Gaga Concert Outreach

On 3 December 2012, as 60,000 people flocked to Cape Town stadium, we mobilised a Gaga Concert Outreach team of 35 people who were there to meet the Gaga fans with a friendly smile and a question. "Did you get one of these?" We distributed over 6,000 Gospel leaflets including: "Going Gaga? Here is what to Expect…" , which used some of Gaga's lyrics to springboard into a Gospel message.

Hostile and Positive Reactions

Some were hostile, some swore at our team members and tore up the tracts. But others could be seen sitting and reading the tracts, or standing in groups discussing its content. Some were grateful and thanked us.

The Law of the Lord is Perfect - Converting the Soul

Our outreach team also conducted numerous Music and Your Spiritual Beliefs surveys with concert-goers. The surveys, based on Evangelism Explosion and Way of the Master questions, drew the participants into a Gospel discussion, using the Law of the Lord as the schoolmaster that leads us to Christ. Many Evangelistic discussions ensued.

Compassion for the Crowds

We were reminded of how our Lord had compassion on the crowds, because they were: "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36).

A Challenge for Discipleship

We were concerned that numerous of the people that we spoke to claimed to be Christians, and yet were totally ignorant of how blasphemous and immoral Gaga 's shows are. Many parents, including those who claim to be regular church -goers were bringing small children, dressed up like Gaga to the concert. The ignorance of the Gospel demonstrated by those who claimed to be Christians is indicative of the lack of Biblical Gospel teaching in most churches.

The Need for Discernment

There is plainly a need for discernment in music choices. Many pastors, parents and youth leaders are apparently not warning their youth of the dangers of secular music and discipling them in a consistently Biblical worldview.

The Harvest is Large – The Workers Few

If we ever needed an example of how large the harvest field is, and how few the workers are, this was it. There are thousands of Christian churches in Cape Town, and yet we were the only outreach team there. A mere 35 people attempting to reach 60,000. Considering the enormity of the event, we had expected numerous churches to use the opportunity to reach out in Christian love to their neighbours with the life-giving Gospel of Christ.

The Great Omission

Yet, apparently, they had other priorities that night. We are a Mission, primarily focused on the persecuted Church, Evangelism and Discipleship training across the borders in more needy areas. Yet, here in Cape Town, we regularly find missionary opportunities such as these being ignored by local churches.

"Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights, along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud. "Proverbs 8:1-3