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Go Stand Speak

You should get out more!

GO STAND SPEAK
The forgotten power of the public proclamation of the gospel
The Apologetics Group & Go Stand Speak Ministries
USD 14.99 from http://www.gostandspeak.com

This well-presented DVD sets out to prove graphically and passionately that the ever-swinging evangelistic pendulum has swung too far the other way, so that even good, earnest believers are now shrinking back from the proclamation of the gospel in evangelism for fear that their efforts might be thought too ‘in your face’.

The explanation of how we have reached this point is clearly set out in gripping documentary style and contains clips of a host of respected pastors, evangelists, theologians and historians.

We are shown convincingly just how the spirit of our age has eroded our faith in the power of the Spirit and the Word and has pressured us to believe that ‘friendship evangelism’ is the only way to reach today’s generation, concluding that 21st-century sinners are a different breed to those of the previous two millennia and need a different approach.

This is an excellent tool for those who are feeling convicted of the need to re-examine the time-honoured means God has used to communicate his Word as demonstrated in the Bible and throughout church history, and are sensing the Spirit’s ‘tug’ to be involved in a more proclamation-focused kind of evangelism. But, sadly (and I really wanted this DVD to work!), I found it unsuitable for the vast multitude of sceptics who are the real targets of this production.

Why? 1. Far too long (two hours) 2. Not focused enough. We were taken down too many rabbit warrens, the most serious being to confuse protesting with proclaiming. (Christians must protest against abortion, but must not think that that is preaching the gospel.) 3. Bad examples of current open-air preaching. As one who seeks to engage in open-air work, I was disappointed that some of the clips showing men engaged in this ministry would only serve to confirm the view many hold that open-air work today is ineffective and belongs to a bygone age. (Notable exceptions were the USA’s Ray Comfort and Manchester’s Kevin Williams, who were actually connecting with their hearers.)

Providing much-needed counsel on the manner that open-air preachers are to exhibit are Pastors Al Martin (the importance of modulating the voice) and David Legg (on imitating the gracious manner so evident in our Saviour’s ministry).

This DVD covers such an important and timely issue and contains so much excellent material that it would well be worth purchasing in order to show selected clips.

Mike Mellor,
Hope Church Ferndown, Bournemouth