Equipping the Ordinary
How Spread Truth Is Helping Believers Share Extraordinary Hope
By Sheila-Ann Bender
In short: Most Christians long to share their faith but feel hindered by insecurity and inadequacy. For over three decades, Spread Truth has been removing those barriers through mission trips, digital tools, and free resources. Their flagship tool, The Story App, has reached over 7.4 million viewers in 28 languages, with more than 47,700 people responding “yes” to Jesus. From New York City streets to Kenyan classrooms, Spread Truth proves that ordinary believers can share extraordinary hope.
Whether they acknowledge it or not, people in every corner of the world are searching for a hope and a peace that will endure forever. Spread Truth is faithfully working to reveal that very hope by equipping Christians to share their faith with confidence and clarity.
Why Do Most Christians Struggle to Share Their Faith?
Most believers long to point others to what they have found in Christ, yet many hold back—hindered by feelings of insecurity and inadequacy. They want to share but don’t know how. They fear saying the wrong thing. They worry about rejection.
For more than three decades, Spread Truth has been helping Christians overcome those barriers through mission trips, digital tools, written resources, and accessible online training. Whether someone feels called to reach children, youth, or adults, practical tools are available to help every believer confidently engage their unique audience.
How Does Spread Truth Make Evangelism Accessible?
At the heart of this mission is a commitment to accessibility. Many of Spread Truth’s resources are offered at little to no cost:
The Story App — Available free of charge, along with a full library of Gospel-centered films
Finding Hope in the Dark — An ongoing, completely free film series
The goal is simple but powerful: remove barriers so that anyone, anywhere, can encounter the message of the Gospel.
What Is “The Story”?
The Story was created to make sharing God’s redemptive plan both simple and compelling. Designed for a generation with little or no biblical background, it presents the Gospel through four clear movements:
Creation — God created a perfect world and relationship with humanity
Fall — Sin broke that relationship and brought death
Rescue — Jesus came to save and restore what was lost
Restoration — God is making all things new
What began as a simple booklet has grown into an animated film, a children’s version (The Storymaker), and a globally accessible app.
What Has The Story App Accomplished?
Today, The Story App equips believers to carry a clear Gospel presentation in their pocket. The numbers represent more than data—they represent lives being transformed by the hope of Christ:
How Did Spread Truth Begin?
Jerry McCorkle, founder and Executive Director of Spread Truth, first felt a burden as a young pastor to equip his church’s college and career group to share the Gospel with confidence. In 1994, that desire led him to take the group to New York City, where they shared their faith in streets and parks across the city.
That initial trip sparked what would become an annual outreach and ultimately laid the foundation for Spread Truth. Since then, teams have returned to New York every year—pausing only once during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why New York City?
Because what happens there often echoes across the nation and the world. It is a place where cultures converge and where faith can be tested and strengthened. As many participants have discovered:
“If you can learn to share your faith in New York, you can do it anywhere!”
There were 119 salvations in last year’s New York City mission trip alone!
How Has Spread Truth Transformed Lives?
Matt Knobloch — From Grief to Purpose
Matt Knobloch has been on staff with Spread Truth for almost twelve years. He shares:
“In 2005, shortly after the loss of our first son, my wife and I went on a Spread Truth mission trip to New York City. That trip became unexpectedly significant for us. In the midst of grief, we experienced how sharing the Gospel with others brought both healing and purpose. It didn’t remove the pain, but it gave it direction, and it anchored us in something bigger than ourselves.”
Matt continues: “What continues to fuel my passion for Spread Truth is what I first experienced in New York: that ordinary believers can be equipped to share the hope of the Gospel in natural, meaningful ways.”
Susan — Evangelism Bootcamp
Another participant, Susan, described the New York trip as “evangelism bootcamp,” saying it reshaped her understanding of who is called to share the Gospel:
“We need to stop thinking that only ‘professional Christians’ should share Christ. Everyone needs to hear about the saving grace of Jesus.”
How Is Spread Truth Reaching the World?
