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Religious Stuff

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Religious Stuff

Ministry Update August 7, 2023

Praise God that Michael and Anand witnessed downtown last Friday night. Here’s the update Michael provided: “Anand and I walked around and attempted to pray for and talk to a few people in the square and gave out tracts. We walked down our normal way after that and continued handing out tracts.

There was one family that came out of a place that I think was an art studio. It was a man and woman with a maybe 10-12 year old girl. I don’t know if they were parents or grandparents, but the man refused a tract and the girl asked “what is it?” And I said “it’s a gospel tract”. She said “what’s that?”, I said something like “it talks about Jesus”. The man said “it’s religious stuff” and the woman told her “just take one” so she took one. After that Anand and I prayed for the girl, that God would save her and her family. I think it’d be good for us to continue to pray for her.” Yes, we pray that God will save the little girl, her family and the others that received tracts Friday night.

(These updates are provided to encourage Christians to share their faith in Jesus with others)

Righteous Indignation

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Righteous Indignation

I think it was around 7 or 8 years ago that I was witnessing downtown in Springfield, MO and I was pleading with unrepentant sinners to repent of their sins and turn to Christ and live. About that time, a young man walking away from me and across the street, turned around and made an obscene gesture and started gyrating like he was having sex and yelled, “This is my god!” To the day I die, I believe that it was truly righteous indignation that filled me at that moment. I fully believe this.

So, I stopped my message and replied to the young man that his god can’t save him. That he’s sowing the wind, but will reap the whirlwind and I kept going on quoting various Bible verses to him. But admittedly, my tone wasn’t the best. In fact, I was angry with the young man. I was filled with righteous indignation and I was sharing truth with him, but not in a Christ-like manner. You’ll never guess what happened next. My boss happened to drive by at that exact moment. He and his wife had eaten dinner at a downtown restaurant and they were driving down the street at the exact moment.

My Boss Only Saw My Reaction

On Monday, my boss told me that he saw me open-air preaching downtown Friday night. To which I replied, “Oh really.” He said yes, and boy you were really letting somebody have it. I told my boss what the young man said and did and my boss said he understood why it upset me. But he pointed out that he didn’t see or hear the young man. All he saw and heard was me yelling at the young man. I have to admit, it was a great lesson for me.

Yes, I was filled with righteous indignation over what the young man said and did. But my tone was not Christ-like at all. It was also a good lesson in the fact that others don’t always see the whole picture. They may only see part of it. Kind of like when a ref sees the second player retaliate during a game, but misses the first offender. Do I always respond with kindness and gentleness to mockers? Sadly, not always. But I do always pray that I won’t return evil for evil or reviling for reviling while I’m out street witnessing (1 Peter 3:9). Just sharing my experience with other evangelists so hopefully you won’t make the same mistake that I made.

Street Witnessing Downtown Springfield MO July 28 2023

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Street Witnessing – Downtown Springfield, MO – 7/28/23

Brad with Repent and Turn Ministries joined Michael, Anand and three of Anand’s girls downtown Friday night to witness and he gave this report of their night. We met up at the regular place.  We prayed together, then started off.  There is still road and sidewalk construction going on.  We started walking up both sides of the street towards the Square, passing out gospel tracts to those who would take them. We walked down another street on the sidewalk, continuing to pass out tracts to people along the way.  Some would take the gospel tracts and others would not.  Anand’s girls were great, handing out a tract to someone and saying, “Would you like a gospel tract?”  Sometimes people would say yes and other times they would say no.  It didn’t seem to bother them when they were told no, they would move on to the next person.  We can take a lesson from them.

When we got back to the Square area, Michael and I walked in to see what was going on. They had bongo type drums that were being played, and a person or two were out there playing with fire, swinging it around on ropes and/or sticks.  People were sitting around listening to the drumming and chatting. Michael and I started walking up to people.  I would say hello and let them know that we were out asking if we can pray for them or for someone they know that is having a hard time, etc.

