empathy.

9)  Bible Verse 

Readiness to share a Bible verse to strengthen, encourage and comfort.

• • MINISTRY/OUTREACH APPROACH: Share a Bible Verse

10)  Blessing Prayer

Readiness to give a blessing prayer, in the name of Jesus.

• MINISTRY/OUTREACH TOOL: Blessing Prayer - learn more about a blessing prayer

• MINISTRY/OUTREACH TOOL: Listening to Jesus for Others

11)  Prophetic Word

Readiness to receive divine revelation from God's heart for someone and to share it with sensitivity, humility, and grace: "Lord, what do you see and feel for this person?"

• MINISTRY/OUTREACH TOOL: Listening to Jesus for Others

12)  Word of Affirmation

Readiness to notice the good in people and speak it out as honest, heartfelt affirmation.

• MINISTRY/OUTREACH APPROACH: Words Of Affirmation - Learn more about words of affirmation.

13)  Word Of Knowledge

Readiness to share a word of knowledge—a supernaturally revealed fact about someone or something—to help a person encounter a God who is real, caring, active, and drawing near.

• TEACHING WEBPAGE: How Words Of Knowledge Come - learn more about words of knowledge.