EVANGELISTS JOIN PSYCHIC CELEBRATION TO "NUANCE" FAITH TO NEW AGE SEEKERS

THEN, NOVEMBER 1990: An occult fair featuring mediums and astrologers prompted an unusual response from local Christians. Instead of demonstrating outside to warn visitors of the dangers of the supernatural, they went inside to hire a booth at the International ESP Psychic Expo in Montreal, Canada.

Sited next to a man reading people's futures from chicken bones, they distributed around 5,000 specially produced tracts explaining Jesus to be "The Mystery of God Revealed". Four visitors became Christians through conversations with members of the group, organized by Youth With A Mission in collaboration with others in the city.

"Some people who passed our booth expressed surprise about seeing something about Jesus at the exhibition," said YWAM leader Pierre LeBel. "But we had been careful to make sure that we were going there with open attitudes, and without judgmentalism."

The special tract used a passage from Colossians which describes Jesus as "the mystery of God revealed", and was accompanied by invitations to conferences on the New Age being organized by YWAM. Outreach participants also conducted a survey asking visitors their views on spirituality, God and the Bible.

NOW: Recently returned to the twice-yearly event for the 17th consecutive time, LeBel and his volunteers have noticed a drop in the numbers of exhibitors and visitors over the past few years. "I think people are fed up," he commented. "The novelty has gone; there is an emptiness."

LeBel and other church leaders in the city regularly speak in the seminar program, which features sessions on using crystals, clairvoyance and learning how to become a seer. "Sometimes it's a little bit weird, but we are right in the midst of things," said LeBel, who speaks on "Created In God's Image".

He couches Bible truths in terms that will be understood by the audience, using words like "holistic". "If you just use 'Christianese' people simply turn off. We have to be able to nuance our faith and develop a rapport."

Around 20 people have come to Christ over the years through the outreach, which has drawn inquiries from Christians in other countries. Outreach participants follow up inquirers with one-on-one meetings to talk further. "This approach requires a long-term, commitment. There isn't much immediate fruit."

Visitors to the Christian booth often mention about "something being different". Outreach participants feel God's protection at the event, said LeBel. "I don't want to diminish the power of the devil, but at the same time we don't need to fear him and I don't think we should give him as much credit as we sometimes do. We can take our place as Christ leads us."

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