The first couple we came up to was Diamond and Blue.  Diamond was 3 months pregnant and had Eczema.  It was getting inflamed and itched.  We prayed for her eczema and her baby.  We handed them gospel tracts and they thanked us. Then there was a lady named Carol.  She asked if we could pray for her to find a house, as she didn’t have a place to live right now.  We did pray for this.  She said she goes to Freeway Church.  We gave her a gospel tract.

We walked up to these two guys, who said they were both named Jay.  When asked if there was anything to pray with them about, they said no.  I asked if there was anyone else we could pray for, Jay said we could pray for his dad. He didn’t give any details, but said, “God knows”.  We handed them gospel tracts, we fist bumped and they thanked us. We walked away from them and stood talking and looking around.  There were two guys behind us, sitting down on the steps.  He spoke up and told us hello. He started the conversation, so we walked over and I sat next to Neill, and his buddy was named Joshua.

After a bit, I asked if we can pray for them.  Neill said we can pray for him, as he currently has bladder cancer and other cancer and is undergoing treatment.  We prayed for him.  Afterwards, Michael started talking with them and shared a little about his life and told them part of his testimony.  They seemed glad to hear it and talked like they believed in God, but struggle and said it’s tough.  Michael gave them gospel tracts.

We met back up with Anand and the kids and walked around some more and passed out some tracts.  We then went to the cars and headed home. We didn’t verbally share the gospel much tonight, but we did pass out gospel tracts and had caring conversations with people and prayed for them.  This is sharing the love of Jesus with them.

Brad with Repent and Turn Ministries

(These updates are provided to encourage Christians to share the Gospel with others)

 

That’s Not How You Reach People

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That’s Not How You Reach People

If you are an open-air preacher or street evangelist and you’ve been witnessing for any length of time, then you know “professing Christians” (also known as false converts) are some of the most discouraging people you encounter on the streets. Professing Atheists, God-haters and mockers you can handle. You expect them. In fact, nothing draws a bigger crowd than a good mocker when you are having a good exchange or interaction with them. But professing Christians are the absolute worst. They can discourage you and they do so much more harm than good. But I’m here to encourage you; don’t let them get you down. They tell you things like “That’s not how you reach people” or “You are pushing people further away from God” and other such comments. They also typically run around telling others “Don’t listen to him.”

Actually, the line pushing people further away from God is my favorite put down. How can you push someone further away from God? What does it take to die in your sins and go to Hell? Absolutely nothing. Just keep trucking down the path you are on. If you are alive and breathing, you have sinned. All of us have sinned in our thoughts, words and actions. Every single one of us, for all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). Unrepentant sinners are already Hell-bound. There is absolutely nothing that we can do to make an unrepentant sinner more lost than they already are.

Don’t Let Professing Christians Discourage You

But if you are like me, even though you know that we shouldn’t let professing Christians discourage us, it’s hard not to do. Every single time I’ve gone home after witnessing thinking about the professing Christian’s criticism and prayed about it, God has convicted me to keep preaching! Every single time. Why do we open-air preach (or do street evangelism)? Because the Old Testament prophets were street preachers. John the Baptist was an open-air preacher. The apostle Paul was one too. Even, Jesus preached out in the open and did so many times. More importantly, Jesus told us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15).

So keep your chin up, keep sharing the glorious Gospel and next time you run into a discouraging professing Christian, please remember that they are just as lost as the most hardened and hard-hearted Atheist. They need the Gospel just as much as any other lost person. Also remember that when they erroneously try to compare your open-air preaching to praying on a street corner to be seen by men that Jesus said, “What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops” (Matthew 10:27). As the apostle Paul said, “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22). Don’t let professing Christians discourage you in the least bit. Keep proclaiming our Lord and Savior out on the streets, highways and byways. Keep witnessing!

Homeless Woman And Houseless Man

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A Homeless Woman And A Houseless Man

I still can’t go out witnessing due to health issues, but I thank and praise God that some of my friends went out Friday night. Joshua, Lydia and Michael went witnessing downtown and they talked to a homeless woman and a houseless man. I must admit that I hadn’t heard the term houseless instead of homeless, so I googled it and found a video from a homeless “expert” that said it’s some of the homeless themselves that make the distinction. Their reasoning is that “home is where the heart is” is you have home wherever you are, but you can still be houseless. Again, I’d never heard this distinction before.

