Conversations Before During And After

Conversations Before During And After

Ministry Update June 24, 2018

Rich and I were the first ones to the witnessing spot Friday night and we talked to a couple of guys. The one young man was from Bolivar and I think his friend lives in Springfield. We gave them tracts and they both said they are Christians. The guy from Springfield wanted to know how effective open-air preaching is so we talked about obedience to God and the results are up to Him. Then a lady named Tracy said that she was looking for Allen. I told her that he’s probably on the square witnessing. She couldn’t find him, so she came back and witnessed with us until Allen found her later on. This was just the beginning of the night, but we had conversations before during and after open-air preaching. 

Conner and Thomas joined us and then we had a nice surprise when Dave from Arizona found us. He’s working here in Springfield for the next year, so I hope he gets to come out often. There were conversations going on, so Rich and I held off on open-air preaching. I noticed a guy across the street so I ran over and handed him a tract. Anthony said that he and his fiancé are homeless. She was a block up the street in a wheel chair.

He told me they are both believers. I asked him if they had a Bible and he said they share one. So I gave him a New Testament and prayed for him. Anthony then got Christina and wheeled her over to the corner where we were witnessing. Tracy prayed for Christina and Thomas handed her some money. I asked them if they had heard of Freeway Ministries and they said they just came from Freeway at the First Baptist Church.

Conversations During Open-Air Preaching

Then Rich started us off open-air preaching. While he was bringing a message, Dave was across the street talking to a group of people. It turned out they were handing out McDonald’s cards to homeless people. The group was from a large denomination here in Springfield and the leader of their group came over to see what Dave was telling them. Dave was asking them if they know how to share the Gospel. At the same time, the leader was questioning Dave about open-air preaching.

Also while Rich was preaching, a young man yelled and cussed at him. The guy came over and tried to interrupt Rich. I told him I’d talk to him. He wanted to know what the right-hand was doing that the left-hand didn’t know about. (I assume he was referring to Matthew 6:3). Since the question didn’t have anything to do with street witnessing, I just handed him a tract. Surprisingly, he took it. He walked away still mouthing off to Rich. Right after that a young woman passenger in a car flashed Rich as they drove by. I quickly looked back straight ahead and Rich just kept on preaching.

You Are Damaging Springfield Businesses

Then a couple walked by us, they refused a tract and the guy said that we are “damaging Springfield businesses.” I just replied, “God bless you.” Then I brought a message after Rich and said that I don’t want to damage any businesses in Springfield except for Planned Parenthood. I do hope and pray that child-murdering place closes down. One woman yelled something as she drove by. The next heckler yelled shut the f up. After my message, I tried to hand a tract to a vile bald-headed guy (that has mouthed off in the past) who refused it and invited me to go f myself. I just told him to have a good night.

Conversations After Open-Air Preaching

Conner got into a good conversation with a Muslim. He knew we witness at this corner on Friday nights, so he came over asking questions about the Trinity. This is one of the reasons why I like witnessing at the same corner – people realize that you are going to be there and sometimes they come over and talk to us. The young man didn’t read English and really didn’t speak it very well either. So Conner told him that he’d try to find some resources in Arabic and the young man can come back next week. We hope and pray that he does. May God bless the conversations, the tracts and the open-air preaching.

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