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97 guides, answers, terms and pages

PageKnow JesusThe good news of Jesus explained simply, honest answers to common doubts, and a prayer anyone can pray.
PageStart a Jesus FestivalA prayerful, practical way to begin a Gospel festival in your city, with free tools for your team.
PageThe 13-step festival playbookTimelines, checklists and warnings for every stage of planning a Jesus Festival.
PageAll Jesus FestivalsWhere Jesus Festivals have happened — Hamilton, Niagara and Akuse, Ghana — and what's next.
PagePrayer walk guideA short, practical guide to prayer walking your city.
PageResponse team training cardA printable card for altar call and prayer teams: steps, a simple prayer, safeguarding.
PageAbout the movementThe story, the people behind it, and what Jesus Festival Movement exists to do.
PageGlossaryPlain-language definitions of evangelism and Gospel festival terms.
PageThe networkSister projects across the Thy Kingdom Network.
PageJesus Festival ShopApparel and gear that start conversations about Jesus.
GuideI Just Became A Christian — What Now? Your First 30 Days With JesusJust gave your life to Jesus? Welcome. A warm, simple guide to your first 30 days: what just happened, assurance when doubts come, reading the Bible, praying, finding a church, baptism, telling someone, and what to do when you mess up.
GuideHow To Read The Bible For The First Time: A Simple PlanNever read the Bible before? Where to start (hint: not page one), how the Bible is organised, choosing a translation, a simple daily method, a 30-day starter plan, and what to do when it's confusing.
GuideStreet Evangelism: A Beginner's Guide To Sharing Jesus In PublicA practical, biblical beginner's guide to street evangelism: how to prepare, where to go, conversation starters that actually work, sharing the Gospel simply, staying safe and respectful, handling rejection, and following up.
GuideHow To Run An Evangelism Training Night At Your ChurchMost Christians want to share their faith but don't know how. A practical plan for a single evening that equips your church: the agenda, practising the Gospel and testimonies in pairs, praying for people, going out together, and keeping the momentum.
GuideWhat Is Discipleship? How To Follow Jesus — And Help Others Follow HimWhat discipleship means, how Jesus made disciples, what following Him involves day to day, and a simple, practical way to disciple a new believer — so a decision becomes a lifelong walk with Jesus.
GuideHow To Pray For Someone In Person (Without Making It Weird)A simple, respectful guide to offering prayer and praying with someone face to face: how to ask, how to listen, what to say, praying for healing with care, respecting boundaries, and following up.
GuideHow To Preach The Gospel Outdoors: A Biblical, Practical Guide To Open-Air PreachingOpen-air preaching is as old as the Church. A practical, biblical guide to preaching the Gospel outdoors: what to say, how long, sound and permission, answering hecklers with grace, loving the neighbours, and inviting a response.
GuideHow To Recruit And Train Volunteers For A Church Outreach EventEvery outreach event runs on volunteers. The roles you need, how to recruit through churches, safeguarding and screening, a simple training-night plan, the day-of briefing, and how to care for your team so they come back.
GuideChristmas Outreach Ideas For Churches That Actually Reach PeopleChristmas is the one season most people are open to hearing about Jesus. Practical, low-cost Christmas outreach ideas for churches — carols in public, personal invitations, serving people alone at Christmas — and the January plan most churches forget.
GuideHow To Lead Someone To Christ: A Simple, Biblical GuideA clear, step-by-step guide to the most important conversation there is: praying first, listening, explaining the Gospel simply, inviting a response without pressure, praying together, giving assurance, and the next steps that turn a decision into a disciple.
GuideWhat Is Evangelism? A Simple, Biblical Definition (And How To Start)What evangelism is, what it isn't, why every Christian is called to it, and how to start this week — a clear, biblical answer for anyone who has ever felt unsure, unqualified or afraid.
GuideHow To Plan An Outdoor Worship Night In Your CityAn outdoor worship night is one of the simplest ways to lift up Jesus in public — and a great first step toward a full festival. Venue and permission, sound, the program, prayer and the Gospel, weather, safety, and the follow-up after.
GuideWhat Is Revival? A Biblical Look At Spiritual AwakeningWhat revival is, what it isn't, what Scripture and history show about it, the marks of a genuine move of God, and how ordinary believers can pray and prepare for revival in their own city.
GuideGospel Tracts: Do They Still Work? How To Use Them WellAn honest, practical guide to Gospel tracts today: when they help and when they don't, how to choose a good one, how to hand them out graciously, digital tracts and QR codes, and the mistakes to avoid.