More importantly, here’s the update from Friday night from Michael’s own words, “Joshua, Lydia, and I went downtown last night. We came across a homeless lady named Nancy that we’ve met before. She took a Paul Washer booklet on the Gospel. We handed out some tracts and met a “houseless” (as he said, not homeless) man named John. We talked with him for awhile. He claimed Christ, but there doesn’t seem to be fruit. It was not an easy conversation. He had some knowledge of Scripture but mixed with some other ideas of his. We tried pointing him to Christ, though he didn’t seem to understand. But God is able to use that conversation. In the end, he took a Bible and some other things we gave him to read.” Again, praise God for Michael, Lydia and Joshua sharing the Gospel in downtown Springfield, MO on Friday night and may God save Nancy and John and may the Lord bless the other tracts that were handed out.

(These updates are provided to encourage Christians to share the glorious Gospel with others)

Are You Wicked?

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Are You Wicked?

This is a serious question: Are you wicked? Absolutely not you might say. So why am I even asking this question? Because God has some harsh things to say about the wicked. God hates all workers of iniquity (Psalm 5:5). God is angry with the wicked every day (Psalm 7:11). But here’s the really scary one: The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God (Psalm 9:17).

The wicked shall be turned into Hell. This should frighten every single person that is not a follower of Jesus. If Jesus is not your Lord and Savior, you should have sleepless nights. The terrors of Hell should frighten you nearly to death. You should tremble and fear. Yes, you should shake in your shoes. The demons believe and tremble (James 2:19). Why do they tremble? Because even though they know God is real, they know they follow Satan and they are on the losing side. They know that they have Hell to pay!

So why are you listening to this with no fear and trembling? Because you don’t believe that you are one of the wicked ones. When I say this, I’m talking specifically to unbelievers. Those of us who are truly saved, know that God has saved us out of our wretchedness and we have surrendered our lives to Jesus. But for those of you who are hearing this and are not saved, you most likely have no fear because you don’t see yourself as wicked. You ignore the warnings and hearing about God being angry with the wicked didn’t faze you at all because you think that you are not wicked. [Read more…]

Absolutely Not!

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Absolutely Not!

Ministry Update June 4, 2023

A couple of short (sad) encounters stood out Friday night while we were witnessing downtown. A group of people refused tracts so Joshua asked them if they know where they are going? One young man said that he knew and implied that it was wonderful (sounding like he’s going to Heaven). Joshua then asked him how he’s going to get there and the young man replied that he didn’t have to share that information. I reminded him that Jesus told us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). If you aren’t willing to share the Good News, you probably aren’t really saved. I couldn’t hear what the young man mumbled after that.

Then I tried to hand a tract to a couple of young women and they both refused. So I asked them if they know Jesus and the one said, “Absolutely not!” I told her to have a nice life because she’s going to have a horrible afterlife. Hell is real and repentance and faith in Jesus is the only way to avoid it. Most people didn’t react that way Friday night. Most of the people who refused tracts just said no thank you and we told them to have a good night. But when we encounter a really hard-hearted person, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with warning them of the reality of Hell and that they are headed for that awful place.

Group Friday night – Anand and his family, Michael and Joshua.

Evangelist Family

Anand, his wife and five children joined Joshua, Michael and I witnessing Friday night. I always love to see families come out. Anand’s daughters were fun to watch handing out tracts and his wife mainly watched the girls and made sure they had tracts, but when they missed a person, Anand’s wife was quick to offer a tract. Again, it was a real blessing to have his whole family come out. Since there were so many of them in one family, Joshua and I went across the street to a different corner to witness. Michael joined us later on. I brought a short message and didn’t have any mockers or encouragers.

Earlier in the night, I handed a tract to a guy named Antoine. I told him that it was a Gospel tract that tells you about Jesus. He made a positive comment so I asked him if he’s a Christian and he said that is. When I asked him how he came to faith in Jesus, he said it was when he hit rock bottom. He cried out for God to save him. Antoine didn’t have a Bible, so I gave him a New Testament. But he knew Bible verses as we talked with him. Joshua quoted him many Scriptures and Antoine kept saying Amen and quoted Bible verses too. He doesn’t currently have a church home, so Joshua gave him an invite card to South Creek Baptist Church. Talking to Antoine was the best conversation of the night that I was involved with. My friends and I also had a great time of fellowship and we pray that God will bless the tracts that were handed out.

