For mission I’ve been charged with setting up a conversation stall. It basically involves 5 or 6 of us hanging around the junction of Booth and Johnston streets handing out literature and engaging people in conversation.

As those collecting donations for the World Wildlife Fund know, it’s hard to get people to stop and talk. They are always in a hurry, trying to get somewhere.

Anyone got any suggestions for this...?

free alchohol :-)

But seriously, anything but being forceful. As long as you are gentle and show respect. 1 Peter 3:15

It may get you less conversation, but will be more fruitful in how Christians are perceived by the general public.

At uni (different situation) we’ve tried a conversation stall with a menu. Entree topics were light and fun only (’Someone should ban the Sydney Swans’). Main courses were heavier (’Nothing happens after I die’). This extra little gimmick was to help grab attention and make conversation more likely.

Those worldview surveys seem to be popular on uni campuses, though don’t know how well it would work on the street, but worth looking into?

If people won’t stop at a street stall I’d have to ask if it’s worth the effort.

Luke Stevens - 31 August 2007 07:31 PM

Those worldview surveys seem to be popular on uni campuses, though don’t know how well it would work on the street, but worth looking into?

Yeah, I’ve heard of those and they sounded interesting. Any idea where I can get more info?

Possible Conversation Starters
How should John Howard occupy himself after the election?

If you could live your life over again, what would you do differently?

There’s a box of ice-breakers for a game called The Art of Conversation

Here’s a few of the questions

[put together by Keith Lamb, one of the ex-members of Hush]

Have you had a good idea for a business venture?

What would you do if you were sure you could get away with it?

Can you remember the first song you learnt?

Possible Conversation Starters
How should John Howard occupy himself after the election?

David, do you really think this sort of immature question does anything other than (a) get the “Howard h***ers” out there on campus really excited and salivating - and end up talking only about politics and the election .... or (b) get right up the nose of those who will vote ‘conservative’ - I think it will end any chance of a ‘conversation’ right then and there.

I doubt the wisdom of Christians using such a tactic during a “Mission’ - unless it’s a mission to gather votes.

I would have thought something to do with ‘Aussie role models’ and human failings - as in the current lead story of Andrew Johns admitting to taking drugs for 10 years - might engender more thoughtful responses - and relate to the sinfulness of man - and the chance to talk about the Man Christ Jesus - rather than having a cheap jibe at our current Prime Minister.

Cheers, Kevin

Kevin, I’d give David M the benefit of the doubt and assume that he was being tongue-in-cheek.

What about open-air speakers on a soapbox? A fine tradition, although I haven’t seen a soapbox since before I was born.

On surveys, I would say you are best writing your own and tailoring the questions. I think they are a great idea and provide immediate and topical material for the coming month of sermons (at least).

You could also be direct and ask if you could summarize what christians believe in 60 seconds, then show them an unvarnished Two Ways to Live presentation, and see where the conversation leads after that.

What about open-air speakers on a soapbox?

Well, the Bretheran still do that, but it has never appeared very effective to me.

You could also be direct and ask if you could summarize what christians believe in 60 seconds, then show them an unvarnished Two Ways to Live presentation, and see where the conversation leads after that.

Yeah, I was thinking of something like that. The theme is “Start the Ultimate Relationship”, so I was going to say something like “Do you have 2 minutes to discuss the Ultimate Relationship?” and then go through 2WTL if they said yes (nicely pre-drawn on pieces of paper in a folder).

Gordon Cheng - 01 September 2007 10:14 AM

I haven’t seen a soapbox since before I was born.

I thought pre-existence and foreknowledge were divine attributes.  I see that you really were qualified to comment on ‘How would Jesus vote?’ ;-)

Craig Schwarze, by Brethren do you mean Exclusive Brethren? They do their open air preaching in a terribly half-hearted way i the Blue Mountains and
Bathurst. They mutter, rather than speak.

But I think decent speakers with something to say could still attract an audience, given the right conditions.

Oh for the days of Wesley and Whitefield. I think Whitefield [pronounced WHIT field] has the record for speaking to the largest audience unamplified: 20,000 or more, and clearly heard. Dallimore’s books on Whitefield are very inspiring.

Craig Schwarze, by Brethren do you mean Exclusive Brethren? They do their open air preaching in a terribly half-hearted way i the Blue Mountains and Bathurst. They mutter, rather than speak.

David, yes that’s who I was thinking of.

I must say that the Brethren I’ve heard preaching on street corners have been clearly understandable, and often speaking the gospel. But things are simply not done that way these days and people go out of their way to avoid street preachers - they look like crazy people.

I don’t think a Wesley would fare any better in modern Australia. That era is past.

You’d really need the right person. The Wizard of New Zealand was hilarious and someone like him would pull a crowd anywhere. We need to pray for a funny extrovert with a loud voice and a heart for the gospel.

Dear Craig,

(a few opening thoughts - seems strange to be discussing this online - rather than in person).

I agree with the person earlier who said that a survey is a bad idea unless one is actually collecting data.

However that’s not the goal of a conversation stall.  The conversation stall is actually an idea where people can have the conversation of their choice from a menu of conversations (or we find that often people presented with this kind of menu will make up their own question).

We have found it works really well in the non task orientated street ambling along context.  (But not as well when someone knocks on the door and the person whose house it is expects one to have a direct reason for visiting.)

I did a bit of digging on my computer and found an old menu that we used for a conversation stall in 2004. 

However I don’t think this menu is quite what we want for now as it doesn’t have enough distinctions between the various categories - and it doesn’t point as clearly as it could to some of the issues that we are raising in the various mission presentations.

Our old 2004 menu:

entree
Does God exist and can we have relationship?
What is the meaning of life?
Does the world need saving?

On the side
1.Is the bible true?
2.Doesn’t Science disprove God?
3.Haven’t we moved past that old-time religion?

mains
1.Are all religions the same?
2.What does Jesus offer?
3.Why does God allow suffering?
4.What difference could Jesus make to my life?
5.Who is Jesus?
6.Why did Jesus walk this earth?
7.Why am I here?

dessert
1.Jesus and Sex
2.What is Heaven?
3.What is love?

My question for today is what are the questions three and a half years later that we should have on the menu - especially given the title under which we are operating - www.ultimaterelationship.com.au ?  Some will be the same?  Some will be very different.  I have some views but I’d be interested in the collective wisdom?