GuideHow To Give An Altar Call At An Outdoor Event — And Care For Everyone Who RespondsA biblical, practical guide to the Gospel invitation at a festival or outreach: preaching for a response, inviting without pressure, training a response team, praying for healing with care, connect cards and consent, and what happens in the first 48 hours.
GuideHow To Plan Baptisms At An Outdoor FestivalA practical, biblical guide to public baptisms at an outreach event: permission, the tank, water and safety, who baptizes, preparing each person, the day-of flow, and following up so a baptism becomes a beginning.
GuideThe Harvest Is Real: Kingdom Impact From Hamilton To The Nations70+ people gave their lives to Jesus and 50+ were baptized at Jesus Festival Hamilton 2026. Here is the fruit behind it — twelve years of street evangelism, Love on The World, SIX33 — and how you can partner with Daniel and Katie Ziedins through e3 Canada to plunder hell and populate heaven.
GuidePlunder Hell, Populate Heaven: An Invitation To PartnerDaniel and Katie Ziedins have spent twelve years taking the Gospel to the streets of Hamilton and beyond. Now they serve with e3 Canada and I Am Second, and the vision is bigger than ever. Here is what it is, why it matters eternally, and how you can stand with it.
GuideChurch Outreach Ideas That Actually Reach PeopleEleven church outreach ideas arranged by how much they ask of you — this week, this season, this year — with why each one works, how it usually goes wrong, and the follow-up step most lists leave out.
GuideHow To Share Your Testimony In Three MinutesA simple, honest structure for telling your story of coming to Jesus — before, the turning point, and after — in about three minutes, without preaching, exaggerating or making it about you.
GuideThe First 48 Hours: How To Follow Up With A New BelieverSomeone said yes to Jesus at your event. What you do in the next two days matters more than everything you spent nine months planning. A practical, honest guide to follow-up that actually keeps people.
GuideHow To Pray For Your City (Without Running Out Of Words)Every festival we've ever held started with someone praying for their city by name. Here's a simple, sustainable way to do it — including what to pray when you don't know what to say.
GuideWhat Actually Happens At A Jesus FestivalNever been to one? Here's honestly what a day looks like — what to expect, what's expected of you, and why people who came sceptical stayed all afternoon.
GuideServing Your City When Crisis HitsThe Church should be the first through the door when a community is hurting — not the last to organise. Here's how to be ready before you need to be.
GuideKingdom Work Outside Of SundayIf ministry only counts when it happens on a platform, then most of the Church is benched most of the week. Scripture disagrees.
Guide2.3 Billion: The Great Commission In Numbers — And On Your StreetThe scale of the unreached world can either paralyse you or aim you. Here's how to hold the global number and your own neighbourhood in the same hand.
GuideWhy City-Wide Church Unity Is Worth The EffortGetting churches to work together is slow, awkward and occasionally discouraging. It is also the thing Jesus prayed for — and the thing a watching city notices most.
GuideWhat Happens After The Festival: Turning An Event Into A MovementThe stage comes down on Sunday. Most of the fruit is won or lost in the two weeks that follow. Here's how to build the part nobody photographs.
GuideHow To Share The Gospel With Someone You Already KnowMost people don't meet Jesus through a stranger. They meet Him through someone who already loves them. Here's how to start — without being weird about it.
AnswerWhat is a Jesus Festival?A Jesus Festival is a free, public, outdoor Gospel event that brings churches across a city together for worship, testimonies, clear Gospel preaching, prayer ministry and often baptisms. It is evangelistic rather than internal — designed for people who don't attend church — and aims to leave ongoing outreach behind in the city.
AnswerWho can start a Jesus Festival?Anyone God is calling to it. You do not need to be a pastor, run a large ministry, or have a budget. Most festivals begin with one person praying, a small core team of three to six committed believers, and local church partnership built one conversation at a time.
AnswerIs the Jesus Festival Movement tied to one denomination?No. Jesus Festivals are intentionally interdenominational. Churches partner around the essentials — Jesus Christ crucified and risen, salvation by grace through faith, the authority of Scripture, and the Great Commission — while differing convictions on secondary matters are respected rather than flattened.
AnswerHow do you start a Christian festival in your city?Work through four phases: Foundation (pray, gather a core team, clarify the vision), Preparation (build church unity, secure a location, plan the structure, sort permits), the Festival itself (train evangelism volunteers, promote, host), and the Movement (follow up, plant ongoing outreach, help other cities do the same).
