Most Of The Laborers At The Christmas Parade Outreach
Forty Laborers!
Ministry Update December 9, 2018
There were forty laborers from Crossway Baptist Church handing out tracts at the Springfield Christmas parade on Saturday. Originally the weather forecasters were predicting one to three inches of snow. But praise God, that didn’t happen and we handed out thousands of Gospel tracts. Greg led the outreach and I think in the past we may have had around 15 or 16 people witnessing at one St. Patrick’s Day Parade, but praise God, this time there were forty of us!
What Are You Counting On To Go To Heaven?
I only got into one conversation with a teenager. He was looking at the tract Vinton gave him. I waited for him to finish reading it and then I asked him if he died today, would he go to Heaven or Hell. He answered Heaven. So then I asked him what he’s counting on to get there and he said his baptism. He told me the name of the church he goes to and then I shared with him that Jesus said we must be born again. We need to recognize our sinfulness and God’s righteousness. That we’ve all sinned against God and we need to repent and surrender our lives to Jesus. He nodded his head like he agreed. When I asked if he reads the Bible daily he said yes, so I encouraged him to keep reading it.
As Vinton and I were walking back toward our cars, an atheist that had set up to sell crafts and items there asked me if I wanted a cup of coffee. The young man took a tract from me earlier. He cussed up a storm the first time I encountered him years ago. But he’s been more cordial this last year. I told him that I didn’t want a cup of coffee (I actually don’t drink coffee), so then he asked if I’d watch his stuff so he could grab a cup.
I told him sure. So Vinton and I stood there while he went to the coffee shop. Later on Vinton thought it was a good sign that he asked me to watch his products for him. Maybe so. I hope the young man reads the tract and may God convict him along with many others who received tracts at the Christmas parade.
Mocking Guys As Thomas Tries To Hand Them A Tract
Pleading With Mockers To Repent And Trust Jesus
It was 30 degrees and felt like 25 with the windchill when Thomas and I witnessed downtown Friday night. Nobody stopped to talk since it was so cold. But we both handed out tracts and had a good time visiting with each other. I brought a short message about how mad people get over hearing the Gospel. Toward the end of the message I was pleading with mockers to repent and trust Jesus when two guys walked by and sort of quietly mocked God as they crossed the street. That is, after they refused a tract from Thomas. I just kept pleading with people to stop mocking God and surrender their lives to Jesus. There was one guy caddie-corner from us that listened to part of the message. May God bless the tracts that were handed out.
Man Listening From Across The Street
Vile Atheist
Friend Recording Vile Atheist And Myself
A vile atheist stood near me and read what sounded like graphic, homosexual sex acts described with coarse language while I was open-air preaching. His God mocking didn’t last very long, but he caused many students to look over to see what was going on. His friend in a purple coat laughed as she recorded everything from a distance. I generally try to point out students that even though they may not loudly, outwardly mock God and revile God as this vile atheist did, they still mock God by their words and actions if Jesus is not their Lord and Savior.
There also were two encouragers at MSU last Wednesday. One student said encouraging words as he walked past. Then right when I finished up open-air preaching, another student walked right in front of me and he said something like thank you for sharing truth. I was putting my Bible back in my witnessing bag and I wasn’t expecting it. I pray that God will bless the tracts that were handed out before and after witnessing and that He will convict students over their sins and reveal His Holiness to them.
(These updates are provided to encourage Christians to share the Gospel with others)