Traveling Salvation Show

by Tom Gilbert
Published December 31, 2004

"Preach the gospel always; when necessary, use words."
St. Francis of Assisi

“So pack up the babies and grab the old ladies and everyone goes” from Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show by Neil Diamond

Back in the day preachers would travel to towns, set up a big tent and hold a revival. Some of these would last for days and people would come from miles around. Often the Spirit moved. Unfortunately, hucksters and manipulators also used this method and hoodwinked believers with sleight of hand and false healings. The movies “Elmer Gantry” and “Leap of Faith”, showed the dark side of these traveling ministry shows.

Despite the false faith healers, it’s not unusual for evangelists to travel to cities and preach in stadiums for multiple days. These crusades can reach many thousands in a week and the hope is that the Gospel message will open their ears and their hearts to God’s love and the message of redemption through Jesus.

Today’s high-tech presentations are not much different from elaborate concert tours. Truckloads of sound and lighting equipment, music and multimedia presentations are recipe for extravaganza.

This approach was pioneered by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Crusades which continue to this day. Rev. Graham is the most widely known evangelist in the world and has reportedly delivered the Gospel message to live audiences reaching over 210 million people. Ironically, he made his personal commitment to Christ as a result of a traveling ministry revival led by Mordecai Ham when Graham was just 16.

Many others have followed this well-worn path. Louis Palau and Greg Laurie are prominent examples of large-scale traveling festivals. Millions flock to huge outdoor masses whenever Pope John Paul II visits a country.

A different approach has been taken by The Call and One Day events. These gatherings have attracted thousands, mostly young people. They come together for intense worship that focuses on the collected crowd and the individuals who comprise them, instead of a specific spokesman.

How effective is preaching the Gospel through such methods?

I’m sure we can all recall a time when someone was preaching and it completely turned us off. Maybe you were tired and bored in church or you were channel surfing and happened on an outrageous televangelist. More than once outside a rock concert I’ve been accosted by a red-faced street preacher telling me and everyone else in earshot that we must repent or burn in the eternal fires of hell.

Not the best way to carry the message.

True effective outreach needs to be discussed, debated and critiqued. We’d be remiss to ignore Jesus’ last instructions to go to make disciples of all nations by spreading the Good News and baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20). How we go about that makes all the difference. We are to be known by our fruits, the greatest of these being our love. Beating people over the head with a Bible or force-feeding the Message is not going to be effective.

If you catch fire and find it difficult to contain your enthusiasm you need to be led in to conveying that passion in a relevant and attractive way. Alcoholics Anonymous has practiced this for years, stating in one of their twelve traditions the importance of attraction, rather than promotion. God knows there are overwhelming numbers of suffering alcoholics who need the AA program, but it’s useless to think it will work if they don’t want it. Christianity is no different.

Before you dismiss this article let me go on record as being in favor of the Message being heard. If that means bringing it to the unwashed masses in the form of events, crusades, concerts, tent revivals, altar calls and performance art I say “bring it on”. As long as we consider who we are approaching, how we present the Gospel and what sort of follow up mechanism is in place for those ready to make a decision for Christ. Not everyone reacts the same way and we need to come to grips with that. Just as each of us has a favorite way to learn (audio, written, visual, touch, smell, show-don’t-tell or quiet study), it’s high time we acknowledge that everyone endowed with God’s gift of free will has the right to come to Him at his or her own speed. Conversion with depth is infinitely preferable to an emotional reaction.

On the Road Again

Some people like to combine travel and ministry. They use their special gifts of teaching, speaking or healing wherever they go. They are good disciples, going about their daily walk and spreading the message of love and redemption in an unassuming and joyful way. Read Mark 6:7-13. How interesting to put that together with the command to preach the Gospel to the world. Jesus sent his disciples out two-by-two with no food, money or hotel reservations. It was a test, a rite of passage and initiation into faith.

I’ve had this fantasy for years of someday being able to drive around the United States in an RV, taking the back roads and sight seeing. My wife doesn’t share this fantasy, but that’s another story. It’s just that I’ve always kind of enjoyed driving and visiting new places. Now, if I indulged this fantasy would I also make it a trip of faith and for faith?

Vagabonding.com is a website detailing the adventures of a young man traveling the world. He doesn't appear to be a missionary, but who knows? Maybe his message is subtle.

Aside from the high-profile of the big crusades, there are those quietly laboring in the vineyard by traveling the highways and byways and connecting on a more personal level. Truckers on the road, musicians on tour and young people on a quest: all of these travelers are witnessing to the power of God’s redemptive message by living it more than preaching it. They take to heart the gospel message to freely pass on to others what they have been given, each in his own way with the gifts God has blessed them with.

What do you think? Are you carrying a message? Is there something about the way you live your faith that is attractive to others? I ask these questions as much for myself as for you.

Below are further resources. We don’t specifically recommend or endorse any particular one. They are listed as examples and to get you considering more about this method of ministry:

Truckers for Christ
Truckers’ Christian Chapel Ministries
Friends General Conference Traveling Ministries
Ministry of Helps International
The Traveling Team
REACH Youth Ministry
Festival Con Dios

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