AnswerHow far in advance should you plan an evangelistic event?Plan roughly nine to twelve months ahead for a first city-wide festival. Prayer and core team formation start at 9–12 months, church partnership conversations at 5–8 months, venue at 4–6 months, permits and logistics at 2–4 months, and promotion in the final 6–8 weeks.
AnswerHow much does it cost to run an outdoor Gospel event?Costs vary enormously by scale and country, but the recurring line items are consistent: venue or park fees, municipal permits, public liability insurance, stage and sound hire, power, portable washrooms, first aid, printing and promotion. Many costs can be reduced through donated equipment and church partnership.
AnswerDo you need a permit for an outdoor church event?In most cities, yes. Public parks and streets typically require an event permit, and amplified sound, temporary structures, food service and road closures often need separate approvals. Requirements differ by municipality, so contact your local council directly rather than assuming — and apply earlier than you think you need to.
AnswerHow do you train volunteers to share the Gospel?Train for conversations, not scripts. Teach volunteers to ask genuine questions and listen, to tell their own three-minute story clearly, to answer the question actually asked, and to make small warm invitations. Practise in pairs beforehand, and never send anyone into a conversation alone on the day.
AnswerWhat should you do after an evangelistic event?Contact everyone who responded within 72 hours, personally rather than by newsletter. Record testimonies and decisions while they're fresh, hand people warmly to a named person at a local church rather than a list of websites, then launch a regular ongoing outreach within about six weeks so the momentum has somewhere to go.
AnswerHow do you get churches in a city to work together?Go in person rather than emailing, ask what each church is already doing and offer to serve that, be explicit that you are not recruiting their people, and give partners real ownership rather than a logo on a poster. Start these conversations first, because unity takes longer than logistics.
AnswerWhat is evangelism?Evangelism is sharing the good news of Jesus — that God loves us, that Jesus died for our sins and rose again, and that anyone who turns from sin and trusts Him as Lord is forgiven and made new — and inviting people to respond. It isn't arguing or pressuring. Every Christian is called to it, and it usually starts with people you already know.
AnswerWhat is revival?Revival is a season when God renews the spiritual life of His people by His Spirit — deep repentance, fresh love for Jesus and Scripture, earnest prayer and holy living — which often overflows into many unbelievers coming to faith. It can't be manufactured by events or hype; Scripture's pattern is that it begins with God's people humbling themselves and praying.
AnswerWhat is the Great Commission?The Great Commission is Jesus' instruction to His followers in Matthew 28:18–20 to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey everything He commanded. It is given to the whole Church rather than to a professional class, and it is the mandate behind evangelistic work like Jesus Festivals.
AnswerHow do I become a Christian?Turn from sin, believe that Jesus Christ died for you and rose again, and confess Him as Lord. You can do this in prayer wherever you are — no building, ritual or qualification is required. Then tell another believer, find a local church, read the Gospel of John, and ask about baptism.
AnswerDoes public evangelism still work?Public proclamation works best when it is paired with relationship. Most people come to faith through someone they already know, so the festivals that bear lasting fruit are the ones where believers personally invite friends, family and neighbours — and where trained volunteers follow up afterwards rather than leaving people alone.
AnswerDo I have to be a Christian to come?No. Jesus Festivals are free, public and open to everyone, including people who don't believe, aren't sure, or have never been to a church. You can stand at the back with your arms folded, listen, and leave whenever you like. Nothing is asked of you.
AnswerCan I bring my children to a Jesus Festival?Yes — festivals are planned to be family-friendly, with elements running alongside the main programme so parents can actually stay and listen. They're outdoor events, so bring water, sun protection and something to sit on, and check the specific festival page for that venue's facilities.
AnswerWill I be pressured into anything?No. There is no collection, no sign-up sheet, and no pressure to sing, raise a hand or come forward. If there's an invitation to respond, taking it is entirely your choice — and choosing not to is completely fine. You can leave at any point without anyone stopping you.
AnswerWhat if I can't be there in person?Most festivals are streamed live so you can watch from anywhere. Each festival's page lists the platforms and the start times converted into several time zones. You can also read the Gospel message and pray at any time without waiting for an event.
AnswerDo you need insurance for a church event?Yes — public liability insurance is essential for any public gathering, and most municipalities require proof of it before granting a permit. Check whether your church's existing policy covers off-site events; many don't, and a separate event policy is needed. Never skip this to save money.
AnswerHow many volunteers do you need for an outreach event?It depends on scale, but plan roles rather than headcount: setup and teardown, welcome, sound and stage, prayer ministry, evangelism conversations, kids' activities, first aid, stewarding, parking, and follow-up. Assign a named lead to each, and recruit to fill the roles you've actually defined.
