No.  We've had this problem before, with former students wanting to go so they could buy new shoes and clothes, and we've had to set them straight.  The Torch is not a bus service; use SEPTA or a friend for that.  We have no problem with the team members making minor purchases while making their rounds in ministry, but we are there to reach the mall rats [and whomever else God directs us to reach] first and foremost.  If we notice a trend of you only going into stores to buy stuff, we will have a talk with you, and you will need to find another means to shop.
 

So what do you then?

We try to share Christ's love with the people at the mall, in particular the "mall rats," who spend every Friday night hanging out there for lack of anything better to do.  We engage them in conversation, listening to what's going on in their lives, offering our love, support, and encouragement.  We try to model Christ to them, and share His Truth with them as the opportunity presents itself.
 

So in Mall Ministry, can you just take your Bible and some tracts, walk up to kids at the mall, and ask them if they are saved?

"Bible thumping" or "scourge evangelism" is a bad idea at the mall, and if we catch you doing it, we will have words.  You see, the mall is privately-owned, and thus open evangelism can be grounds for being banned from the mall.  Since The Torch has been going to the K.O.P. Mall for years, and we've been slowly gaining the kids' trust and ears, getting us banned would not make us happy.

The Torch believes in friendship / lifestyle evangelism.  We cultivate friendships with the kids, a process that can take months or years.  We do not go with the mindset of, "Let's befriend them so we can get them saved and add to our heavenly head count."  We pray regularly that these kids may come to know Christ because of the example we set for them, but we also realize that we may only be seed-planters or waterers, and God may send another to see the harvest's completion.

This is not to say you can never crack open a Bible on them, or hand them tracts, but this should only happen in the course of a conversation that's leading into spiritual matters, or if you're absolutely positive that the Holy Ghost is prompting you to share something with them.  Aside from the risk of you and/or the team getting banished from the mall, indiscriminately wielding your Bible [read "Bible-thumping"] may also turn the kids further away.  A lot of them have issues with people condemning them already; we need to show them that someone does in fact love them and care for them.  In the process, we endeavor to show them the One who loved them enough to die for them.

I would also like to note that if you're attempting to form another ministry team for mall outreach, that we would appreciate it if you target another mall.  Especially if you're being more confrontational in your witnessing.  We have a lot invested in this ministry, and would prefer not to have it undone in short order by some heavy-handed evangelism.
 

But why "mall rats"?  Aren't they Satanists or something?  I mean, just look at how they dress, or listen to what they're listening to, or...

Yes, some of them may consider themselves Satanists.  But just because they're sporting green hair, tatoos, piercings, and a Slipknot t-shirt, that doesn't mean they're devil worshippers.

The long-time members of this ministry have had our hearts broken because of these kids.  When you take the time to learn why they dress or act the way they do, or why they listen to such bleak music, you will often find serious pain inside them.  They may have been neglected, or worse, abused, by their parents and family.  They may have been repeatedly told that they're worthless, and that they will never amount to anything.  For whatever reasons, they look for answers and comfort in whatever ways they think might help.  It's painful to see them drunk or strung-out on drugs, freely engaging in sex, subscribing to alternate philosophies and religions, or any other "unacceptable Christian behavior", but we realize that they will never find peace and healing until they meet the God of Peace, the Great Healer.

They tend to have a variety of different philosophies of life and religion.  A lot of them are still in the process of forming their theology.  Hence, they are exploring all different kinds of religions.  For this reason, we consider these teens prime targets for evangelism.  They are obviously hungry for God, some of them just don’t know it yet.  Some of them are into Wicca, Mormonism, Judaism, and the New Age.  Some of them are Christians, or at least were raised that way.  And a few of them are atheists.  It is possible there may be a few Satanists in the crowd.  What I wonder is, what kind of Satanism are you referring to?  What kind of Occult?  Point is, a lot of these kids are Pagans, some are Heathens, and some do not know what they are.  But I can guarantee, they can give you some good reasons why they are not Christians.  Do you have a solid enough faith to listen to them and earn the right to be heard?  Do you have the right spiritual, Biblical, intellectual, and scientific foundation to try to change their minds?
 

Aren’t you afraid of falling into sin, talking to kids like that?

No.  Not really.

There is a certain kind of heart required to do this kind of ministry.  You have to know that you have the truth and you have to know why.  And then you have to love the kids more than yourself, so you are willing to risk anything to give it away. 

Aside from that, we have the Tuesday night meeting as a prayer meeting, Bible Study, and team meeting to help keep students accountable so that they do not lose their faith.  One thing we stress is unity.  You do not want to do this alone.  If this ministry makes you struggle in your faith, you may want to consider the strength of your foundation, and what steps you need to take to repair it.
 

Before you do a ministry like that, shouldn’t you, you know… pray first?

We think so too, and consequently, prayer is a key part of the ministry.

We hold prayer/ Bible study/ accountability meetings on Tuesday nights.  We eoncourage and pray for each other throughout the week.  On Friday nights, we have an intercessory prayer team backing us up as we minister to the kids.

Prayer, both individual and corporate, is vital to a healthy spiritual life.  So are devotions.  You need to be studying God's Word, seeking Him in prayer, so that you may know His will, and become a better instrument in His hands, as you draw closer to Him and reach out to the lost.
 

You should be back around ten then, since the mall closes around nine thirty?

No, closer to twelve.

We go to Denny’s afterwards and continue to interact with teens until eleven thirty or so.  Unless God is really doing something awesome, we tend to leave Denny’s between 11:00 and 11:30 PM.
 

Do I have to pay for my food at Denny’s?

Yes.  Good question.  Valid question… But the answer is still “yes”. 

I know how poor college students are, and I know how good the food at the KOP Denny’s is.  But we do not have a fund set aside for paying the bill every week.  So what you order and eat is what you are responsible to pay for.  It is the price of ministry.  That’s the breaks.  Sorry.
 

Are you trying to form some kind of secret club or cult?

No.

While the ministry needs to be clandestine in order to continue operating at the mall, we are by no means a secret club or cult.  We recognize our place in the body of Christ, and we function accordingly.  A lot of these kids believe in falsehoods or distorted ideas already, and we want them to know the Truth.  We can't preach Truth if we don't believe in and practice Truth ourselves.

We also realize that the kids will be turned off if they realize we are a ministry.  Consequently, we don't make mention of that, and we'd ask that you not mention that either.  We genuinely love those kids, and we'd rather not have them thinking we're only there to gain points for heaven.  We want to love the kids and see them delivered from bondage, so if the word “ministry” turns them off, we won't use it.

We're a very tight-knit group of friends, but we're not exclusive.  No membership rituals or anything required to be a prt of our team.  Besides, the only juice we're offering is the grape juice that would be part of communion.  No cyanide Kool-Aid here...  :)
 

OK, I'm sold.  When and where do you meet?

We have the prayer / Bible study / accountability meeting on Tuesdays at Thor's & Angel's apartment [32/114], starting at 9:30 PM.  On Friday nights, at 6 PM, we meet at the same location, where we pray a bit more before heading out [usually by 7].  Obviously, once the mall closes [9:30], we go to Denny's for further ministry, returning to campus around midnight.

Please note that you need to attend the accountability meeting each week in order to go out.  Only rarely will we allow someone to go out if they didn't attend the Tuesday meeting, and even then, that only applies to the veterans of the team.