The impact of Spread Truth extends far beyond the United States. In 2017, Kenyan pastor Hamisi Kirenga joined a New York outreach and returned home inspired to replicate the model. With the support of his senior pastor, Spread Truth Africa was launched in 2018.
Since its conception, there have been 10,304 salvations in Kenya. The ministry has developed culturally relevant outreach tools, including a curriculum designed to reach at-risk girls. One of the most popular tools is a booklet entitled “What is a Little Girl Worth?”
According to Lydia Scheps, Communications and Marketing Director for Spread Truth:
“The booklet is very specific to their culture and teaches girls how God values them as image bearers and made their bodies good, all in comparison to a culture of FGM (female genital mutilation). The curriculum was born out of a unique inroad the Kenyan team has to girls who have suffered FGM or have escaped it and is an incredible opportunity to share the Gospel. Since FGM is outlawed in Kenya, the government supports this curriculum and allows Spread Truth Africa to use it in public schools.”
Impact in Russia
Meanwhile, there are 32 translations currently available of The Story film. It is helping carry the Gospel into new regions and languages. One ministry leader in Russia shared:
“Hundreds of people have come to Christ through these tools… The Story film gives us a clear, compelling way to share the Gospel in a way that truly connects.”
From city streets to classrooms across the globe, Spread Truth is proving that when believers are equipped, the Gospel moves forward with clarity and power.
Key Takeaways
Ordinary Believers Can Share Extraordinary Hope
Evangelism is not reserved for “professional Christians.” When equipped with simple, clear tools, any believer can confidently share the Gospel with their friends, family, and community.
Accessibility Removes Barriers
By offering free apps, films, and resources, Spread Truth ensures that cost never prevents someone from being equipped to share their faith—or from hearing the Gospel message.
Sharing the Gospel Brings Healing
As Matt Knobloch discovered during grief, outward-focused mission provides purpose and anchors believers in something bigger than themselves. Evangelism heals the evangelist.
Cultural Relevance Multiplies Impact
Spread Truth Africa demonstrates how adapting tools to local contexts—like addressing FGM in Kenya—opens doors that generic approaches cannot. The Gospel message remains unchanged; the delivery adapts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Spread Truth?
Spread Truth is a ministry founded in 1994 that equips Christians to share their faith through mission trips, digital tools, written resources, and online training. Their flagship resource, The Story App, presents the Gospel in 28 languages and has reached over 7.4 million viewers.
What is The Story App?
The Story App is a free mobile application that equips believers to share the Gospel through a clear four-part framework: Creation, Fall, Rescue, and Restoration. It includes an animated film and is available in 28 languages.
How can I join a Spread Truth mission trip?
Spread Truth offers annual mission trips to New York City and Kenya. These trips provide hands-on evangelism training where participants learn to share their faith in real-world settings. Visit spreadtruth.com for upcoming trip dates and registration.
What is Spread Truth Africa?
Spread Truth Africa was launched in 2018 by Kenyan pastor Hamisi Kirenga after he participated in a New York City outreach. The ministry develops culturally relevant evangelism tools, including curriculum used in Kenyan public schools to reach at-risk girls affected by FGM.
Are Spread Truth resources really free?
Yes. The Story App, Gospel-centered films, and the Finding Hope in the Dark film series are all available at no cost. Spread Truth is committed to removing financial barriers so anyone can access and share the Gospel.
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Ready to share your faith with confidence? Download The Story App for free and carry a clear Gospel presentation in your pocket. Visit spreadtruth.com to explore mission trip opportunities, training resources, and free films.
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About the Author
Sheila-Ann Bender is a writer and ministry contributor who documents stories of faith and transformation. She specializes in sharing testimonies of God’s work through organizations equipping believers to share the Gospel.
About Spread Truth
Spread Truth was founded in 1994 by Jerry McCorkle to equip Christians to share their faith with confidence and clarity. Through mission trips to New York City and Kenya, The Story App, free films, and online training, the ministry has reached millions worldwide. Spread Truth Africa, launched in 2018, extends this mission with culturally relevant tools across the African continent. Learn more at spreadtruth.com.