(These updates are given to encourage Christians to share the Good News with others)

 

Agnostic

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Agnostic

Ministry Update May 28, 2023

Conner, his two oldest kids, Michael and I witnessed downtown Friday night. Right after Conner prayed to start the evening, two young women walked up and Conner’s kids gave them tracts. Conner told them why we were out there – sharing the Gospel. So he asked them if they were Christians and Bailey spoke up and said that she’s Agnostic. Conner wanted to clarify, so he asked her if she meant it was unknowable as to whether God exists or if she meant that she doesn’t know if God exists? Bailey replied that she didn’t have enough proof either way. Basically, she’s waiting for proof to decide which is right.

She wanted Conner to prove that God is real. I loved Conner’s response. He told her that he doesn’t like to get into trying to prove there is a God because Romans says that God has written His law on our hearts (Romans 2:15). In other words, we don’t have to prove God is real because God has written His law in your heart. You already know God exists! Then, without missing a beat, Conner went right into the Gospel – how we’ve all sinned against God and how Jesus is the only Savior. After witnessing to Bailey, Conner asked if she had a Bible. She said that she doesn’t have one, so Conner gave her the Bible that was in his hand.

Her Friend Also Wanted A Bible

Her friend Nola was standing right next to her, so I asked if she had a Bible and she didn’t have one either. She said she wanted one too. I only had New Testaments in my witnessing bag, but I gave her one. Conner had earlier encouraged Bailey to read the book of John and I reiterated that too. Then I think Bailey asked Conner for one his tracts that was different than the ones his kids had given her. It was a great encounter. That’s what you hope and pray for, a chance to clearly share the glorious Gospel.

When Michael joined us, we walked around downtown. We handed out tracts to a group of homeless people on the square. Most refused tracts, but one guy took one from me. I tried to engage him in a conversation. He just kept saying that he is a “common preacher.” Don’t know what he meant by that unless he meant that he’s a lay pastor. I kept trying to see if he’s really a Christian or not and he basically acted like it was a stupid question since he’s a common preacher. I politely pointed out that some pastors are pastors, even though they aren’t really saved. Sadly, I didn’t really get anywhere with him.

Conner got into a conversation with three teenagers after that. One professed to be a Christian, but he doesn’t attend church and doesn’t read the Bible. But Conner was able to share the Gospel with all three of them. While that was going on, Michael and I were off over the to the side talking when I noticed two lesbians holding hands heading in our direction. I tried to hand them a tract, but they just walked away and acted like they didn’t see me. Then we walked around downtown some more and handed out more tracts. About the time Conner and his kids and I were leaving, Lisa showed up to witness too. So her and Michael witnessed some more after that.

High School Graduations

On the previous Saturday, Michael and Anand along with a couple of their friends from Sedalia wanted to go witnessing. Friday night had gotten rained out, so Anand wanted to go to MSU and witness there. Thankfully they went because they got there right in between two high school graduation ceremonies. All four guys were very excited about so many people being on campus. They handed out every tract they brought with them and one of the guys from Sedalia had about 40 Gospel booklets too and they handed all 40 of those out after the tracts were gone. Praise God they were faithful and made it over to the campus, even though they were worried that there wouldn’t be very many students there since the school year was over.

(These updates are provided to encourage Christians to share the Gospel with others)

Is That A Christian Thing?

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Is That A Christian Thing?

I handed out the Why Christianity booklets from Living Waters at MSU last Wednesday at the third witnessing spot. There were only 100 left, but all of them were taken. One student told me that he didn’t need it because he’s a Christian. When asked if he could hand it to someone, he really thought about it, but said, “No, I’m good.” One girl refused the booklet and said that she’s a Buddhist.

