Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Street Preacher Community,
The year is 2024, and to say that we are at a crossroads is an understatement. We have to think deeply about how to move ahead in this changing world. In addition, there are divides in our community which threaten the movement from within, and we must fix them.
This manifesto is about ensuring that the movement survives in the modern world. It is also about how we heal the divides that have severely impeded the street preacher community.
Although this manifesto is being written in 2024, the truth is that this was conceived of at the 2023 SOAPA conference by anonymous street preachers gravely concerned about the movement’s present and future. And indeed, much of it goes back even further, to conversations we have had over the years behind closed doors with other street preachers. Most street preachers we have spoken with agree that change is necessary, and the division must stop if we want the movement to be the best it can be. But they are afraid to speak out.
To tell you the truth, we’re afraid too, and that’s why we have chosen to remain anonymous. If the reasons aren’t clear yet, they will become clear very soon.
As street preachers, we have accomplished the impossible again and again, day in and day out. There are too many achievements to list them all. But the lion’s share of credit goes to one man: Ruben Israel. Ask anyone within the street preacher community and you will find that most agree. Ruben has graciously left us the blueprint for effective street preaching, and we should use it. Unfortunately, since Ruben’s death, some street preachers have instead proclaimed his accomplishments as their own. But this manifesto isn’t about them.
We are even more concerned that many within the community are continuing to use Ruben’s exact tactics under the assumption that they will continue to work in our ever-changing world. This is not so, and Ruben himself knew it. In truth, street preaching must be more than shouting at crowds of sinners that they are doomed to Hell for eternity. It must be more than yelling slurs at groups of LGBTQ people.
We must face the fact that LGBTQ people are becoming more and more accepted in society. If we want to continue to have an impact, we have to meet people where they are. We cannot count on people coming to Christ with anger. We must approach with a sense of compassion and concern. This is how conversion happens. Ruben was masterful at this, but some have conveniently forgotten.
Some street preachers are so hyper-focused on saying nasty things about LGBTQ people that they forget about the various other important issues. Have we forgotten about the abomination that is abortion? Is a drag queen reading stories to children really worse than murdering an innocent baby? We do not think so. And yet, some within the movement apparently need to be reminded.
Some insist on continuing to use the same methods that no longer work, and we should be suspicious of their true motives. Do they really want to see an effective street preacher movement, or are they just seeking personal gain?
Troublingly, many within the community waste countless hours rebuking those within our very own movement for minor differences in opinion on what The Bible says. They demand that other street preachers follow their lead and do as they say. They bully supporters into donating to them while they engage in railing against dozens of our brothers and sisters, many of whom are doing impactful work for free. This needless division — which again seems to be driven by a desire for personal gain rather than the best interest of the movement — has to stop.
Our main points can be distilled into the following:
We must get back to our roots and learn the real lessons graciously gifted to us by Brother Ruben Israel.
We must think critically about how to most effectively preach to the LGBTQ community, because the current approach is simply not working.
We must rebuke ALL sinners all the time, rather than picking and choosing what to care about based on what will generate the most views, engagement, and donations.
We must stop the railing and back-biting against our own Brothers and Sisters over meaningless differences in Biblical interpretation. Instead, we should focus on what we have in common rather than what sets us apart.
We hope, at the very least, that this manifesto begins a conversation about how to move forward.
Sincerely,
Street Preacher Reformation
This “street preacher manifesto” is a call to Pragmatism. Your methods and tactics should be based on “what works,” it says, forgetting that our methods and tactics need to be based on “what’s biblical.” Biblical rebuke doesnt work anymore? I beg to differ. Your methods should be based on whats biblical, not based on what you think works, or what Ruben did, or what society is doing. I wonder if this post was written by a troll.
I’ve seen many homosexuals repent and come to the Lord through my ministry. And I use graphic language and slang words.