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How to hand out gospel tracts
Gospel tracts are a powerful tool for sharing the Good News. But like any tool, the more we know how to use them, the more effective they’ll be. Here’s our guide on how to hand out gospel tracts and make a lasting impact.
Prepare yourself
Begin with Prayer
Get the right mindset
Have an open heart
The first step in handing out gospel tracts is to pray. Ask God to direct you in the delivery of your booklets. Ask Him to send people across your path who are searching or would be receptive to hearing about the Good News. Bring any concerns or fears you have before Him and ask for peace, courage, and boldness.
To effectively hand out gospel tracts, it’s important to have the right mindset. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
Don’t overthink your delivery method.
Don’t worry about what people think.
Don’t worry about sounding foolish.
Don’t fear rejection.
Be yourself and deliver the gospel tract in your own natural way. You can try different approaches until you find the one that feels most comfortable to you.
Remember, it’s okay if things aren’t perfect and if someone doesn’t want to receive a booklet. Take the pressure off yourself and trust that God is working in each person’s life.
Every person you encounter will be navigating life’s trials. They may not share their struggles with you, but there will certainly be areas of difficulty.
People experience a range of emotions, including sadness, anger, happiness, and indifference. Approach them with an attitude of humility, kindness, and gentleness. Be willing to listen patiently.
If someone becomes aggressive or argumentative, it’s okay to politely end the conversation and walk away. In my 30 years of experience, I have never had anyone yell or be angry when handing out gospel tracts. If they did respond negatively, I would feel sad for them.
Take action
Try Different Delivery methods
Find your personal approach
Be Genuine in your response
Think of a phrase that feels comfortable for you to say when offering a gospel tract!
Here are some examples:
“Did you get one of these?”
– If they say no, hand them one.
“I have read this little booklet and found it helpful. Here is one for you.”
– If someone asks what it is, explain that it’s a little book about Jesus/God/truth/hope.”
“I have these great little booklets for children. Is it okay if I give one to your son/daughter?”
– if they approve happily give the child a booklet
There are several ways to hand out gospel tracts:
- Walking: Take a walk and hand out gospel tracts to people you meet on your way. Take the time to listen to those who engage in conversation and answer any questions they have.
- Casual meetings: Always have tracts with you and be on the lookout for one-on-one divine meetings and conversations. Have the gospel tracts easily accessible in your bag or pocket. If you feel prompted, don’t hesitate to give out a booklet without overthinking it.
- Letter box drops: If you don’t feel confident about approaching strangers, you can drop tracts in letterboxes or leave them conveniently at front doors.
- Strategic places: Leave tracts in public places like toilets, park benches, car doors or windshields, train seats, public buses, and laundromats. Give them to people waiting outside shops or at bus stops with a friendly remark like, “Here’s something to read while you wait.”
- Bulk mail out: Investigate how you can distribute your tracts to large residential areas through bulk mail outs or advertising companies that deliver material to whole suburbs.
- Group distribution: Gather a youth group or bible study group and hand out gospel tracts together in busy areas of the city or town center where there are many people passing by. Each person can stand at crossroads or entry points and place booklets directly into people’s hands as they walk by.
- At church: Leave tracts on your church’s information desk for visitors to pickup or include them as part of a welcome pack for newcomers. Slip them inside church brochures when inviting people to church.
When someone engages with you after receiving a gospel tract, it’s important to respond in a genuine and compassionate manner. Here are some tips:
- Be respectful and listen attentively.
- Avoid arguing or being self-righteous.
- If you don’t have an answer to a question, be honest and say, “I don’t know” or “I don’t understand that myself.” Be willing to find out.
- Offer prayer if someone shares their problems with you. Keep it simple and relevant to their situation.
In my experience, people accept the offer of prayer after they have shared their problems with you. Remember to follow cultural and safety guidelines when sharing personal information or being alone with people of the opposite sex.
Follow up the people you meet
Depending on the circumstances and depth of connection, consider these follow-up options:
- Provide your contact information: Write a short message with your name and telephone number on the back of the gospel tract.
- Provide your church’s contact information: Place a sticker on the back with your church’s name, email, telephone number, and address.
- Ask for their telephone number or email: If you’ve built rapport and chatted for a while, it’s okay to ask for their contact details so you can stay in touch.
- Give them your telephone number or email: If you feel comfortable you can offer your contact details as a means of further assistance or answering any questions they may have in the future.
- Suggest meeting for coffee or attending church together: Extend an invitation based on the level of connection established during the conversation. It never hurts to invite!
Now that you have a plan and some tips on how to hand out tracts effectively, go out remembering to relax, be real, and have compassion. Everywhere you go, you are scattering Gospel seeds. Trust that God will continue to work in the lives of those who have received the gospel tracts until the harvest.
… “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” Mark 4:26-29, NIV
Blessings Deb
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