AnswerWhat do you do if it rains on the day?Decide your rain plan before you book anything, and write down who makes the call and by when. Options include a covered stage and marquees, a partner church building on standby, or a pre-announced backup date. Electrical safety around sound and power is the non-negotiable part.
AnswerHow do you promote an event with little or no budget?Personal invitation beats paid advertising for this kind of event. Equip partner churches with ready-made graphics and bulletin text, go door to door in the actual neighbourhood, share testimonies and short video on social media, and hold public prayer gatherings in the lead-up that people can join.
AnswerIsn't public evangelism just pushy?It can be, and when it is, it's wrong. The distinction is between announcing something publicly and coercing someone privately. A festival makes an open invitation in a public space that people are free to walk past, listen to, or ignore — with no pressure, no collection, and no one singled out.
AnswerI'm afraid to share my faith. Where do I start?Start with prayer rather than conversation. Write down the people already around you, pick three, and pray for them daily by name for a month before saying anything evangelistic. When a conversation does open, be interested in them, answer the question actually asked, and make small invitations rather than large ones.
AnswerWhat is baptism, and do I need to be baptized?Baptism is being immersed in water as a public declaration that you have died to your old life and been raised to new life in Jesus. It doesn't save you — faith in Christ does — but Jesus commanded it of His followers, and it's the normal first step of obedience after believing.
AnswerHow do you do baptisms at an outdoor festival?Plan them months ahead: agree with partner churches on who baptizes and how, get written permission from the venue for the tank, water source and drainage, and tell your insurer. On the day, a counsellor talks with every candidate first, anyone under 18 needs a parent or guardian's consent, two people are in the water for every baptism, and a first-aider stays at the tank.
AnswerHow do you give an altar call at an outdoor festival?Preach the Gospel clearly first, then invite people plainly and without pressure, telling them exactly what will happen if they come forward. Have a trained response team from your partner churches waiting at the front or a signed prayer tent: in pairs, wearing lanyards, never alone with a child. They listen, explain the Gospel simply, pray with each person, offer an optional connect card, and a local church follows up within 48 hours.
AnswerHow do you follow up with someone who just gave their life to Jesus?Make contact within 48 hours, as a person rather than an organisation. Ask how they are, answer their actual questions, help them read a first Gospel for themselves, and introduce them face-to-face to one healthy local church. One real relationship beats any automated sequence.
AnswerWhen is Jesus Festival 2027?Dates for Jesus Festival Hamilton 2027 have not been announced yet. The most recent festival ran September 4–5, 2026 at Gage Park in Hamilton, Ontario. The official place to get the 2027 dates first is JesusFestival.ca/2027.
AnswerWhat happened at Jesus Festival Hamilton 2026?Jesus Festival Hamilton 2026 ran September 4–5, 2026 at Gage Park with a record turnout. Early reports published by JesusFestival.ca count 70+ people giving their lives to Jesus, 50+ baptisms in the park, 3,000+ free hot dogs and drinks served, many reported healings and deliverances, and altar calls on both nights.
AnswerHow can I support the work of Jesus Festival Movement?Pray first — for boldness, for the people being reached, and for the outreach groups being raised up. If the Lord prompts you, give: Daniel and Katie Ziedins, who lead the work, are supported through e3 Canada's own secure giving page. And go yourself — learn to share your faith and start where you live.
AnswerWhat are good outreach ideas for a church?The outreach that reaches people is repeatable, relational and has a clear next step. Start with things anyone can do this week — prayer walking, praying by name for the people you already know, learning to share your story — then build something weekly as a small team, and gather across churches once a year. Plan follow-up before any of it.
AnswerCan a small church host a Jesus Festival?Yes. Festivals are built around unity rather than capacity, so a church of thirty that partners with four others is in a far stronger position than a church of three hundred going alone. Start with the size of gathering your combined volunteers can genuinely serve well.
AnswerDo you need a music licence for a worship event?Usually yes, and it is easy to miss. Most churches hold a licence that covers their own premises only — an outdoor or public venue typically needs separate event coverage for performing copyrighted songs, and streaming the event needs its own permission again. Check before you publish a set list.
AnswerWhat do you do if someone tries to disrupt the event?Decide in advance who handles it, and make sure that person is calm rather than senior. Most disruption ends when someone listens instead of arguing. Never let it happen from the stage, never surround the person, and involve venue security or police only when there is a genuine safety concern.
AnswerHow do you fund a Jesus Festival, and should you take an offering?Most festivals are funded by partner churches sharing the cost, plus local businesses and individuals who want to give. Keep the event itself free with no offering taken — the moment a stranger suspects the invitation has a price, the Gospel gets heard as a pitch instead of a gift.