When I ran out of the booklets, I switched to the What’s The Meaning Of Life tracts (also from Living Waters). Several students who spoke broken English took the tracts. One girl of Indian descent took one and read it while she waited for her two friends. I didn’t realize they were together until after both of her friends took tracts and walked over to her. One guy said, “Is that a Christian thing?” and when I replied yes, he said he didn’t need it because he’s already a Christian. Then I asked if he could hand it to someone else and he really thought about it, said, “Hey, that’s a great idea!” and took it. May God bless the booklets and tracts that were handed out.

Few Great Conversations

I’m having health issues and may not be able to witness again for a while. But praise God, Joshua and Michael made it out Friday night to witness at Art Walk. I asked for an update and Joshua replied back, “Had a few great conversations. God be the glory. Seeds were planted and we had good fellowship.” I love these brothers in Christ who go out witnessing Friday nights. They are young and bold for the Lord. I thank God for sending them my way.

(These updates are provided to encourage Christians to share the glorious Gospel with others)

If Looks Could Kill

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If Looks Could Kill

I didn’t open-air preach at MSU last Wednesday. Instead, I handed out the Why Christianity booklets from Living Waters. I got to the campus a little early, so I started off about a half a block away from Strong Hall (where the religious studies classes are held). A few students took the booklets, but one guy who has mocked me several times in the past, leaned way away from the booklet as if it would harm him if it even touched him. He loudly said, “H___ No!”

To which I replied, “Ok, have a nice day because you are going to have a lousy eternity.” Normally, I don’t respond in this way, but this guy has been mouthy and very antagonistic many times before and I thought he needs to hear the truth. So I continued by quoting John 14:6 where Jesus says I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me. I pleaded with him to repent and surrender his life to Jesus and for him to not die in his sins. About the time I said that, he spun around and if looks could kill, he would have killed me. He stood there for a bit and I really think he was contemplating coming back over to confront me or even fight. But in the end, he just turned back around and walked on to his vehicle. Every now and then I think its good to warn hardened mockers of what they are going to face in the end if they continue rebelling against God.

Many Why Christianity Booklets Handed Out

After that I went on to the witnessing spot in front of Strong Hall. Again, this is the building with religious studies and frankly it is my least favorite of the three free speech zones on campus. Many students seem very hardened against God and don’t want to hear biblical truth. So I prayed that God would have at least 50 to 75 students take booklets. To my surprise, all 150 booklets were handed out. More were taken here than were at the spot a few weeks ago that has much more foot traffic. Praise God for this.

One student took the booklet and then he said, “You do good work here, Sir. Keep it up.” I think he even wanted to pat me on the shoulder, but didn’t. I wish I would have thought of it in time and I would have given him a fist bump or shook his hand. But it was very encouraging and I thanked him for that. Then a little while later another student took one, realized what it was and handed it back to me. He told me that he’s a Christian and to save it for someone who needs it. I told him that I would do so, but I asked him if he knew anyone that needed it? A family member or friend? He stopped walking and really thought about it and decided that he could hand it out to someone. I told him that it’s a really non-offensive way of sharing truth with an unbeliever.

Then toward the end I handed one to a girl and she took it and started thumbing through it. I asked her if she’d read it and she said that she would. She then asked me if I was a Christian and I told her that I am one and I stated that the booklet talks about a lot of religions and that it explains why Christianity is the right one. She seemed genuinely intrigued, thanked me and went on her way. The way the witnessing started was more of what I expected from this area, but it turned out to be quite enjoyable and I thank God for the positive encounters and all the students who took booklets. May God bless and multiply the booklets (in other words, may the students who took them share them with others).

Friday Night Update

I was too sick to witness Friday night, but thankfully Michael and Joshua went downtown. Here’s Michael’s update: While I was waiting for Joshua, a guy stopped and started talking to me, so I tried to explain the gospel to him. After awhile, he was uncomfortable with how I was talking to him and with me telling him to make sure he’s truly saved. He wanted to go smoke a cigarette and so he left. He took a tract that Joshua gave him. Later, Joshua started a conversation with a photographer named Tyr. I think he said he takes pictures of drag queens. They talked a bit about photography, then we were able to talk to him some about Christ before he left. Praise God for Joshua and Michael sharing truth.

(These updates are given to encourage Christians to share the Gospel with others)