Outreach: Surveys are Conversation Starters

Through the many years of outreach and evangelism, I have used countless methods. Here is just one more of those strategies to get to know people, their interests, their views. I've always been a big proponent of reading your audience well, and approach each encounter as unique, because hey, each person is an unique individual. Good witnessing is good listening! This method focuses on conducting spiritual interest surveys and using them as springboards to launch into potential conversations with the students that you see are willing and wanting to continue on the conversation.

Try some of the best questions yourself, pick and choose, and see where God takes your conversations with those He has prepared to put into your path!!

BEGINNING OF THE YEAR SURVEY:

Your major?

Where do you live?

What are you looking most forward to about this school year?

If you could make one thing better about your school what would it be?

Do you play any sports?

Did you go to church growing up?

Have you gone to church while in college? (If yes for going to church growing up, and no for going to church while in college, ask why have you stopped attending church)

Do you plan on going to church this year?

Are you uncomfortable if the name of Jesus is brought into a conversation? (Why?) How about others, do you think they are uncomfortable if the name of Jesus is brought in a conversation?

How open do you think your fellow college students are in talking about God? Why do you think that is? Do you wish it was easier to talk about God with others?

If you wanted to start a spiritual conversation with a person, how would you go about doing it?

What is your understanding of who Jesus was?

Have you ever read the Bible?

Do you know what the Bible teaches about who Jesus was? If yes, what does the Bible teach about him?

Would you be interested in checking out a Christian group on campus?

Would you be interested in checking out a Christian discussion group?

Are you interested in learning more about Jesus?



GENERIC SURVEY QUESTIONS:

How open do you think people are nowadays to talking about God? And why do you think that is?

Do you think most people feel distant or close to God? How about you, do you feel distant or close to God? (Do you desire to grow closer to God? If yes, what are the steps you are taking to do this?)

If you were to ask God one question what would it be?

If you wanted to start a spiritual conversation with someone, how would you go about doing it?

Have you ever read or heard a lecture about Jesus in any of your classes? If yes, what are your impressions of him, and what were some other classmates perception of Jesus?

What is your understanding of who Jesus was?

Do you think that there is life after death? And why do you believe your position, what reasons is it based upon, what worldview do you work off of, and why?


VALENTINE'S DAY QUESTIONNAIRE

What is the best/greatest way to show someone that you love them?

Do you feel loved?

What makes you love someone?

What the difference between loving someone and being in love with someone?

Do you feel that most married couples today genuinely love each other?

What is the kind of love that is most displayed by our culture?

Do you think our society’s concept of love has become misconstrued?

Who or what shapes your concept of love? I.e. society, parents, religious background

How have you shown someone love today?

Do you think that Jesus’ death on the cross was an expression of God’s love towards mankind?

If someone would come up to you and say that Jesus loves you, how would you respond?