AnswerWhat time of year is best for an outdoor Gospel event?Pick the season with the most reliable weather and the fewest competing local events, then work backwards at least six to nine months. In most temperate climates that means late spring to early autumn; near the tropics, avoid the heaviest rains. Local knowledge beats any general rule.
AnswerHow do you know if an evangelistic event actually worked?Count what you can honestly count — people who came, people who asked to be contacted, people who were connected to a church, people still walking with Jesus six months later. The last number is the only one that really matters, and it is the one almost nobody goes back to measure.
AnswerHow do I share my testimony?Tell it in three parts in about three minutes: what your life was like before, how Jesus became real to you, and what is genuinely different now. Use plain words rather than church language, be honest about what is still hard, ask permission first, and finish by asking about their story.
AnswerWhat if we do all this and nobody responds?Then you have still obeyed, and the Gospel has still been preached in your city — which is the part you were actually asked to do. Response is not the measure of faithfulness. Seed goes into ground you cannot see into, and some of it comes up years after the people who sowed it have stopped watching.
GlossaryAltar callAn invitation, usually at the end of a Gospel message, for people to respond publicly to Jesus — to give their life to Him, come back to Him, or ask for prayer. At an outdoor event it usually means walking to the front or to a prayer tent, where a trained team member meets them.
GlossaryBaptismBeing immersed in water as a public declaration that you have died to your old life and been raised to new life in Jesus. It doesn't save you — faith in Christ does — but Jesus commanded it of His followers as the normal first step of obedience.
GlossaryDiscipleshipFollowing Jesus day by day, and helping others do the same: learning His teaching, obeying it, and growing in a church family. Evangelism is the doorway; discipleship is the house. The Great Commission is to make disciples, not just decisions.
GlossaryEvangelismSharing the good news of Jesus — that God loves us, that Jesus died for our sins and rose again, and that anyone who turns from sin and trusts Him as Lord is forgiven and made new — and inviting people to respond. From the Greek euangelion, meaning good news.
GlossaryFollow-upCaring for people after they respond to the Gospel: a personal contact within days, an invitation to a local church, and one simple first step such as reading the Gospel of John. It is what turns a decision into a disciple.
GlossaryGospelThe good news of Jesus Christ: God loves us; sin separates us from Him; Jesus, God's Son, died in our place and rose again; and anyone who turns from sin and trusts Him as Lord is forgiven and given new life.
GlossaryGospel tractA short printed leaflet, card or link that explains the Gospel so someone can read it in their own time, ideally with a next step such as a website or local church. Most helpful as a companion to a real conversation.
GlossaryGreat CommissionJesus' final instruction to His followers to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey everything He commanded. It applies both to the ends of the earth and to your own street.
GlossaryJesus FestivalA free, public, outdoor Gospel celebration where churches across a city come together for worship, testimonies, clear preaching of the Gospel, prayer, and often baptisms — open to everyone, with no ticket and no collection.
GlossaryOikosThe New Testament word usually translated household. It means your whole relational world — family, friends, workmates and neighbours — the people God has already placed around you, and the people most likely to hear the Gospel from you.
GlossaryOpen-air preachingProclaiming the Gospel in a public outdoor space — a park, a square, a street or a festival stage — to whoever is passing or gathered. Jesus taught crowds outdoors, and the apostles preached in streets and marketplaces.
GlossaryPrayer walkPraying while you walk through a neighbourhood, park or street, noticing people and places and praying for what you see. A simple way to begin loving and serving a city.
GlossaryRepentanceTurning away from sin and toward God — a change of mind and direction, not just regret. In the Bible, repentance and faith in Jesus go together as the response to the Gospel.
GlossaryResponse teamTrained believers, usually from partner churches, who care for people who respond to the Gospel at an event: welcoming them, listening, explaining the Gospel, praying together and offering a next step — always in pairs and with safeguarding in place.
GlossaryRevivalA season when God renews the spiritual life of His people by His Spirit — deep repentance, fresh love for Jesus and Scripture, earnest prayer and holy living — which often overflows into many unbelievers coming to faith.
GlossaryStreet evangelismStarting conversations about Jesus with people in public places — parks, streets, markets — usually as a small team: offering prayer, listening, sharing a personal story and the Gospel, and inviting people to respond without pressure.
GlossaryTestimonyYour own story of what Jesus has done in your life — usually what life was like before, how He became real to you, and what is different now. Nobody can argue with what happened to you.